AFL Finals 2021: All the news ahead of Port Adelaide’s preliminary final at Adelaide Oval

David Koch’s Grand Final dream has been left in tatters, should Port Adelaide progress, after being stuck in Sydney.

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch is unlikely to attend the grand final in Perth, should the Power get through.

Koch lives in Sydney, where he hosts Channel 7’s Sunrise, and because of NSW’s Covid-19 situation — it has been listed as “extreme risk” by Western Australia. Exemptions are only restricted to “Commonwealth, State and specialist functions only”.

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David Koch wont be able to enter WA as he is based in NSW.

Koch had applied for an exemption to instead enter South Australia as an essential worker, in his role as Port Adelaide’s chairman.

He would have been able to satisfy WA border restrictions by spending 14 days in South Australia if he was let into the state.

But this exemption has been rejected, meaning Koch will also miss Saturday night’s preliminary final between Port Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs.

It comes after ex-Collingwood president Eddie McGuire had his application into Western Australia rejected by authorities.

While Koch has been silent about his rejection, McGuire was outspoken at the decision — saying he was being scapegoated by WA premier Mark McGowan.

David Koch with Port star Travis Boak.

BIG PRELIM CROWD BOOST FOR POWER

Port Adelaide has received a boost ahead of its home preliminary final after a crowd increase of 6500.

Health authorities and the ground’s management agreed on Saturday to lift Adelaide Oval’s capacity from 20,000 to 26,500 — 50 per cent — for the Power’s clash next weekend against either Brisbane or the Western Bulldogs.

The stadium was at half capacity for the Power’s two home finals last year.

Port Adelaide chief executive Matthew Richardson said the club’s members should have a better opportunity to be at the game than last week, when a crowd of 15,000 was initially allowed before being raised to 20,000.

Tickets for the preliminary final go on sale on Monday.

Charlie Dixon and the Power salute the crowd after the qualifying final win over Geelong. Picture: James Elsby/AFL Photos

“Our members should feel confident they have a much better chance of getting a ticket for Saturday night,” Richardson said.

Stadium Management Authority chief operating officer Adam Vonthethoff said the atmosphere should be electric.

“We are pleased that we are going to be able to welcome more fans back to the ground next Saturday night for what should be a fantastic preliminary final,” Vonthethoff said.

Six new Tier 1 exposure sites were announced in SA on Saturday morning after being attended by a Covid case, an infected truck driver.

Exposure sites visited by other positive truckies were revealed earlier in the week.

Masks will again be mandatory at the preliminary final at all times, except when people are eating and drinking, but they must be seated for consumption.

Chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier said the increased oval capacity was a “very, very safe number, which we think we can manage up to this point in time”.

“Of course, if we have any cases in our state, because of the truck driver exposures … we’re going to have to rethink that,” Professor Spurrier said.

The Power had a few days off from training earlier in the week before hitting the track on Friday and Saturday.

Players who did not feature in last Friday night’s qualifying final win over Geelong, such as Mitch Georgiades, Hamish Hartlett, Tom Clurey and Lachie Jones, along with medical substitute Sam Powell-Pepper, were pushing their cases to be chosen for the blockbuster by lining up in the SANFL on Saturday.

Orazio Fantasia was expected to be fine to play in the preliminary final despite being subbed out against the Cats with a knee problem.

Originally published as AFL Finals 2021: All the news ahead of Port Adelaide’s preliminary final at Adelaide Oval