After the function Stack and Coleman-Jones decided to leave the hub and sources said the pair had travelled to the nightclub strip in an Uber, a clear breach of AFL protocols.

Queensland Police confirmed two men were arrested at 3.30am Friday following a disturbance in Surfers Paradise and were issued with a police banning notice, banning them from the precinct, and a penalty infringement notice.

"Around 3.30am, officers responded to reports of two men, aged 20 and 21, involved in a physical altercation on Orchid Avenue. Both men sustained facial injuries as a result of the incident," the QPS spokesperson said.

"Further investigations are continuing into the matter."

The players would appear to have breached the rules, in that they do not have a permitted reason for leaving their hub.

Should they be sent home to Melbourne, as seems highly likely, this would leave the Tigers without two players, albeit Stack did not play against Fremantle on Wednesday night. It is a situation that is more fraught for the AFL than even the Tigers.

Richmond issued a statement on Friday in relation to the incident.

"Richmond has become aware of a breach of AFL COVID-19 protocol by two of its players, in the early hours of Friday morning," the statement said.

"The club immediately reported the breach of protocols to the AFL, and is working with the league to investigate the matter.

"The players have been based inside the club’s player hub on the Gold Coast having already undertaken a 14-day quarantine in July. They are not part of the current quarantine hub where AFL officials, and players and family members are undertaking the required 14-day quarantine period.

"The club is not in a position to comment further until the investigation is complete."

Queensland’s LNP opposition leader Deb Frecklington said if players from the “special AFL hub” were involved they should be “sent back to Victoria”.

“Reckless behaviour like this puts the lives and livelihoods of Queenslanders at risk,” she said.

“It is time for common sense, consistency and compassion - not special deals for sporting stars and celebrities.”

With Matt Dennien

More to come