South Australia's top health official, Nicola Spurrier, isn't a footy head. But if she was, she'd be ducking.
Spurrier has won widespread plaudits in her state for her direct messaging during the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, she's taken it to another level for Adelaide Oval's AFL spectators.
"If the ball comes towards you, my advice is to duck and do not touch that ball," Spurrier told reporters on Wednesday.
Spurrier, a professor who professes to preferring a run in the bush to ball sports, made the remark while detailing why AFL club Collingwood has been granted an exemption into South Australia to play Adelaide on Saturday.
SA's borders remain closed to Victorians amid that state's latest COVID-19 outbreak.
But Spurrier, SA's chief medical officer, and fellow decision-makers have allowed Collingwood in - on the proviso that the only South Australians they touch will be Adelaide Crows players.
"They will not be making contact with anyone in SA except the players in the Crows team, that is the only group in SA that will be exposed," Spurrier said.
Spurrier has been on a fast learning curve about her state's passion for ball sports, chiefly Australian Rules and cricket.
But sports fans have responded fondly, even when her bat flip was more a flop when given the ceremonial honour before a Big Bash League game between the Adelaide Strikers and Perth Scorchers last December.
