Geelong spearhead quarantined in big AFL grand final scare
Geelong are adamant Tom Hawkins will be fit to play in the AFL grand final against Richmond despite the Coleman medallist missing Tuesday's training session through illness.
A club spokesperson said Hawkins had been told to stay away from teammates after feeling unwell.
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The power forward has a sore throat, an ailment believed to have been passed on by one of his children.
Hawkins' young family is staying with him at Royal Pines on the Gold Coast, where a small group of Geelong players with families are based.
The majority of the Cats' travelling party is based a few kilometres away at the hotel adjacent to their Southport Sharks training ground.
Hawkins pulled out of a previously arranged press conference on Monday with what the club said was a family commitment.
He was replaced by fellow veteran Harry Taylor and rescheduled to speak to the media on Thursday.
That is now in some doubt but the Cats say there is no chance Hawkins will miss the decider, with the 32-year-old's training absence on Tuesday viewed purely as a precaution.
Tom Hawkins missed training this morning due to illness and has isolated away from his teammates. pic.twitter.com/vz1HjXFap1
— 7AFL (@7AFL) October 20, 2020
Tom Hawkins in quarantine 😳
— MB #44 (@maxblake44) October 20, 2020
A touch of intrigue with Tom Hawkins not training.
Club says currently being quarantined from team-mates after feeling unwell. Apparently nothing major, sore throat passed around his young family.
Cats taking every precaution, so not to affect teammates.@9NewsMelb— Ayrton Woolley (@AyrtonWoolley) October 20, 2020
Geelong players trained in small groups on Tuesday in what is termed a "craft session".
Their main training session for the week is on Wednesday night in the lead-up to Saturday night's grand final at the Gabba.
General public tickets sell out for AFL decider
The general public ticket allocation for Saturday's AFL grand final at the Gabba has sold out.
Tuesday morning's ticket sale was the first time in more than 20 years that tickets for the season decider had gone on sale to the general public - and the allocation sold out in less than 20 minutes.
On Monday, more than 2,500 Geelong members and 3,500 Richmond members secured tickets.
Tickets sold on Monday were only open to club members who were in Queensland or in states where there is travel allowed into Queensland.
Further tickets could become available on Thursday if certain allocations aren't fulfilled.
The crowd at the Gabba is capped at 30,000.
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