Footy fans with even mildest symptoms of illness urged to stay at home when Crows take on St Kilda at Adelaide Oval
As Adelaide Oval gears up to host a crowd of 25,000 when the Crows take on St Kilda tonight, officials have one message: Do the right thing – stay at home even if you’re mildly sick.
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The 25,000 footy fans expected at Adelaide Oval on Monday night are being urged to respect social distancing and other COVID- safety rules to ensure big crowds can continue at the ground.
Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said “it is up to every single fan that attends to do the right thing’’.
Prof Spurrier also said any fan who was considering attending the Crows-St Kilda game on Monday night but who felt unwell should stay home.
“I know it would be disappointing, but we don’t want anyone here tomorrow night, even if it’s just a mildly sore throat or a bit of a runny nose,’’ Prof Spurrier, who will attend the game said.
“Instead, go and get your COVID test done.’’
Prof Spurrier said while she was “optimistic that this (game) will go without a hitch’’, the next scheduled meeting of the State Government’s Transition Committee on Tuesday would discuss further steps and crowd levels at upcoming games.
Both South Australian teams are scheduled to play at Adelaide Oval this weekend.
Port Adelaide play St Kilda on Saturday, while the Crows host Essendon on Sunday.
Prof Spurrier said it was expected both games would have crowds of a maximum of 25,000.
“I am pretty confident that will happen, but obviously if there are any glitches then we will need to take that into account when planning other events.’’
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, who is also the state’s COVID-19 co-ordinator, said his officers would be ensuring patrons observed the 1.5m social distancing requirement.
He said police could issue $1000 fines under the Emergency Management Act if people did not follow instructions.
It will be the biggest crowd at Adelaide Oval in more than five months and the first time this season the Crows will play a home game.
Mr Stevens warned that despite extensive efforts from the Stadium Management Authority to show SA Health how it can safely manage crowds, Victoria’s escalating crisis still posed a threat, even as SA posted another day of zero new COVID-19 cases on Sunday.
“But I do think it comes back to how Victoria and NSW fare in their efforts to get on top of COVID-19,” Mr Stevens said. “This is not just about managing risk within our own community, it is about being prepared to manage the consequences of the worst-case scenario in another jurisdiction, which is our neighbour.
“Because the worse it gets in another state, the greater the risk is it’s going to find its way in.’’
Mr Stevens has warned possible tighter restrictions could be imposed if any new outbreak occurred in the state.
Adelaide Oval general manager Darren Chandler said fans would be seated in a “chequerboard” fashion, with empty seats beside them, as well as in front and behind.
Mr Chandler also encouraged fans to turn up early, have tickets ready for scanning, to leave and enter the ground from the same gate and to only use the Riverbank footbridge if travelling by train.
The Hill under the old scoreboard will also be out of bounds.
A full Footy Express bus service will run, despite the half-capacity crowd, which will allow for greater social distancing on public transport.
Payment for food, beverages and carparking at the ground is by card only.
Prof Spurrier encouraged patrons to bring their own hand sanitiser.
“So when you go and get something to eat at half time and you go back to your seat, just put on that hand sanitiser before you start eating your chips,’’ she said.
Prof Spurrier also said while Victoria was now mandating the use of face masks, it was not required at the football, although security staff will be wearing them.
“If we did have that level of community transmission (as in Victoria) that would certainly be something we might advise, but not at the moment,’’ she said.
The AFL is yet to set fixtures for matches beyond this weekend’s round.
Diehards can’t wait for the real deal
Self-described “one-eyed Crows fan” Ben Onofrio says it hasn’t been the same watching the footy from the couch, with the broadcasters pumping fake atmosphere through the TV speakers.
“I think any atmosphere at the footy in a big group will be exciting, even with the social distancing stuff it will still be good to hear a few real boos and a few real cheers,’’ he said.
And even with the oval hosting less than half of its 53,000 capacity, and Adelaide starting the season winless and favourites for the wooden spoon, he said the atmosphere should still be good. “I think it will still be a good vibe provided we hit the ground running in the first quarter and exceed our expectations,’’ he said.
Monday is Adelaide’s first home game of the season and for the faithful there is no better place to be on a Monday night, even if it requires a 770km round trip. Whyalla-based member Ashlie Mason and 11-year-old son Bailey did not hesitate after winning tickets in the club ballot. She said she had been a member of the club for four years and was proud to stick by them during the challenges of the COVID-19 season.
We’ve been waiting to go to the games again because Bailey is a massive Crows fan,” she said. “I was happy to get the tickets, because going to the footy is something that we do together.”
Both Adelaide clubs appreciate their fans. Crows coach Matthew Nicks said his “players have been really looking forward to it all week’’.
Port mentor Ken Hinkley will lead his team this weekend at the oval for the first time since round one.
“There’s something special about the Port Adelaide fans – they just bring their passion to the game, winning or losing and I love that,’’ he said.