Virus surge hits AFLW

But women’s boss insists the show will go on

AT least three Victorian AFLW teams are grappling with having players in isolation, just days out from the start of the season.

Collingwood has at least four players confined to their homes amid state government Covid regulations, four days from its clash with Carlton.

The AFL has a range of contingency plans for what women’s football boss Nicole Livingstone admits will be a “bumpy” season.

Those include hubs for players and rescheduling games – whether to other weekend timeslots or even midweek.

While the Magpies expect their isolated players to be cleared in time for their meeting with the Blues, it is a scenario co-captain Steph Chiocci concedes “is not ideal”.

“But it’s something that we’re going to have to deal with,” she told the Herald Sun.

“And the community is dealing with it. You see the queues to get a PCR test and we can’t get rapid (tests) out to the community – I think that’s the public health concern.

“We just need to reduce the risk for ourselves and do what we need to do to get this season underway.

“We all want to play football and we’ll do whatever it takes to get the season going and keep ourselves as safe as possible.

“We’re going to be impacted. Girls are going to miss (games), staff are going to miss (games). We just need to roll with the punches and make the best with what we’ve got.”

At least two other Melbourne clubs have players in isolation ahead of this weekend’s season-opening matches, while Gold Coast still has five players in isolation after they tested positive for Covid, with all hopeful of being cleared to exit before the weekend.

Players and staff members attending match days will be required to return a negative PCR test before games, with rigorous rapid antigen testing protocols also in place.

Livingstone said “things will be fluid” as the AFL endeavours to deliver the season and, ultimately, a premier.

West Coast and Fremantle will spend a month in Victoria after this weekend’s derby to combat border closures.

Livingstone said a “multitude of scenarios” were in play should Covid strike, including players joining a hub or shifting games to whenever they can be played.

“Playing (games) when (they’re) scheduled is our first priority, and if we can’t do that then there is flexibility to be able to play it later in the round, or postpone if necessary,” Livingstone said.

“We are committed to deliver this season and we’ll find a way to deliver it.

“Any of those relocation policies have been agreed to … Players, the club, the AFLPA are obviously aware of them.”