South Australia has shut the border to greater Melbourne in response to the COVID cluster growing in the state and it will have ramifications on this weekend’s footy.
Adelaide was set to take on Richmond at the MCG, but that fixture would maroon the Crows in Victoria under the current border rules.
Senior Richmond advisor Neil Balme was asked about what the restrictions could mean for the game moments after the news broke.
“There’s been a lot going on today and we assumed it was all reasonably okay for this weekend. I know our blokes are all being tested tomorrow to make sure they’re fine before the game so there’s no real risk in the game for Adelaide, but coming back, it depends on what else they do I suppose,” Balme told SEN SA.
“I do feel for the people making the rules, but I’m hoping the game is on obviously.”
The Tigers vaguely revealed on Wednesday that Tom Lynch would miss time with a knee injury and Balme has clarified the timeline on his return.
“I think in the good old days he would still be playing, which is why I finished playing at 27. That’s the issue with it. They said he probably could play a few more games without too many problems, but it is a cartilage issue that he has to have fixed and it’s wise to do so and he’ll probably miss five to six weeks,” he said.
“Then at least we’ve got him at the end of the season when hopefully we’re seriously challenging and he’ll be available.
“Whilst we’re going to miss him for six weeks it’s not the worst thing that can happen.”
Balme strongly hinted that Callum Coleman-Jones would come in to replace Lynch, among a few changes.
“There will be quite a few (inclusions)… We’ve been keen to give Coleman-Jones a chance, he’s a ruckman and a forward. Mabior Chol has been at the club a few years and it’s now or never for him in a sense, but he is a super talented kid and Callum is really exciting as well. They’re the bigger blokes who are likely to come in.”
“There’ll be a few changes. Patrick Naish is probably going to miss because he hurt his hamstring.
“There will be quite a few differences. Trent Cotchin, we’re confident he’ll play, Shane Edwards maybe-maybe not, Dion Prestia virtually a certainty as well and so is Shai Bolton I think.”
Richmond will have to balance their Sunday fixture with a Thursday night VFL game this weekend.