Awkward moment rival AFL teams are forced onto the same plane – as fans point out what their body language reveals about their premiership hopes
- WA-based AFL teams flee as Perth is plunged into lockdown due to outbreak
- Bitter rivals West Coast and Fremantle shared a chartered flight to Victoria
- Photo of players on plane showing difference in body language has fans talking
An awkward photo of two of AFL's fiercest rivals forced to share a chartered flight while fleeing lockdown has summed up a city divided.
West Coast Eagles and crosstown rivals Fremantle Dockers fled on Tuesday after Perth and the surrounding Peel area was plunged into a four day lockdown late Monday night due to new community coronavirus cases.
All but two of the 18 AFL teams are now based in Victoria as large swathes of the nation battle to control fresh virus outbreaks.
Western Australian based players were given little notice to pack and farewell loved ones before heading the airport, where they spent several hours waiting on buses on the tarmac before boarding a chartered Virgin flight.
But it's the photo of Eagles and Dockers players on the plane showing the difference in body language and minimal communication with each other that has fans talking and gone viral online.
Rival AFL players from Fremantle Dockers (left) and West Coast Eagles (right) were on the same chartered flight to Victoria on Tuesday
The photo shows Dockers players keeping to themselves on one side of the aisle listening to music and checking their phones as Eagles chatted among themselves on the other while preparing for take-off.
'That moment when… ' West Coast captioned the photo.
Many Eagles fans were quick to comment of how awkward the photo appeared, reigniting the bitter rivalry between the crosstown rivals.
'Ha, a plane divided by a city, a town , a whole vibe,' one fan commented.
Another added: ' Tough times, West Coast had to ride with the livestock.'
Some die-hard Dockers fans were also unimpressed their team were sharing a plane with their fiercest rivals.
'I would be putting a barrier up,' one commented.
One woman added: 'I can’t even bring myself to like this post with all that blue and yellow in it!'
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Western Australian based players including Eagles star Nic Naitanui (pictured) fled Perth's four day lockdown
Other fans weighed into on the stark contrast in body language between the Eagles and Dockers, despite being seventh and ninth respectively.
'Notice most Dockers have headphones whilst Eagles talking amongst themselves... maybe Eagles boarded after dockers? Just looks odd,' one added.
The West Coast Eagles are currently priced by Sportsbet at $15 to win their fifth premiership.
The Dockers are yet to win a premiership since joining the AFL in 1995 and are priced at $101, despite being within one win of the top eight.
'So what’s it like to win a premiership?,' an Eagles fan quipped.
Another added: 'Let's hope what the Dockers have had for 30 years isn't catching.'
West Coast Eagles players (pictured) chatted amongst themselves on one side of the plane compared to the minimal interaction between Fremantle players on the other
Other eagled-eyed fans were quick to point out that several players from both sides weren't wearing masks correctly.
The Dockers take on Carlton on Saturday night at a venue yet to be confirmed while West Coast play the Sydney Swans in Geelong on Sunday.
The Eagles are hopeful of returning to Perth after Sunday's game and host North Melbourne at Optus Stadium next weekend.
'Unfortunately, we can’t be sure what will happen next, or what capacity will be permitted at Optus Stadium – this remains an unknown until the current outbreak is contained and the situation assessed,' Eagles boss Trevor Nisbett said in a statement.
West Coast end Fremantle players spent several hours waiting on the tarmac before boarding
