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Victorian AFL players face hub dilemma

3 minute read

As Victorian AFL clubs prepare to hit the road for an extended period, Trent Cotchin has conceded some Tigers players could choose not to enter interstate hubs.

TRENT COTCHIN.
TRENT COTCHIN. Picture: Scott Barbour Getty Images

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says there is a "genuine chance" some of his teammates could opt against moving to an interstate Hub if the Tigers are required to relocate during the AFL season.

Concerns over Victoria's COVID-19 spike saw Richmond's clash with West Coast on the Gold Coast postponed, with border restrictions set to see Victorian clubs spend a block of fixtures interstate.

Cotchin, who has a young family, emphasised the Tigers were prepared to head to a Hub but said he wouldn't be surprised if teammates expecting babies or with young families chose not to relocate indefinitely.

"That (players choosing not to enter hubs) would be a genuine chance," Cotchin said.

"I think it is going to be a challenge.

"(There's) no doubt our footy club will be there (in a Hub) and will partake and do what we need to do to continue the season.

"But there's going to be a number of different individual cases or scenarios.

"We have guys with babies pending and other challenges or things going on in their life that we will just have to manage accordingly ... and make sure everyone is comfortable and happy.

"The most important thing is our partners feel supported and have the help that's going to be needed with players, coaches and staff being away for a period of time."

Hawthorn's Tom Scully said they were prepared to head into a Hub but expected the Hawks to support their players' individual decisions.

"Certainly, yeah, we've got a number of players with young families and partners," Scully told reporters on Tuesday.

"So I think the club would be very accommodating to those players.

"I've got no doubt the club would work individually with every player to make sure they're comfortable."

As things stand, New South Wales appears set to become a temporary base for both Queensland teams.

Brisbane and Gold Coast may relocate to Sydney to circumvent 14 days in quarantine if their respective round-six clashes against Collingwood and Hawthorn go ahead, while Victorian teams would also be able to fly in and play under the state's looser restrictions.

GWS young gun Tom Green said a Harbour City Hub would be a major boon.

"A Hub in Sydney would be fantastic," the Rising Star nominee told reporters on Tuesday.

"It'd be an awesome opportunity to grow the game in a non-traditional AFL area.

"We've got great facilities here. It'd be an awesome spectacle."

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