What does Covid-19 mean for the AFL season: Teams flee amid lockdown chaos

Last year there was no place for the AFL in Melbourne during its Covid chaos, now Victoria looms as a safe haven amid problems in other states.

Perth Stadium was empty for last Sunday’s match between the West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs. Picture: Paul Kane / Getty Images

The two Adelaide teams will be the only AFL sides not in Victoria this week as the league continues to scramble with Covid-chaos now engulfing the nation.

Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns will flee Queensland and fly to Melbourne today, with both Fremantle and West Coast also feeling locked down Perth.

All teams flew on charter flights, and will be Covid-tested on arrival.

With parts of Queensland now set for a snap three-day lockdown Thursday’s clash between the Suns and with Richmond is set to be played in Victoria.

Fremantle’s clash with Carlton on Sunday is also set for Melbourne with the Dockers and West Coast also headed for the new safe-have of Victoria.

The Lions, who are still scheduled to play the Crows in Adelaide this weekend, had been scheduled to leave Brisbane on Wednesday .

But both Brisbane and Gold Coast players and staff were told to pack their bags to leave for Melbourne today.

Queensland has officially followed Sydney, Darwin and Perth in to lockdown with people in locations including Brisbane and the Gold Coast given orders to stay at home from 6pm tonight.

Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick said it was an unfortunate but necessary move for the club.

“Given the situation that emerged in WA last night and the subsequent lockdown imposed, there was not enough certainty to play our round 16 clash against Carlton in Perth this weekend,” Garlick said.

“While this is obviously disappointing to our members, supporters and players, we all need to work with the AFL and other clubs to keep the season progressing - travelling to Melbourne this afternoon ensures this happens.

“We will now take the time to work through further details and will advise our members what this means as soon as we are able to.

“We have had the most incredible support from our members and supporters throughout the past 18 months, and while we won’t be able to play in front of them this weekend, I know our players will continue to feel that support no matter where we play.”

We will travel to Victoria this afternoon via charter flight ahead of Round 16 ✈️ #foreverfreo

— Fremantle Dockers (@freodockers) June 29, 2021

AFL Executive General Manager Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld said the decision to bring clubs to Victoria has been made to best manage the evolving situation across the country.

“We will continue to remain adaptable as the season progresses in a constantly changing environment,” Auld said.

“While COVID-19 continues to impact the community, we will work closely with state governments, health officials, our clubs and players to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in game.

“The four teams travelling today will fly to Victoria via charter flights and will be Covid-tested on arrival and isolate until they each receive a negative result.”

Crowds in Victoria, which recorded zero Covid cases on Tuesday, are set to increase to 85 per cent capacity this weekend, with now eight of the matches in Round 16 set to be played in Victoria.

Only the Lions clash with the Crows in Adelaide is likely to be played interstate.

But it is increasingly likely that almost all AFL teams will soon be in Victoria to keep the season going.

The Sydney Swans were evacuated to Melbourne last week and coach John Longmire conceded it was a “challenging environment”.

“It was a challenging environment last year; we didn’t know where we were going and how long we’d be away for,“ Longmire said.

“We felt like we handled it really well and we’ve taken that same mentality into this year.

“Our group is pretty resilient, able to roll with the punches a bit and just take it as it comes.

“You’ve really got to live in the moment ... as soon as you start projecting too far ahead and stop living in the moment, you don’t enjoy the moment.”

Originally published as What does Covid-19 mean for the AFL season: Teams flee amid lockdown chaos