Latest news on how Victoria’s Covid-19 scare will impact the 2021 AFL season
As Victoria’s Covid-19 crisis casts huge doubt over the 2021 AFL season, two state governments has already reached out to the league to offer their assistance.
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Queensland has joined Tasmania in revealing it has spoken to the AFL about hosting teams in a hub.
Carlton and Essendon have already flown out of Melbourne to Sydney and Perth, with Richmond and Hawthorn to follow.
Tasmania premier Peter Gutwein said he had spoken to AFL boss Gillon McLachlan in the past 24 hours about the Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne.
While relocating this weekend’s clash between Hawthorn and Gold Coast to the Apple Isle was not an option because of “broadcasting” issues, Gutwein said he had discussed hosting future matches in the state.
QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, who won praise for saving the 2020 AFL season after hosting Victorian clubs in the sunshine state last year, said she was open to stepping in again.
“We are speaking with the AFL and we are more than happy to take more teams as needed,” Palaszczuk said.
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“Just as we did last time with the lockdown in Victoria, we are more than happy to accommodate teams where it is safe to do so.
“A number of teams, from my understanding, from the NRL are moving up here as well.”
Hawthorn players have packed their bags and are preparing to fly north to take on the Gold Coast at a yet-to-be confirmed venue.
Their scheduled Saturday night match in Darwin was cancelled and the game will be played somewhere in Queensland – most likely Metricon Stadium.
The Hawks are still waiting on AFL clarification about where they will fly.
Hubs were put back on the agenda by the AFL during a Wednesday hook-up with clubs CEOs.
Last year, the competition was largely based in Queensland a decision that ultimately led to the Grand Final being player at The Gabba.
“Obviously it is a moving feast with the AFL at the moment, again I would make the point and I have been clear right through this, we would not make any special arrangements or circumstances,” Gutewin said.
“They [clubs] would be treated the same as everybody else.
“Obviously if they had teams that were outside of Victoria at the moment that wanted to be domiciled here that could enter the state – bearing in mind it is only Victoria that the borders are closed to – then obviously we would have those discussions.
“I certainly wouldn’t rule it [a Tasmanian hub] out.
“My understanding is those arrangements [for the Hawks-Suns match] have already been dealt with.
“If I could make the point, in terms of no games being here this weekend it was a matter of broadcasting, that was the conversation I had with Gil.
“In terms of us making an offer for teams that could come into Tasmania that weren’t needing to quarantine, we certainly said we would look to facilitate that, again there were other matters that needed to be taken into account and that wasn’t possible.”
After all AFL content was scrapped from Tasmania last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hawthorn has played two matches in Launceston and North Melbourne has hosted one at Blundstone Arena in 2021.
The next scheduled match is on Saturday June 13 featuring the Roos and GWS in Hobart.
HAWKS TO FLY NORTH AS AFL SEARCHES FOR VENUE
Hawthorn players are packing their bags to fly north and take on the Gold Coast at a yet-to-be confirmed venue amid the AFL Covid-19 chaos.
The Hawks – Suns game will be played somewhere in Queensland – most likely Metricon Stadium – after a last-minute exemption by the Northern Territory government to play the match in Darwin was denied.
The Hawks are waiting on AFL clarification about where they will fly.
Despite reports, the Suns were never told the game would be postponed and have always expected to take on the Hawks.
The Herald Sun understands all Covid-19 tests from Gold Coast and Hawthorn players came back negative so the Hawks could travel in a bubble and be given permission to play in Darwin under an exemption.
But if not the league could fly the Hawks to Queensland and the teams would play at Metricon.
The border to Queensland from Victoria is not yet closed, but could quickly be slammed shut.
Gold Coast chief executive Mark Evans told the Herald Sun the Suns expected the game to go ahead but at a venue yet to be determined.
Getting the Hawks out of Victoria could allow them to have their bye next week then play Sydney at the SCG the following weekend.
Richmond will flee Melbourne at 4pm Thursday as the AFL scrambles to keep Round 11 alive amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
The expectation is the Tigers clash with Adelaide will now be played at Giants Stadium on Sunday.
