AFL holds breath as COVID chaos returns, new restrictions announced

The AFL is holding its breath as COVID chaos returns after an announcement that has stopped future ticket sales amid the uncertainty.

The 2021 AFL season has shuddered to a halt with the league holding its breath over the COVID chaos announced in Victoria on Tuesday.

The AFL is awaiting further information from the state government after it was announced crowds at AFL games in Victoria will be reviewed in coming days.

Acting premier James Merlino said this morning it was reviewing settings on AFL game day attendances. There are no crowd caps for sporting events in Victoria currently — but that is expected to change this week.

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Ticketmaster confirmed on Tuesday ticket sales for Round 11 and Round 12 have been stopped — and it remains uncertain when ticket sales will resume.

Another new case of COVID-19 was detected in Melbourne overnight, bringing the total number of infections in the cluster to five.

It comes after Victorian officials announced on Monday that four people in Whittlesea had tested positive to coronavirus, including a man in his 30s, a man in his 70s, a woman in her 70s and a preschool-aged child.

As a result, a raft of new restrictions will be introduced across Melbourne from 6pm tonight, including:

• Limiting private household gatherings to five people per day

• Limiting public gatherings to 30 people

Collingwood’s Taylor Adams on the MCG.

• Masks will be required indoors for everyone aged 12 and over unless an exemption applies

the restrictions to be in place until at least June 4.

According to reports, the AFL is confident its fixtures will go ahead this weekend with crowds allowed to attend. There is speculation matches may go ahead with crowd caps and mandatory face masks inside match venues.

Future fixtures are also heavily impacted by the developing COVID situation in Melbourne.

The Crows run the risk of being locked out of South Australia after they travel to Melbourne for their Sunday clash with Richmond at the MCG.

Several Melbourne clubs are also holding their breathes they will be cleared to fly interstate for matches this weekend.

Essendon plays West Coast in Perth, while Carlton plays the Swans in Sydney and Hawthorn travels to Darwin to play the Gold Coast.

Originally published as AFL holds breath as COVID chaos returns, new restrictions announced