GWS star Toby Greene is among eight players from the Giants and Sydney Swans to have been forced into isolation and ruled out of the AFL’s Sydney club derby at late notice after attending a COVID-19 exposure site.
The AFL confirmed 15 players and staff members from the two Sydney clubs attended the Wallabies’ match against France in Melbourne on Tuesday night and were in an area of AAMI Park that has since been reclassified as a Tier 2 exposure site by the Victorian Government.
While Sunday evening’s game at Metricon Stadium proceeded, those players and staff members were required to isolate until notified by the Queensland Health Department.
Greene and medical substitute Matt De Boer were both late outs due to isolating, replaced by Tanner Bruhn and Zach Sproule (medical substitute) respectively.
Sydney midfield gun Callum Mills and teammates Harry Cunningham and Colin O’Riordan (medical substitute) were also ruled out through isolation, with James Rowbottom, Dylan Stephens and Ben Ronke (medical substitute) called up.
Unselected Giants Kieren Briggs and Jake Stein and Sydney ruckman Callum Sinclair are also isolating and did not attend the game.
“The AFL confirms that multiple GWS Giants and Sydney Swans players and club staff members who attended the Wallabies vs France rugby match have now been re-classified as Tier 2 contacts,” the AFL said in a statement.
“A group of six Sydney Swans players and staff members along with a group of nine GWS Giants players and staff members entered via Gate 7 of the venue at the rugby and sat in Rows 25-42 of Zone 2, which has now been re-classified as a Tier 2 exposure site by the Victorian Department of Health.
“Each of these players and staff members, currently located in Queensland and under Queensland Department of Health requirements must isolate until notified by the Department.
“None of these players or staff members will participate in today’s match at Metricon Stadium.”
The AFL said it had notified the Queensland government and would follow its directions.
Republican
Guest
.....3700 community contacts from just two sporting events in Melbourne, while community artists who rely on audiences of rarely more than 12o, have not been allowed to open or perform in their venues for 12 months. Many of these independent artists have again been rendered income less courtesy of their meagre casual employment status/underemployment. Australia's obsession with sport that indulges our prima donna athletes is an endorsement of elitism and flies in the face of our illusionary egalitarianism. The IOC is a perfect example of how the corporatisation of sport is only about power and money. A neoliberal philosophy is insidious in recasting inequality virtuous, dehumanising us as slaves to the market, a market that ultimatley decides what it is we do and do not deserve.
Kick to Kick
Roar Rookie
Weirdest game I can remember. Sydney Derby played at Metricon with players withdrawn at the last minute then Giants look like runaway winners before Swans kick 9 consecutive goals. Who writes these scripts?
Angela
Roar Rookie
It did, and two of the Swans replacements had played in the VFL the day before. Cheer, cheer etc.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I suffer from Dyslexia :laughing:
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Freudian slip my bad :laughing:
Cat
Roar Guru
Fair is letting them play for points as every other team in the comp has had to
Cat
Roar Guru
Tenterhooks you mean
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Callum Mills and Toby Greene - they're a major loss for each side - it's probably an even deficit overall for both teams? We're lucky we can keep the comp going, got to roll with the punches and may the best team win.
1dog
Roar Rookie
I’m sure Dab has a more sinister point you’re missing :stoked:
Blitz
Guest
If they were sick they would have withdrawn ie too sick to play!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
I feel your hurt but 2points a piece is enough!
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Comp on tender hooks!
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
That sucks :crying:
dab
Roar Rookie
The AFL must give 4 points to both Swans and GWS. In the interests of fairness.
Robert Gleadall
Guest
:shocked:
Puntroad
Roar Rookie
whaaat?