The Crows were due to fly to Melbourne to face the Tigers on Sunday but would have needed an exemption from the South Australian government to return home after SA slammed its borders shut to Greater Melbourne.
Sydney is the leading option being considered by the AFL for the Richmond v Adelaide clash, with Giants Stadium free on Sunday.
The SCG is hosting the Swans-Carlton game on the same day.
Essendon jetted out to Perth on Wednesday morning for its Saturday clash with West Coast and Carlton flew to Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.
Clubs were told on Wednesday that players should be packed and prepared for every scenario: games being relocated, games being played at neutral venues, teams being on the road for weeks at a time and even the possibility of a return to Queensland hubs.
Such measures could mean Essendon stays in Western Australia for weeks and plays other non-Perth teams.
Next weekend’s Alice Springs clash between Melbourne and Brisbane is also in doubt.
SA chief health officer Prof Nicola Spurrier said any exemption sought by the Crows would be assessed.
“They need to provide information to our exemption team and we can do a work around,” she said.
“We would have to look at that individual circumstance and the risks at the time.”
Until now the league has not been keen for a return to interstate hubs.
It proved a big strain on many players and their families who lived away from home for months last year.
Former Melbourne and Port Adelaide star Jack Watts said on Wednesday the tough restrictions which while injured last year were a contributing factor in his decision to retire from the game.
“I found it really difficult and to be honest, looking forward to this year whether it was going to be similar or not it had an effect on my decision to walk away,” Watts said.
“I couldn’t see myself going through that again.”
AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh said players were mentally prepared to do whatever was required to help keep the game going throughout 2021.
“The players by and large are prepared to be flexible to keep working through whatever challenges are thrown up,” Marsh said on SEN.
“And if that means they need to be away for a little period of time then they are prepared to do that and it is something we have discussed with them.”
But Marsh said it got more difficult for players when there was the prospect of long road trips with uncertain timelines.
“Where a bit of anxiety will be — particularly based off last year when they left Victoria on the basis of being away for 32 days and for some that was over 100 days — there is probably still that question mark of ‘OK are we coming home on Sunday afternoon or are we not?,” Marsh said.
MARVEL STADIUM ADDED TO LIST OF COVID-19 HOTSPOTS
Marvel Stadium has become the next Covid-19 hotspot after it was confirmed an infected fan attended the clash between Essendon and North Melbourne on Sunday.
It is the second AFL stadium in two days to become a virus flashpoint.
A case was confirmed to have attended the Collingwood and Port Adelaide clash at the MCG on May 23.
The AFL released a statement on Wednesday night saying: “The AFL is aware that a person who attended the Sunday May 23 match at the Marvel Stadium between Essendon and North Melbourne has since tested positive to COVID-19.
“All patrons who were sitting on Level 1 in-between Aisles 5 and 28 or Level 3 in-between Aisles 6 and 29 are being contacted by the Victorian Government and asked to immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative test.
“The Department of Health are also asking anyone else who attended the game and were seated outside of the area’s listed to monitor for symptoms and to get tested if symptoms develop.”
It comes after the MCG became a virus flashpoint when an infected fan attended the Collingwood v Port Adelaide game on May 23.
The AFL was due to announce today it was cutting back crowd numbers for its closed-roof stadium, including the Friday night clash between Melbourne and Western Bulldogs.
But crowd numbers could be further affected as the State Government currently considers imposing a five-day lockdown as a circuit breaker to contain the spread.
The time frame could be extended if significant numbers of cases not directly linked to the existing cluster emerge.
There are currently 15 known cases.
Last year, crowds were locked out of football games in Victoria until the code relocated to Queensland hubs.
COVID FORCES AFL CLUBS BACK INTO HUB LIFE
AFL clubs will revert back to hub-like regulations, with players to strictly minimise their movements for the next seven days.
The league informed clubs today players are encouraged to stay at home other than for essential services.
AFL players will be kept separate from their VFL counterparts on the training track.
