AFL reveals: Port Adelaide and the Crows will head to Melbourne to play their round 7 games
COVID-19 is surging in Victoria and a 25,000-capacity Adelaide Oval stands dormant, but that isn’t enough to stop the AFL scheduling SA’s clubs to play empty Melbourne stadiums. VOTE IN OUR POLL
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South Australia’s two AFL teams will head straight into the nation’s COVID-19 hotspot, with the AFL announcing it has scheduled Port Adelaide and Adelaide’s round 7 games in Victoria instead of coronavirus-free SA.
Despite COVID cases continuing to spike, both Port and the Crows will play their round 7 games in Melbourne, with Adelaide to face North Melbourne at a crowd-free Marvel Stadium on Saturday, July 18, and the Power to play St Kilda on the same ground on Sunday, July 19.
The AFL’s decision comes amid soaring COVID-19 cases, with Victoria recording 33 new cases on Thursday – its biggest spike in months – while SA has not recorded a new case since late May.
Meanwhile, the Adelaide Oval sits dormant to AFL footy despite it being able to host crowds of up to 25,000 people.
Even though SA’s tough border restrictions that require interstate travellers to quarantine for two weeks are due to be lifted on July 20, Premier Steven Marshall has given a strong indication the state government could extend border restrictions to and from Victoria beyond that date.
“We’re not going to be lifting the border (to Victoria) if it’s going to set us backwards in SA, we’ve worked too hard to get to the point where we are at the moment,” Mr Marshall said.
“We’re monitoring the situation very carefully … we’re very hopeful (Victoria will) get on top of it and at this stage July 20 is our date, but all of these dates are subject to change if there are going to be adverse outcomes for the people of our state.”
If the July 20 date remains in place and the round 7 games go ahead in Melbourne as planned, it will mean both teams will have to play their games and then stay in Victoria until Monday, July 20, to avoid the mandatory 14-day quarantine on return.
If the restrictions are extended, the game may need to be moved to grounds in Queensland or New South Wales.
Another complicating factor is that the Power and Crows have not played any Victorian teams prior to round 7, and if border restrictions extend beyond July 20, it would make playing any games at Adelaide Oval difficult unless Victorian teams are granted travel exemptions.
This draw is ridiculous! @Adelaide_FC why aren't you complaining about this draw? We are having 'home games' on the Gold Coast, but could host games at Adelaide Oval with 25,000 + fans. 🤬 Completely over this #AFL season, it's a farce. pic.twitter.com/o1sIDMXC35
— Adam Fitzgerald (@AdamJFitzgerald) June 25, 2020
This is absolutely atrocious to force ANY team to fly into Victoria for games at this point! Hubs should be in QLD, NSW, SA, WA and maybe even NT. Please, PLEASE reconsider this decision immediately!
— Nicholas Thiel (@WulfricNick) June 25, 2020
#AFL to think you are asking clubs from Cov-19 free states to play in your state just proves what everyone outside of #Victoria have been thinking for years. Its still the VFL
— Mic G (@grady_mic) June 25, 2020
“(Exemptions) are something the transition committee can look at, but most importantly it’s something that SA Health needs to look at, we don’t want to go backwards in SA, we’ve done an exceptional job in this state to date and so we’ve just got to be very careful, I’ll leave those decisions up to the health professionals,” Mr Marshall said.
Port’s chief executive officer Keith Thomas said the club was looking forward to playing its fair quota of home games at the back end of the season.
“We understand the need for this game to be played in Melbourne due to the current South Australian border restrictions,” he said.
“Once South Australian border restrictions are eased on July 20 we fully expect and are looking forward to playing our fair quota of home games at Adelaide Oval to reward our members, supporters and corporate partners as well as our players, coaches and staff who have been away from their families for a prolonged period already.”
While Port Adelaide has not specifically planned for an extension of the border restrictions, the club said it had actively prepared for every possibly scenario and remained ready to adapt to any situation it may face.
Port’s dynamic mid-forward Connor Rozee told 5AA’s Rowey and Bicks that he was personally baffled by the decision.
“I would have thought we’d probably try and stay away from Victoria at the moment, but it is what it is and the boys are happy to go anywhere at the moment, just to keep footy going.
“Hopefully we can have a few home games after that which would be good.”
The Crows have been contacted for comment.
MORE TO COME.