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Douglas fell ill on Friday and was withdrawn the following day from Adelaide's side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.