Several Sydney Swans players have tested positive for COVID-19 in what is the biggest outbreak to hit an AFL club.
As NSW broke a national record with 3057 new cases on Tuesday, the Swans confirmed multiple members of their football department had tested positive for COVID-19 while on leave.
“All affected players and staff are double vaccinated and all report to be in good health,” the Swans noted in a statement.
“The club’s primary concern is for the health and safety of all players, staff and their families.”
Every Sydney player returned negative COVID-19 test results before their final training session of the year on December 15.
Players are due to return to training on January 6, meaning the practical impact of the cases is likely to be relatively small compared to if it occurred mid-season.
But the size of the outbreak could force the AFL to re-think its COVID-19 plans and protocols for players and club staff ahead of the 2022 season, which begins in March.
The news comes as Australia and England cricketers prepare to enjoy Christmas with their families despite biosecurity concerns over the Ashes series amid the national surge of cases.
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley confirmed he would stick to his pre-series promise of balancing safety with player welfare as several Australian players returned home to families.
They will regroup in Melbourne on Thursday to ramp up preparations for Sunday’s Boxing Day Test, where Australia can wrap up the Ashes.
Players from both sides will be placed under stricter conditions in Melbourne and Sydney, including a ban on dining indoors at restaurants.
A Christmas Day tradition in Melbourne when Australian players and staff enjoy lunch with their families will continue.
“Everyone will be looking forward to coming together with families on Christmas Day in Melbourne,” Hockley told SEN on Tuesday.
“The players, family members, staff and match officials are all part of the overall cohort.
“They are all part of level-four restrictions. There has just been a latest group of England families arrive in Melbourne.”
Pat Cummins’s absence from the second Test after becoming a close contact prompted questions about further restrictions.
Hockley has stressed the need to be vigilant, with two tours called off globally in recent months as a result of COVID-19 cases within playing groups.
The AFL and cricket were not the only major sporting codes facing COVID-19 challenges on Tuesday.
The Canberra Raiders are believed have also learned of further cases within their NRL group, after two staff members tested positive last week forcing their entire squad to isolate.
The Raiders will not comment on the current number of cases, but will monitor and assess their situation before returning to training on 5 January.
Fellow NRL clubs Newcastle, Wests Tigers and South Sydney have also had pre-season training disrupted in recent weeks because of COVID-19 cases.
Western United A-League Men captain Alessandro Diamanti had been due to attend a joint press conference with Melbourne Victory skipper Josh Brillante.
But United pulled out of the joint media opportunity out of caution after they had three positive COVID-19 cases among their playing group last week.
Macarthur FC, Sydney FC and Newcastle’s ALM squads have also had players test positive in recent weeks, along with a Jets A-League Women player.
Perth Glory are in hotel quarantine in Brisbane after a positive case in their playing ranks.
AAP
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