The Western Bulldogs are about to be let off their hard quarantine leash but Easton Wood doesn’t plan on stretching his freedoms beyond enjoying a coffee on the beach.
The Bulldogs’ long haul in hotel quarantine, which has stretched beyond three weeks and through Tasmania, Perth and Brisbane, is due to end on Sunday.
Wood said he’d initially been “stir-crazy” in quarantine but now that it was coming to an end he plans to be cautious with his freedoms, with next Saturday’s grand final against Melbourne in mind.
“Now it’s come full circle, we’re quite used to the quarantine side of things and with a grand final looming in just over a week, I mean, I don’t want to take any chances,” the defender told reporters on Saturday.
“So I’m happily, safely sticking to where I’ve been.
“I’m sure I’ll go out for a walk here and there but jeez, I won’t be sightseeing, or going out to any restaurants or anything like that – there’ll be plenty of time for that after the big dance.”
Wood didn’t expect any strict rules to be implemented about players’ movements and feels it is not needed anyway.
“We’ve got a meeting later today so I’m sure there’ll be a mention of it at that point, but we don’t normally do hard and fast rules here – I think you start to create more problems in doing that,” he said.
“You’ve just got to trust the group and we’ve got a fantastic group.
“Rules aren’t gonna motivate you any more to do the right thing then having a grand final in a week – so rules are pointless at this point, to be perfectly honest.
“But I trust the group to be preparing the best way they possibly can for this week and I’m sure the guys will be trying to do everything they can to make sure they’re ready for the game on the weekend, whatever that looks like.”
Wood noted some of the quarantine restrictions the Bulldogs had faced were “laughable at times” and “clearly a disadvantage” but rather than sulking, they’d successfully used it as motivation.
“It’s either kick and scream and woe is me, look at it, in those terms or try and use it as fuel in some other kind of way,” he said.
“That really was the only way to approach it in some kind of positive and forward-moving manner, and that’s what we’ve done and we’ve continued to embrace those challenges.”
Reg Grundy
Guest
I see the sub editors have now changed it because he didn't say nor did he infer that the rules were 'laughable' for emphasis. Sloppy journalism at its best!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Easton Wood is way out of step with everyone except Clive Palmer and Craig Kelly here.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Aren’t you lacking perspective? It is pretty laughable when the Doggies had 14 clear COVID tests in 28 days and hadn’t been in Victoria for three weeks, yet were still made to quarantine by SA officials and now WA. It’s so ludicrous it’s a joke.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Game of golf & l heard the entire Melbourne list want to do some abalone diving prior to the big game :laughing: Lots of splashing around & listen don’t urinate in the water it might attract a big fish or two!
KFT
Guest
Those laughable restrictions are allowing you to play in an AFL grand final in a Covid free state. Those doing it a bit harder are your fellow Victorians. Bet they aren’t laughing.
Dees fan
Guest
Its not 'laughable' quarantine rules its being done with good reason so that Qld, SA and WA don't end up with a mass outbreak whilst trying to vaccinate their populations up to that magical 80%. AFL footy players shouldn't be keeping special treatment unlike the rest.