Update:
Collingwood skipper Scott Pendlebury has not yet been cleared of COVID-19, despite reports earlier on Monday declaring he'd been given the all clear.
The Magpies revealed that Pendlebury was expecting the results of the test on Tuesday.
The captain has missed two sessions after coming down with flu-like symptoms, quarantining himself as a precaution.
Earlier:
The AFL season looks to be in serious jeopardy, with a decision on the 2020 season due to be made after a conference call on Monday afternoon.
With AFL Victoria set to announce that the VFL will be suspended indefinitely ahead of its April 3 first bounce, news of Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury being quarantined for flu-like symptoms has cast doubt over the AFL’s opening rounds.
The Magpies are due to open their season against the Western Bulldogs on Friday night, with Pendlebury’s coronavirus test results expected on Monday afternoon.
The AFLPA has organised for all AFL and AFLW players to be part of a conference call on Monday.
Richmond skipper Trent Cotchin is hopeful the players’ health is taken into account as Victoria is placed in state of emergency.
“First and foremost, for me, is the health and safety of our players and that’s absolutely paramount,” Cotchin told SEN Breakfast.
“That obviously extends to our families as well.
“I’d like to think the decisions that are being made are the safest decisions and not based around just getting a show on for our fans even though that is an important part of our business.”
Richmond was the first team to pull involvement in the VFL competition.
“We’re trying to be as restrictive as possible with regards to our facility to reduce any risk of infection coming into our environment,” Cotchin said.
“First and foremost, we want to keep our group as healthy as possible and we don’t want to be carriers of this bug and pass it on to the community out there as well.
“Any hint of any form of cold symptoms are to be reported to our doctor before even coming in and then all the testing takes place as well.”
