Players putting AFL fans first, says Bulldog
WESTERN Bulldogs forward Mitch Wallis says he hopes fans recognise and respect the sacrifices players and their families are making to keep the season alive as the last of the Victorian clubs flee the state for at least a month.
The Bulldogs will fly to a Gold Coast hub on Monday, with as many as seven with their children and partners.
Wallis and his wife, Emily, who welcomed their first child, Charlotte, just two weeks ago, are one of those families moving together to the Gold Coast.
“I would never leave my wife by herself,” Wallis said.
“I love her dearly and she loves footy as well and is my biggest support network.
“So to be able to go away to a hub for X amount of days and to have her wanting to come and wanting to bring our child up and support us through that, I can’t be more grateful for her support.
“The first two weeks of quarantine are going to be interesting, but the club have been really good with providing support and wanting the girls and the families to come up where possible.
“I definitely wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Wallis said coach Luke Beveridge had rallied the group together, urging them to take up the challenges of the season as one.
“We are all in this together,” Wallis said.
“Bevo and the leadership group have really pushed trying to get the whole club, the whole 44 players on the list up there; because it’s about everyone.
“I know we get compared to a lot of other sports where athletes have to leave for long periods of time but for AFL footy these are uncharted waters.
“There’s got to be a little bit of flexibility and understanding this is not our normal and we’re trying to make it work and doing as best we can.
“We’re being nimble, but this is not our normal and people are making very big sacrifices to ensure that footy stays alive and that footy can be delivered to the people.”