Sick Adelaide Crow cleared of swine flu
Adelaide and the AFL breathed a sigh of relief on Saturday night after young onballer Richard Douglas' swine flu test results came back negative.
At the end of a week when rugby league side Brisbane were affected by the virus, Douglas fell ill on Friday and was withdrawn the following day from Adelaide's side to play North Melbourne on Sunday.
His housemate and Crows emergency Tony Armstrong was also taken out of match-day calculations, with both players quarantined pending the outcome of the tests, which came through Saturday evening.
"The Adelaide Football Club wishes to advise that Richard Douglas' swine flu test returned negative," the Crows said in a statement.
"Douglas, who has been suffering from the flu since Friday, will still not play in tomorrow's game against North Melbourne at AAMI Stadium.
"He has been replaced in the 22 by Jared Petrenko."
The AFL have previously stated they would announce their action plan should one or more players fall prey to swine flu and Douglas' reprieve will keep this under wraps.
So far the AFL have escaped an outbreak of the virus despite its prevalence in the game's Melbourne heartland, but officials are naturally nervous.
A native of Victoria, Douglas spent time with friends and family in Melbourne last weekend when playing a part in the Crows' win over Essendon before flying home with teammates and developing symptoms.
Among other players, outspoken Western Bulldogs veteran Jason Akermanis was in the Queensland room during rugby league's State of Origin game, where that sport's first case emerged.
He has reported no symptoms.
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