Hub breach risked comp
SYDNEY has conceded Elijah Taylor’s deliberate and “foolish” decision to sneak his girlfriend into a Perth hub could have derailed the entire season.
And while Sydney will support the 19-year-old, who is now suspended until the end of the season, chief executive Tom Harley lashed his decision as “naive” and a serious, blatant breach.
Western Australia premier Mark McGowan said on Sunday he was disappointed with the AFL and the Swans, stating they had let his state down. Harley said Taylor’s breach was much more serious than the incident that saw Steele Sidebottom cop a fourmatch ban, given its deliberate nature in a state with such tight travel restrictions.
Nathan Buckley was also fined for his casual tennis game with Fed Cup captain Alicia Molik, which risked exposure to AFL players.
Taylor will remain with the Swans in their hub, but thankfully his girlfriend’s limited exposure to anyone else in the hub means Sydney can play next week’s game against Fremantle after extra COVID tests.
She was escorted from the Perth resort by WA police on Friday night after members of Sydney’s hub became aware the 19-year-old was still in his room with his girlfriend.
“He invited his partner into quarantine, he knew it would be a breach and that’s basically the extent of it,” Harley said. “I would love to say there was something far more elaborate than that in it but it was a very, very, very foolish and naive decision on Elijah’s behalf.
“We were made aware. I don’t want to go into specifics, but he was confronted and they found the girl in Elijah’s room. The facts are Elijah’s acts were intentional, he knew what was going on, he knew he was breaching and the consequences are extremely high.
“We are extremely well briefed on the protocols but also the consequences of noncompliance and the worstcase scenario is that the competition couldn’t go on.”
WA Premier McGowan said he was disappointed by the AFL’s conduct through Taylor’s breach. “It’s very disappointing,” he said. “The AFL gave us every assurance this wouldn’t happen. The Swans have let us down, the AFL has let us down.
“We’re disappointed in both organisations. I received an apology from the AFL this morning, I appreciate that … (But) they promised us this wouldn’t happen and they let us down.”
While Taylor could face more penalties from the Swans, Harley told 3AW the WA police would take no more action. “That case is done, so there was an immediate investigation,” he said. “Given the entry to clubs was under guidance from AFL police they needed to be satisfied there were no further risks to the rest of the community and they escorted Elijah’s partner out of the quarantine hotel we were in so it wouldn’t present any risk.”
The Swans train in small groups and had played the previous night so after more COVID testing their final Perth game will continue.