Shit: up to 20 AFL players and officials have been told to get tested for COVID and isolate just minutes before the GWS V Sydney game was due to commence.
The GWS Giants, Sydney Swans players and club staff members affected attended the Wallabies V France Rugby match (seated in rows 25-42 of Zone 2 via Gate 7), which has now been classified as a Tier 2 exposure site by the Victorian Department of Health.
Those players are currently located in Queensland and under their Department of Health requirements must isolate until notified by the Department.
According to AFL journalist Mitch Cleary, the players having to isolate are GWS’ Toby Greene and Matt de Boer, and the Swans’ Callum Mills, Harry Cunningham and Colin O’Riordan.
Correction from previous tweet: Six players and staff from Sydney and 14 players and staff from GWS have been re-classified as Tier 2 contacts at Aus v France rugby match at AAMI. Players involved in today’s game won’t play at Metricon @AFLcomau @abcsport
— Mitch Cleary (@cleary_mitch) July 18, 2021
As per the AFL’s statement, the game tonight will proceed as scheduled – with updated teams being released shortly.
“None of these players or staff members will participate in today’s match at Metricon Stadium,” The statement read.
“The AFL has notified the Queensland Government and is acting in accordance with their directions.
“The Victorian Department of Health continue to contact those directly affected with further updates.”
According to the Herald Sun, Sydney’s travelling party all returned negative tests after flying to Brisbane on Thursday. Those individuals were tested again on Saturday night (negative) before travelling to the Gold Coast for their match at Metricon Stadium.
The game began at 6:10pm as scheduled.
