Geelong veteran Tom Hawkins is bracing for further changes to his AFL club’s itinerant schedule, having already investigated the possibility of flying his young family into a hub.
Richmond premiership star Jack Riewoldt admits he second-guessed his decision to enter a hub in Queensland after Victorian premier Daniel Andrews ordered Melbourne into a six-week coronavirus lockdown.
Hawkins, who departed for Sydney without wife Emma and their two young daughters, says he will be OK but he is worried about his family.
The Cats will head straight to Perth after their clash with Brisbane at the SCG on Thursday night.
League boss Gillon McLachlan had indicated Victoria’s 10 teams would spend 32 days interstate before returning home, but that plan is expected to change because of the health crisis in Melbourne.
“Once we’ve got concrete information in front of us, I’ll work through it and work out the best decision for me, my family and the football club,” Hawkins told reporters.
“I’m expecting that things might change.
“Especially with the border closing, I had discussions with some teammates and some key people at the footy club on what it may look like to get my family around.
“We’ll keep working through that, but it does appear unlikely.”
The power forward called on fans and pundits to be “understanding and sympathetic” in response to players deciding they need to be around family in coming weeks.
Riewoldt’s teammates Bachar Houli and Shane Edwards chose not to travel to the Gold Coast for family reasons.
Hawkins suggested he had been taking comfort in knowing it would only be a month away from home.
“From what my wife has told me, the first few days have been pretty tough. Our daughter Arabella hasn’t been sleeping, and our youngest is teething,” he said.
“It’s more about their health and well being… with these restrictions, Emma is going to be on her own a lot.”
If the league proceeds with its original time frame for the hubs, Melbourne will still be in lockdown and that would throw up a major roadblock for the AFL’s vision of a shortened 17-round season in which each club plays each other once.
Riewoldt admitted he “cried like a baby” while saying goodbye to young daughter Poppy and wife Carly.
“I probably have second-guessed a little bit coming up here,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy’s AFL360.
“I think over the whole period here, I’ll constantly ask myself ‘Why am I here? What am I actually doing leaving my young family to come up here and play a game?’”
Shane
Guest
There is a bit of difference between agreeing to hub and then complaining after a few losses and being upfront about your concerns before you go, don't you think?
Shane
Guest
So they are clearly not the model employees you are pretending they are. Of they had a choice many would choose not to, and do. That is why they are not FIFO workers and Fifo workers are. I don't have a problem with any player choosing not to leave their family in these uncertain times, regardless of their reasons.
SimplySimon
Guest
Not surprising and this is the tip of the iceberg. It won't be long before the interstate "holiday" starts to wear thin and more players will want to go home. Its true that many will stick it out but if they are doing that whilst pineing for family, they aren't going to be giving 100% on the footy field. That isn't criticism, that is human nature. Still, what is one more inequality in this abortive season.
Mark
Roar Rookie
How would you know? Each Player's circumstances and mind is their own, not yours! And as I asked, what's you Professional Qualification that means you can even surmise?
Big Daddy
Guest
I think some of today's decision's by various state governments could take the hubs out of the question. We can't have football teams from any code cross crossing the country. If they are allowed it should be mandatory they go into isolation and that will create more headaches . It was always going to be a hard ask and this second phase outbreaks make it much more difficult.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Just because players wives have children or are pregnant I can’t see any harm it will do there husbands in a hub.
Mark
Roar Rookie
What’s your Professional Qualification which means that you can speak behalf of these Players and guarantee that their time in the Hub won’t do any of them “any harm”?
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Try again, just over 100 have died with Covid in there system. Not all of course but most AFL players have had a charmed life, a couple of weeks in a hub won’t do any harm.
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
I don’t know what the pandemic has got to do with it. It has killa touch over 100 people over Sixty
Mark
Roar Rookie
Poor comment mate. Its not for you to decide whats good for each AFL player in this situation, Scotty. Its for each Individual Player to decide based on HIS own set of circumstances. So don't come in here with your "they should just take a cup of concrete and harden" rhetoric. Why don't you tell us all your life circumstances and how much you get paid and we'll all cast judgement on how you should be living your life.
RT
Roar Rookie
Cotchin took his family, but no others I think. I sure Jack could have if they wanted.
Whatevs
Guest
Unreal. Couple weeks ago when the inter-staters weren't performing well in the hubs the comments were how they were soft, been exposed, needed mum. How they needed more 'anyone, anywhere' mentality. The tides turn and now everyone needs to show some understanding about how hard this all is going to be on the poor players.
Slane
Guest
It seems like you are saying that FIFO work is terrible work that very few people would choose to do. Maybe you could read that sentence a few times until you can understand why some AFL players would rather be with their young families during a pandemic?
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Summed it up perfectly Scott.
Scott
Guest
This is such a non issue. Why do we keep having stories about this. I feel like maybe the players aren’t being as sooky as they are being made out by the media. It’s stuff all. They are young men getting paid well. How hard is it to hang out with your mates for in luxury hotels for a month. They don’t have to sit on any extra planes as well so that’s a win for their bodies. All the players with young families isn’t an issue either, except for a small few, e.g. Ablett and Kelly who’s kids have issues. For the rest of these lads with kids, they are usually older and better paid. Most their wives won’t be working, if they do then hire a nanny. They can talk to their kids on FaceTime all day if they want. I don’t know why these stories keep getting written, expecting the general population to feel sorry for them. It’s 32 days for crying out loud!
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Caro? Lol.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
The commercial media are abysmal. They love this crisis. Misquote and misrepresent everyone to create non existent drama.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Cotch has tweaked a hammy yet got on the plane with the rest of the side. Speaks volumes doesn't it? He was never 'not going to a hub' as some with their own narrative to tell would have you believe. Roar rumour and innuendo isn't always correct.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
It takes a lot of effort and jumping through hoops to even get a FIFO job. It is their job of choice, ask my son.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
The singling out of Richmond players from the get go has been very poor form across the board. e.g. Cotchin never said he wouldn't go to a hub. No-one likes the situation the AFL finds itself in. You don't have to like all the changes but you do have to accept them. It is what it is. The players give up a lot in the course of a 'normal' season, Covid amps up the sacrifices greatly. If you want footy to continue for your own entertainment we all need to cut the AFL, clubs and players some slack. Difficult times.