AFL 2021 Covid updates: All the latest news, club travel plans

Sydney will be rushed to Melbourne and then in and out of Adelaide as the AFL comes to grips with its latest COVID curveball.

The AFL has been forced to shift Port Adelaide’s Saturday night top-eight clash against Sydney at Adelaide Oval to a twilight start to allow the Swans enough time to get out of South Australia.

And that isn’t where it has stopped for the AFL, with the start time of two other matches this weekend changed.

The Power and Swans, fifth and sixth on the ladder, were set to lock horns in a 7.10pm start on Saturday night.

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But after the Swans were to flee to Melbourne, along with GWS, to still be allowed into SA as NSW’s Covid-19 situation worsens, the match has been shifted to a twilight start – with the first bounce at 4.05pm.

The Swans will fly in and out of Adelaide on Saturday from their new Melbourne base, like Collingwood and Geelong had to in recent trips to take on the Crows and the Power.

Sydney will have to follow Covid-19 protocols while in Melbourne and spend hours in the SACA indoor nets at Adelaide Oval after arriving in SA prior to the game.

Port Adelaide will still host Sydney at Adelaide Oval despite NSW’s latest Covid-19 outbreak. Picture: Sarah Reed

Both the Swans and the Power have agreed to strict travel arrangements and other protocols imposed by the State Government for the game to go ahead.

Geelong was on standby to host the match if required, but SA’s Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr Emily Kirkpatrick said the Swans’ leaving Sydney on Tuesday evening meant they could still come to Adelaide.

“We did give an exemption to the Sydney Swans players yesterday (Tuesday) evening,” she said.

“This was on the proviso that they would fly out of Sydney, travel to Melbourne where they would be part of the AFL protocols in terms of what they could and couldn’t undertake and be part of a testing provision as well.”

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson said the Power understood why the game was moved forward.

“We understand the need to shift the game to an earlier timeslot will impact our people, particularly given the late notice and the impact this has on people’s plans,” he said.

“But we have all become agile around doing whatever is required in order for the season to proceed.

“As a club, we recognise that the health and safety of players, coaches, staff and the wider community is the absolute priority and it is important that the AFL mitigates any risk related to the spread of Covid-19.”

As well as bringing forward the Power/Swans match on Saturday, the AFL has also been forced to shift Collingwood’s clash against Fremantle on the same day to 1.45pm AEST from the former 4.35pm start time, and Adelaide’s trip to Marvel Stadium to take on Carlton to 4.10pm AEST from 4.40pm.

This allows Fremantle and the Crows to return straight to Western Australia and South Australia, respectively, after the game.

When the Dockers arrive back in Perth they will commence a quarantine period with permissions to train and play.

The Crows will not face any quarantine period after SA opened its border to Victoria again.

AFL executive general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld said, as always, the league would be guided by the directions and advice of state governments and health experts.

“While we continue to navigate challenges as a result of the ongoing pandemic, our aim remains to maintain the match-ups as fixtured,” he said.

“We will continue to closely monitor across the country and we thank everyone in the game for their patience and understanding as we worked through finalising arrangements for Round 15.”

On Tuesday night, Sydney and Greater Western Sydney boarded an emergency flight to Melbourne as NSW’s escalating coronavirus problem delivered Hawthorn a bonus game at the MCG.

In moving Sunday’s Hawks-Giants clash from Giants Stadium to the MCG, Melbourne is now set to host five Round 15 matches after enduring three weeks with no football.

GMHBA Stadium was on standby for Saturday’s Port Adelaide-Sydney contest.

It was solely the AFL’s call to evacuate its two NSW clubs on Tuesday as a precautionary measure.

It was not a decision made in consultation with state governments.

The league determined that by acting swiftly and getting the Swans and Giants into Melbourne it would “maximise optionality” for both this week and beyond.

The AFL’s move was justified late on Tuesday night when the Victorian government slammed shut its border to people from central Sydney and surrounding suburbs.

The government’s ruling and actions by other state governments casts a doubt over future rounds, including Round 16 where the Swans were due to face West Coast at the SCG.

The Giants are scheduled to play Melbourne at the MCG in Round 16, with both Sydney clubs now facing extended stays in Victoria or elsewhere.

The Giants and the Sydney Swans packed their bags on Tuesday afternoon for an emergency flight out of Sydney.

Only weeks ago it was NSW which came to the AFL’s aid by housing Victorian clubs and hosting seven games in three rounds as Melbourne went into lockdown.

If Western Australia opens its borders to Victoria on Friday then not only will Western Bulldogs have their hotel quarantine restrictions lifted early, but there would be no travel restrictions enforced on those based in football heartland.

Players from the Swans and Giants were told shortly before 4pm to pack their bags for an indefinite stint on the road.

By 8pm they were on the tarmac ready to board their charter flight to Melbourne in a coronavirus curveball nobody saw coming.

Club staff who were not on that flight had hoped to make their way to Melbourne on Wednesday.

But those plans were thrown into disarray when the Victorian government shut its border to people from central Sydney and surrounding suburbs on Tuesday night.

The Hawks are 3-0 against the Giants at the MCG and 0-4 against them at Giants Stadium.

Originally published as AFL 2021 Covid updates: All the latest news, club travel plans