League officials are confident games will continue this weekend but a call on crowds is still to be made.
TOP DON’S CAFE AN EXPOSURE SITE
The AFL is expected to make a call today on the Marvel Stadium roof, with a closed stadium to reduce the capacity to 50 per cent.
It comes as the Western Bulldogs were released from quarantine this morning, with the Dogs returning to training after all players and football department and match-day staff tested negative.
Training was cancelled on Tuesday and players and staff were tested after being notified on Monday night that a staff member had been to an exposure site following the latest outbreak in Melbourne’s north and west.
The AFL will today choose between an open roof at 85 per cent crowd capacity and the 50 per cent option with the roof closed.
Sports Minister Martin Pakula said: “There will be some conditions around mask wearing and there will be some conditions about the roof at Marvel … the AFL are considering some of those options as well speak and they will have something to say before lunchtime today.”
Essendon is being forced out of Melbourne today, two days ahead of schedule, for its clash against West Coast at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
All players and match-day staff will be tested on arrival in Perth and will be forced to isolate until they receive a negative test.
Bay 101 cafe in Port Melbourne which has been listed as an exposure site is owned by Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro.
The Bombers have confirmed Dodoro was not at the cafe on the morning of May 24.
No other Essendon player or official or family member attended the cafe between 7.30am and 8.20am.
BLUES, HAWKS FLEE VICTORIA EARLY
Carlton is also on the move, with the Blues to fly to Sydney late this afternoon, three days early, for their Sunday clash against the Swans.
All Carlton players and staff who are travelling to Sydney have been tested this morning.
The plan is to fly back almost immediately after the 3.20 fixture on Sunday.
“As we learned from last year, we’ve always known we’ve needed to remain agile and adaptable to any situation that may arise and this is a perfect example of that,” Carlton footy boss Brad Lloyd said.
“We’ll now arrive in Sydney a few days earlier than scheduled and continue with our preparations for this weekend’s game as normal.
“From a community perspective, we appreciate what’s happening in Victoria at the moment and trust the advice of medical authorities and hope this latest cluster gets under control as soon as possible”.
The Hawks are travelling early to Darwin for their clash with Gold Coast on Saturday night.
While the situation is changing rapidly, there is a chance Hawthorn will fly out to the Northern Territory on Thursday.
Additionally, the Richmond Football Club will be Covid-19 tested on Thursday ahead of its match against Adelaide Crows on Sunday May 30 at the MCG. This is an additional precautionary measure to assist Adelaide and their return to South Australia post-match.
The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday that the Western Bulldogs were sent into isolation after a club staff member visited Highpoint shopping centre during an exposure period.
Now the league’s main concern is the trickle-down effect of the nine new Covid-19 cases in Melbourne, and how it will affect the Round 11 fixture.
The AFL, at this stage, is unlikely to relocate all 10 Victorian sides out of the state, despite considering it during a Covid-19 planning day on Tuesday.
WA BORDER CLOSURES REMAIN A POSSIBILITY
The AFL’s biggest concern is West Coast’s home clash against Essendon on Saturday night.
WA premier Mark McGowan ruled on Tuesday night that Victorians could still enter the state subject to a negative Covid test.
But a border closure still remains a possibility if the circumstances in Melbourne worsen.
The league could consider getting West Coast out of Perth and for them to play Essendon at a neutral venue, such as Adelaide.
The Eagles would then fly to Melbourne for Round 12 to take on Carlton on Sunday June 6.
The Dogs players were informed not to go to training on Tuesday morning and instead were told to have AFL-arranged Covid-19 tests.
The Dogs hierarchy became aware of the incident on Monday night when the staff member, who they will not name, told them he had been at Highpoint in the three-hour exposure window.
He had subsequently been in contact with the Dogs players and coaches, but the AFL and State Government are confident there is a very low risk of him getting Covid-19 and passing it to players.
The Dogs had a scheduled training session on Tuesday and a day off on Wednesday.
Originally published as Latest news on how Victoria’s Covid-19 scare will impact the 2021 AFL season
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