It seems inevitable that at some point COVID will take out teams and impact the season. There are whispers that Collingwood has players isolating as contacts this week in the lead up to Round 1. Read this interesting article by our own Libby Birch about the voluntary actions some players are taking to try to avoid missing games.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/part-time-players-full-time-responsibility-covid-19-is-stretching-aflw-20220103-p59lih.html?btis

Obviously as part-timers, the clubs can't ban activities or force players into hubs but it seems like some are taking the initiative to create their own social bubbles and reduce risks as much as possible. Will be really hard for those in public-facing jobs such as teachers, retail, hospitality and healthcare workers to find a balance (i.e., basically impossible!).

Here are the policies for match re-scheduling if players become close contacts or test positive:

https://www.womens.afl/news/78420/afl-releases-covid-match-rescheduling-guidelines

Basically, of the list of 30 (plus train-on players), the minimum availability for a match to go ahead is 16 AFLW primary list players and 5 train-on players. It's not hard to imagine a scenario where half the team gets sidelined the day before a match, so I'd expect more re-scheduling than what has already taken place due to borders.

Being reminded of the opportunity COVID wrenched from the women (and so us!) in 2020, along with a main angle in Birch's article - that, notwithstanding the voluntary actions (presumably all teams are taking), ultimate success rests on "...if you can beat COVID..." - I'm wondering if MFCSS, now cured (in remission? *cough*) with respect to the men's team, is trying to find a toehold in our following of the women's fortunes? The possibility that a team a dozen or more players below full strength might be required to play a team at full strength doesn't help...