South Australian health officials have refused to allow AFL teams to engage in full contact training, reinforcing that the rules allowing sporting teams to engage in non-contact training in groups of 10 also applies to AFL clubs.
Subsequently, Adelaide and Port Adelaide would have to temporarily relocate in order for the season to restart without disruption.
The teams would join Western Australian clubs West Coast and Fremantle in quarantine hubs for the first four to six weeks of the season.
While Port Adelaide has indicated it would be willing to base itself “anywhere we can to be a part of the competition”, board member Mark Ricciuto said it was important players could maintain a consistent training schedule in the lead-up to the resumption of play.
“All footy club presidents and CEOs and footy managers have been changing what they’re doing daily,” Ricciuto told Triple M this morning.
“It’s been just a moving beast at the moment and that’s going to continue for Adelaide after that announcement last night.”
It comes after AFL players and officials began unprecedented mass testing for coronavirus on Wednesday.
Essendon captain Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Dylan Shiel and coach John Worsfold were among the first arrivals for swab testing at Marvel Stadium on Wednesday morning.
Richmond stars, including captain Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin and Tom Lynch, were among others to arrive mid-morning.
Every player and official in the competition will be tested before Friday in the hope of getting the green light to resume training as early as Monday.
