The NRL’s players have been urged to avoid unnecessary contact with supporters, including taking pens to sign autographs, amid the threat of coronavirus spreading.

And according to West Coast Eagles veteran Josh Kennedy, it’s an approach AFL players may also have to consider as the season fast approaches.

Speaking on 6PR this morning, Kennedy said the possibility of reducing contact with fans at training sessions and games would have to be looked at while the uncertainty around the spread of the virus remained.

“We have open training sessions where the fans come down and watch training and then there’s a chance for them to get stuff signed,” he said.

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“Looking at things like that... will we have to get to a point where we have to say ‘Sorry, we can’t sign anything, just while this thing is going on’?

“All those things have got to be looked at coming into the season.”

FYFE ON VIRUS: ‘This thing doesn’t look like stopping or slowing down any time soon’

Fremantle last night confirmed one of its players had undergone coronavirus testing after experiencing flu-like symptoms following contact with a friend who had been in China.

On Tuesday the club confirmed the test results were negative.

Kennedy said the reality of sporting travel, particularly for WA clubs, meant the risk of being exposed to coronavirus was unavoidable.

The Eagles play their season opener in Perth next Sunday, with a trip to Melbourne to face St Kilda looming the following week.

“It’s starting to get to that point where... it’s the beginning of the season now, we’re travelling, obviously we’ve got games, and there’s a lot of stuff going on overseas which is happening with sporting events,” Kennedy said.

“We’re discussing it now.

“The club, the AFL, the government - they’re all trying to assess the risk of what’s going on.

“We obviously travel a fair bit, so going in and out of airports is not ideal with what’s going on.”

Kennedy said all players at the club were on high alert for any symptoms of the virus.

“If anyone comes down with a cold or flu-like symptoms, we’ve got to report it straight away,” he said.

“It’s hit Australia and it’s coming through.

“We’re not too worried about it, but we’ve just got to put things in place.”