Monday night footy could return in back-up plan for China game
The Shanghai fixture between St Kilda and Port Adelaide is practically doomed after China issued an ominous warning. The AFL is yet to make a contingency but bringing back Monday night footy could be the answer.
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The AFL could be forced to resuscitate Monday night football as a one-off replacement for the China game, which now hangs in the balance.
Serious doubt was cast on the match on Thursday when Shanghai’s sporting bureau released a statement recommending all sporting events in the city be suspended or postponed until the coronavirus “threat is over”.
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“All sporting bodies should suspend sport events until the threat is over and formulate a plan for epidemic prevention to avoid internal infections,” Shanghai Sports General Association declared.
“Organisations should also implement a daily hygiene management system and strengthen health education to urge employees to protect themselves.”
The AFL would not be drawn on the development, saying it would continue to monitor the China outbreak.
The league was adamant it would not put player and staff health and safety at risk.
An epidemiologist and infectious diseases physician this week told the Herald Sun the outbreak was likely to continue in China “for months”
“It’s not going to be over in the short term,” said Dr Katherine Gibney, of the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity.
“What happens here is a bit more uncertain, I think. How long we can keep it at bay is a bit more uncertain.”
The travel restrictions would be reversed only if the virus “burnt out in China” or spread across Australia.
“I think it would be a while before we’re thinking (of lifting travel restrictions) in those terms,” Gibney said.
She could not comment on the AFL match in Shanghai, other than to repeat existing Australian Government and WHO travel advice.
The number of confirmed cases globally surged past 28,000 on Thursday, with the death toll climbing to 563, including one in the Philippines and one in Hong Kong.
A decision on the China game is likely to be made before the AFL season-opener on March 19, largely because of constraints around broadcast logistics and turf preparation at Jiangwan Stadium.
With St Kilda and Port Adelaide both having a bye in Round 12, the AFL in consultation with the Saints, as the home team, could reschedule the match on Monday, June 1.
A Monday night game would give the clubs 12 and 13 day breaks respectively before their Round 13 assignments.
The league and cash-strapped Port Adelaide face the prospect of heavy commercial and financial losses should the China game not go ahead.
The Power, which celebrates its 150th football season this year, has gone as far as to put a staff member on the ground in Shanghai to promote the concept.
St Kilda is prepared to wait until the AFL decides on the fixture before it looks at alternate venues.
But any travel to and from mainland China ultimately now rests with the Australian government and World Health Organisation.
The AFL Players’ Association has reiterated a pledge made to the Herald Sun last week to effectively block anything that puts the health and safety of players at risk.
The coronavirus outbreak has led to the cancellation of a number of sporting events in China, including the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, scheduled for March 13-15.
Basketball, badminton and boxing qualifying tournaments for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics have also been postponed, rescheduled or moved.
The Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix, scheduled for April 19, is now also in doubt.
MORE ON CORONAVIRUS:
AFL, AFLPA to monitor virus ahead of St Kilda and Port Adelaide Shanghai clash
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said on Wednesday the league was yet to make a contingency for the game, with no alternative venue identified, despite concerns coronavirus containment and any possible vaccines or treatments were still “months” away.
McLachlan indicated on Melbourne radio there would be a “workaround”, if required.
St Kilda and Port Adelaide both have a bye in Round 12 – the week after the scheduled China game.
The match could not be played at the MCG or Marvel Stadium in Round 11 because of venue availability and St Kilda not willing to lose a home game by playing at the vacant Adelaide Oval.
“The AFL’s No.1 priority is the health and safety of all our people,” a spokesman said.
“We will continue to take advice from the Australian government and World Health Organisation regarding any health and safety precautions related to travel to China.
“Our planning for the Shanghai match on May 31 continues, with the situation being closely monitored.”
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Originally published as Monday night footy could return in back-up plan for China game