Melbourne Cup, AFL grand final: Sporting events NSW wants to pinch during COVID

NSW is mounting a campaign to remove Melbourne’s most treasured events if the southern capital continues to suffer from COVID-19, but Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews isn’t having a bar of it. SEE WHAT EVENTS WE’RE VYING FOR

The Victorian premier has hit back at a proposal from the NSW Deputy Premier to “raid” major Melbourne events if the city can’t get its coronavirus crisis under control.

John Barilaro’s bold pitch for NSW to ensure the show goes on could have the Melbourne Cup held at Randwick, AFL grand final at ANZ Stadium, Bledisloe Cup matches played at Bankwest, and regional NSW play host to a revived Melbourne Comedy Festival.

“This is NSW reaching out to do everything we can to help,” Mr Barilaro’s told The Daily Telegraph.

“The Australian public has been through such a tough time, we don’t want to cancel morale boosting and iconic events if we don’t have to.

The Melbourne Cup field coming around the first bend at Flemington, although that could be at Randwick in 2020. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

MORE NEWS

COVID cluster fear as two patrons at pub test positive

Popular Sydney pub investigated over packed queue photo

Three arrested in NSW border crossing attempts

“The appropriate thing to do is to start planning for Plan B,” he said.

But the Victorian government has refused to let go of its centrepiece events, despite strict coronavirus lockdowns in the capital set to run into August.

On Monday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews dismissed the pitch as “silly games” and refused to weigh into the debate.

“I haven’t got time for those really silly games. That’s what they are,” Mr Andrews said.

“We’re all in this together. They’re doing a lot of contact tracing up in Sydney. They’ve got an issue. We’ve got a much bigger issue and we’re focused on dealing with that.”

Mr Andrews wouldn’t say whether he thought Mr Barilaro’s move was “predatory” and said he was “not interested” in the discussion.

John Barilaro has a plan …

But Daniel Andrews won’t bite. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Andrew Henshaw

Given the COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, Mr Barilaro said NSW should make a pitch for the race that stops the nation in November.

“The planning is months in advance, not just weeks,” he said.

“I’d hand over the Melbourne Cup to Peter V’landys any day of the week because he’ll know how to put on a show that’ll make even the Victorians proud.”

But any move to snatch the Melbourne Cup from Victoria would prove all but impossible.

Racing has continued during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite attendance being limited or banned.

Richmond and GWS in action in the AFL grand final last year. There has been a proposal to play it at ANZ Stadium. Picture. Phil Hillyard

“The (Victorian Racing Club) is planning for the Melbourne Cup Carnival to go ahead as it has done for almost 160 years,” Flemington’s website states.

When Melbourne’s second lockdown came into effect last week, Racing Victoria’s Chief Executive Giles Thompson said: “Racing and training will continue in Victoria under the strict biosecurity protocols that have been in place since March.”

Another hotly contested event that could be held in NSW according to the Deputy Premier is the AFL Grand Final, after Victorian teams were pushed out of the infected state.

“The AFL Grand Final is something they should absolutely be working towards now,” Mr Barilaro said.

“It would be a bloody shame to hold it at the MCG with no crowd.”

This pack of cars at the Australian Grand Prix could be racing in Newcastle next year. Picture: Peter Parks/AFP

The real “prize” for Mr Barilaro’s proposed “raid” on major Melbourne events would be the Grand Prix, which was cancelled in March.

If restrictions in Melbourne continue, the huge international event could be held in Newcastle, which has “a lot of infrastructure … in place” thanks to yearly V8 races.

“(But) that would be very difficult to try and pinch,” the Deputy Premier said.

Bankwest could host the Bledisloe Cup, despite the opening match slated for Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on August 8.

Other events that could see a NSW debut according to the Deputy Premier’s plan include the Melbourne Comedy Festival, which was cancelled at the height of coronavirus concerns in March.

“This is another chance to really kick and restart that sector,” he said.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is another event which could come to Sydney. Picture: Matthew Murphy

Mr Barilaro said the Melbourne Fashion Week, which is set to go ahead on August 28, could instead be held on Cockatoo Island.

With socially-distanced theatres now back open in NSW, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child could move to the Lyric Theatre.

“We‘ve all got to focus on Victoria getting its house in order (and) getting on top of the pandemic,” Mr Barilaro said.

“But at the same time, there are a couple of key events or just around the corner.

And Melbourne Fashion Week could also be on the move. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“If NSW can deliver these in a COVID-safe way, then we should.”

But Victoria won’t be giving up its major events even as a second wave of COVID-19 sweeps Melbourne.

Asked whether the government would consider allowing events like the Melbourne Cup to move to Sydney if they can’t go ahead due to coronavirus restrictions, a spokesman for Daniel Andrews said: “no”.

“Some of these events aren‘t just about Victoria they’re actually about putting a spotlight on Australia,” Mr Barilaro said.

“If Victoria can’t host them, the reality has to be that these continue on and on I’m saying NSW could host almost all of them.

“The real risk is that Victoria will be locked down for a little while and restrictions will be in place for a lot longer.”

Originally published as Melbourne Cup, AFL grand final: Sporting events NSW wants to pinch during COVID