IT has been well publicised that Port Adelaide’s travelling group that made the trip to the Gold Coast for round 1 self-isolated for the required 14-day period.
The club’s players, coaches and staff that returned with four points from the win over the Suns were only able to leave their properties as of yesterday, after playing their role in flattening the curve of the coronavirus outbreak.
For midfield coach Jarrad Schofield, this has presented a unique challenge in balancing communication and workload for those within the playing group in self-isolation and those that were not required to do so.
“We came back from the Gold Coast and half of our squad has been in self-isolation and half hasn’t, so we have been a bit mixed,” he told Perth radio.
“In terms of communication with our players, we have got to be aware that it is now seen as a mini end-of-season or Christmas break so we are giving them that space while we work through it as an industry and we work out what is happening moving forward.
“We have been able to communicate in (the digital) space. I have done Zoom calls once a week with my whole midfield group just to make sure they are going okay and what is going on in their life.”
The majority of football departments across the AFL have been stood down and playing groups sent on leave during 2020 AFL season shutdown period, but Schofield says both groups remain committed to maintaining their high standards.
“(Players) have got a professional approach to make sure they are doing their own stuff, whether that is inside the four walls of their own home or the guys that haven’t been in isolation are outside doing their prescribed program from our strength and conditioning staff,” he said.
“(Coaches are) reinforcing the importance of (players) keeping themselves active and fit and keeping their heads in the game because at some stage we are going to come back and play this wonderful game.
“We want to make sure that we continue on what has been a really good start to our season in the three games that we have played.
“We have been working so hard on our connection as a group, players and coaches, so we don’t want to let that lapse.”
The Power assistant has also been looking at the positives the season hiatus provides for himself in his role.
“I am using (the break) as an opportunity to upskill myself and look at opposition sides in advance, looking at all the round 1 vision just to make sure when we come back you’ve had a bit of a head start,” Schofield said.
“You’re keeping yourself active and being proactive in your job so when we do come back you’re ready to go.
Schofield also reflected on how a break between round 1 and 2 could present an opportunity for Port’s injured players to get more total games under their belt for the season than initially anticipated.
“Young Willem Drew, who was a real shining light for us, fractured his foot and is going to be out for probably four months,” he said.
“So missing football isn’t a bad thing for everyone when nobody is playing games. Hopefully he can get back out on the park when we are back playing games.
“The other one that hasn’t played because he hurt his shoulder is Ollie Wines.
“As an unfortunate as the situation at the moment is, he is one going ‘well I haven’t missed any footy’ and he is going to be right to go when we get back on the park.
“He is going to be like a new recruit for us.”
