GAZ GETS ALL-CLEAR

GARY Ablett’s path to an AFL return has been smoothed by Queensland authorities who will allow AFL players to train together while in hard 14-day quarantine.

Ablett is so determined to return to football that he has enlisted premiership teammate Andrew Mackie to continue his training program while at home in Geelong with wife Jordan and son Levi.

The Cats had not been able to get concrete guidance on whether Ablett would be forced to remain in his hotel in that 14-day lockdown in the Southport Mantra, until Monday.

A Queensland health spokesman said any players breaking COVID protocols would see harsh action against the individual and club.

But Ablett could train with teammates in that hub or even players from rival teams who were also in the same 14-day quarantine.

All of Geelong’s list is in Perth awaiting games against Fremantle and West Coast before moving to Queensland.

It raises the prospect of whether a training partner like Mackie, currently working in the club’s recruiting department, could even quarantine with him to continue training.

A Queensland health spokesman said yesterday players like Ablett could use gyms within hotels and even leave quarantine to train on football ovals.

“Elite sporting teams quarantining in Queensland can still train and play matches but they must adhere to strict conditions,” the spokesman said.

“Players are allowed to leave quarantine to train with other players who are quarantined with similar circumstances, provided they have no COVID-19 symptoms.

“If they are using shared facilities, they must not interact with people who are not in quarantine. These facilities should undergo appropriate cleaning. Any breaches of quarantine requirements, no matter how minor, can be devastating. Action may be taken against both the individual player and their club.”

Richmond’s Dion Prestia and Toby Nankervis, Collingwood’s Jeremy Howe and Essendon’s Jake Stringer are all in that Southport Mantra hub as they recover from injuries.

But none of them are in a position to train given syndesmosis surgery for Prestia, Stringer and Nankervis and knee surgery for Howe.

Geelong was keen to clarify the process not only for Ablett but any other player.

The Cats have made clear Ablett’s return to be with his wife and sick child was a carefully executed decision, not a mercy dash despite Levi’s rare and degenerative illness.