AFL player's drastic social distancing measure with girlfriend

The Fremantle Dockers have made an extraordinary move to limit the potential for a coronavirus outbreak in the lead-up to round one of the AFL season.

Some Fremantle players will avoid seeing their partners over the next few weeks in a bid to protect themselves and the team from the coronavirus.

'DOESN’T LOOK GOOD': Scott Morrison's 'sobering' reality for AFL and NRL

‘ALL ABOUT THE MONEY’: Jack Riewoldt lashes 'staggering' virus theory

The Dockers have gone into isolation mode ahead of the start of the AFL season and are leaving no stone unturned in protecting their players.

Players have been advised to self-isolate and also been warned about the risks of seeing partners who don't have the option to work from home.

"After training I made the call to my girlfriend Julia and told her that based on current advice, I may not see her for potentially a few weeks as we went into isolation as a club," Dockers utility Bailey Banfield told the club's website.

"She has to live her life and she's just started a new job in the city and has to catch public transport into work.

"The concern was that any interactions with people or potentially contaminated surfaces would cancel out my self-isolation. It would be a risk for the whole club.

"With Julia's new job, continuing to see her was not an option."

Fremantle insist wives, girlfriends not banned

The Dockers insist they haven't banned players from seeing partners who don't have the option to work from home.

"There has categorically been no directive from the club that players ask their partners to either work from home or move out," a spokesperson said.

The Dockers have also moved their gym equipment from their training base in Cockburn to Optus Stadium in a bid to set up a more sterile zone.

Fremantle's season is due to start on Saturday against Essendon at Marvel Stadium.