West Coast’s arrival on the Gold Coast on Monday starts the longest, and oddest, road trip in AFL history for the four clubs entering into the competition’s Queensland quarantine hub.
While four weeks staying in a luxury resort on the Gold Coast in the middle of winter sounds like a dream, the reality of the hub is going to be a much different experience for the Eagles as well as Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide.
The Western Australian teams are staying at Royal Pines Resort, just down the road from Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium, while the South Australian clubs are to be based at the Mercure resort in nearby Palm Meadows.
Both resorts have golf courses, restaurants and all the facilities you’d expect but, while several players are bringing their clubs to Queensland, the AFL’s biosecurity rules mean there’ll be no teeing off at either resort for players or staff until the rules change.
Even socialising will be difficult for the teams, with rules limiting groups to just eight within the hub and social distancing to be practised throughout.
When the Dockers arrive on Tuesday at Royal Pines, they might not even see their cross-town rivals, with both clubs expected to be staying in separate wings of the hotel.
For those players with families, the time away will be particularly isolating.
Only three players, West Coast trio Liam Ryan, Tom Hickey, and Tim Kelly, are travelling with their families at this stage, although clubs might change that situation if the hub period is extended beyond the initial four weeks.
Eagles coach Adam Simpson hinted last week the unknown length of the stay was perhaps the biggest challenge he and his players and staff would face.
“We are used to travelling; we’re used to playing on the road; we’re used to being together a lot but probably not this long,” Simpson said.
Roommates are out, with the Eagles and Dockers confirming it’ll be a one-person per room arrangement for their stays.
To prepare for their trip east, Fremantle consulted sporting organisations more used to longer spells on the road such as Australia’s cricket and hockey teams.
Dockers football manager Joe Brierty said the information gathered would be used to maintain the wellbeing of players and staff while on the road.
“I’m sure, once we get up there, we’ll continue to work through things along the way,” Brierty told ABC Perth.
“Hopefully, we can get that advice as soon as we can to know whether we’re staying for an extended period or it’s just going to be that four-week block.”
Fremantle’s first match in the hub will be on Saturday at the Gabba against Brisbane, while the Eagles will take on Gold Coast later that same day at Metricon.
The two South Australian clubs will face each other in a Showdown on Saturday at Adelaide Oval before travelling next week to Queensland, ready to join the Eagles and Dockers on the AFL’s COVID-19 road trip.
