Adelaide investigated over AFL virus breach in training

Adelaide are investigating a potential breach of the AFL's training protocols by a group of their players.

The Crows have 16 players quarantining for 14 days in the Novotel Barossa Valley Resort - which is temporarily closed to the public - after they returned from interstate on Monday.

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AFL players are currently only permitted to train in pairs to ensure teams are not disadvantaged by different rules around training in different states.

The Crows said the players may have breached the rules by allegedly having a larger group, accompanied by an assistant coach who is also undergoing mandatory self-isolation, training together for part of a scheduled session on Thursday afternoon.

"Players were told to complete any training in accordance with current AFL training protocols, which include not training in more than pairs and at all times maintaining social distancing, while staying at the facility," Adelaide head of football Adam Kelly said in a statement.

"It appears this may not have happened for the entirety of a skills session and we are in the process of gathering the facts and liaising with the AFL."

In South Australia, it is legal to train in groups of 10 people or less, but as Victorian players are still only able to train in pairs, the AFL has restricted training sessions to pairs to maintain a level playing field.

AFL stops teams having an advantage over others

The AFL’s decision has seen it accused of bowing to pressure from Victorian clubs, who argued that it would give teams from other states an unfair advantage.

Western Australia and Queensland clubs would also have benefited from being able to train in larger groups after restrictions were eased in those states.

Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has been among the most vocal in his criticism at the AFL’s decision to deny teams in those states the opportunity to train in larger groups.

The Port Adelaide great and AFL Footy Show colleague Tony Jones engaged in a heated debate over the issue this week, after Jones labelled fans "whingers" on Perth radio.

"Now this ruling is on the back of the AFL stating that it's a competitive advantage for the Perth teams to train in groups of 10, when just because Premier Dan Andrews wants everyone locked up, the Victorian teams aren't able to (train).

"Now this is the same team we're asking to travel across the country 11 times per year. How can you possibly label the Perth teams whinging on the back of this, considering the perks the Victorian teams get.

"There are unfair advantages right across the competition and this was just a ridiculous call."

with Yahoo Sport staff