We’ll shut 30 days if virus hits

SOME AFL players are in quarantine from the coronavirus as chief executive Gillon McLachlan says the competition will shut down for at least 30 days in the event of a positive test.

“We would certainly stand down for a minimum of 30 days,” McLachlan told 3AW radio yesterday. “We need to make sure that our protocols are completely tight.”

McLachlan had previously said a positive test to a player would result in a 14-day closure of the competition.

He said no players had tested positive to the coronavirus.

“I know we have got players in quarantine,” he said.

“I know there are no players or officials from tonight’s game that are pending tests.”

Western Bulldogs played Collingwood last night after Richmond defeated Carlton in the season-opener on Thursday night at an empty MCG.

“It’s just different,” McLachlan said of games without fans. “Who knows how long we go for, but I think people will get used to that ... it was just great to see footy.

“Everyone is in such a terrible spot at the moment ... [if] we get around the TV sets and get lost in it, hopefully for a few hours forget about the fact that people are losing jobs and people are crook and everything else. It’s not the only reason, clearly there’s others ... we’re a game but not the main game.”

McLachlan also said players were unlikely to share water bottles, as they did during Thursday night’s opener.

“The first game, I think you will forgive everyone for being a bit habitual,” he said. “We will get the protocols better.” CARLTON AFLW forward Joanne Doonan won’t take part in finals and will return home to Ireland in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Doonan and the club came to the agreement the 25-yearold departs Australia.

The Demons’ Irish duo Niamh McEvoy and Sinead Goldrick are also leaving Melbourne ahead of the finals with concerns over whether they would be able to travel back to Ireland after the season. Doonan joined Carlton as their second AFLW rookie for the 2020 season and played two games.