The AFL will test all players for COVID-19 as it plans its season resumption.
On Tuesday afternoon, the league confirmed it had sent a memo to all clubs ordering tests for players and staff, with testing to begin later this week.
"All players and staff who will be expected to be at their club for the return to train period must undertake an initial COVID-19 swab test, with tests to begin later this week," the AFL said in a statement.
In the memo, the AFL spells out to clubs the importance of adhering to outlined procedures to ensure the league remains completely aligned with governments and medical authorities, after 16 Adelaide players were punished for transgressing during a training camp.
The AFL, however, will not introduce mandatory flu shots for its players.
"While the AFL recommends players and officials to get a yearly flu shot, the decision is ultimately that of the player and club doctor as to whether they wish to do so," an AFL spokesperson told ESPN late last week.
The memo sent out on Tuesday also stated no AFL-listed player would be permitted to participate in a second-tier competition in 2020, with the league "currently considering alternative arrangements where players not selected to play in their AFL team participate in matches between other AFL clubs in a controlled environment, in line with government and AFL protocols, in order to have continuity in game play and improve their possibility for selection."
The AFL said it was continuing to work with all governments on the return to play model and all clubs had to follow the same strict training and isolation protocols that have been in place since March.
Those protocols include:
Club facilities to remain closed, including club gyms;
All coaching sessions and training programs must be provided remotely;
Clubs can mandate fitness programs for players; however, they can only be conducted in isolation either at home or in an outdoor space which complies with government social distancing requirements;
Ball work is permitted in open outdoor spaces and kick to kick with another single individual is permitted as long as social distancing is maintained and strict hygiene measures are employed (regular wiping of ball, washing/sanitising hands etc);
GPS monitoring during the shutdown period is strictly not permitted;
All medical services must be provided remotely.
The league said it would announce a return to train date and a return to play date later this week.