Players and staff from several AFL clubs have attended Melbourne exposure sites

Tom Naghten

Players and staff from several AFL clubs have attended Melbourne exposure sites image

The latest COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria is threatening to further disrupt the AFL season as several players and staff are forced into isolation.

It's been revealed players and staff members across multiple AFL clubs visited Victorian exposure sites, including the Australia-France rugby match in Melbourne on Tuesday, prior to traveling to the hub in Queensland.

Collingwood, Essendon, GWS GIANTS, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney Swans and Western Bulldogs are the clubs impacted, an official AFL release has confirmed.

All individuals at risk have been tested and returned negative results, with the AFL working closely with the Queensland government and acting in accordance with their directions.

A number of players and staff impacted attended venues classed as tier 1 exposure sites under the Victorian Department of Health order, meaning they will be forced to undergo a 14-day isolation period regardless of a negative result.

Most of the players or staff who attended Tuesday's Test rugby match at AAMI Park, where the attendance of a positive case has since been confirmed, are deemed tier 3 contacts, meaning they must monitor for symptoms.

Hawthorn revealed forward Conor Nash would be withdrawn from Saturday's clash against Melbourne after he attended the Australia-France match. Nash had returned a negative test result.

While Injured Bombers star Andrew McGrath has also been reported as one of the players affected, though the club is yet to confirm if that is the case.

St Kilda CEO Simon Lethlean also confirmed on Saturday a player had attended the rugby Test match on Tuesday, though they'd since tested negative.

Of the eight clubs in question, only Hawthorn and Collingwood didn't fly up to Queensland this week as the AFL was forced to flee Melbourne.

“The occurrences of the last few days show how volatile the pandemic continues to be in the community – it only respects discipline,” AFL EGM Football Andrew Dillon said.
 
“We will continue to work closely with the relevant state governments and medical professionals and be led by their advice and ask everyone in our industry to continue to be vigilant with their movements within their current communities.
 
“We will continue to make the necessary decisions to best protect the competition and the wider community.
 
“We thank the continued support of all Governments as we navigate through these challenging circumstances.”

The new outbreak in Melbourne forced the AFL into mass fixture changes ahead of round 18, which it says will go ahead as planned despite the newest developments.

Tom Naghten

Tom Naghten Photo

Tom Naghten is a senior editor at The Sporting News Australia where he's been part of the team since 2017. He predominantly covers boxing and MMA. In his spare time, he likes to watch Robbie Ahmat's goal against the Kangaroos at the SCG in 2000.