AFL 2020: Suns fans have backed an interstate hub following the Queensland government’s tough new travel restrictions
Should the Gold Coast host another bunch of teams for a second hub? Should the Suns go into a hub in another state? Could an interstate hub jeopardise the Suns rich vein of form? Suns fans have had their say but it appears travel is inevitable.
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THE Gold Coast Suns look set for a lengthy road trip following their clash against Geelong on Saturday.
After playing their first four games of the season at Metricon stadium, the ever evolving COVID-19 pandemic has thrown up its latest set of hurdles.
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Following a spike of fresh cases in Victoria, Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young wrote to major sporting codes on Monday outlining tough new rules to protect Queenslanders.
Gold Coast would need to quarantine for 14 days if they returned home immediately after Round 5.
Now it appears the Suns will stay in Melbourne and take on another Victorian club a week later before returning to the Gold Coast via a fortnight in Sydney.
But at the rate the situation is moving, those plans could be tossed out the window within seconds.
Regardless, it looks like the Suns will have some sacrifices to make after a comfy run at home.
Should the Gold Coast host another bunch of teams for a second hub? Should the Suns go into a hub in another state? Could an interstate hub jeopardise the Suns rich vein of form?
Suns fans have had their say but it appears travel is inevitable.
Nathan Mollenhof
Play two weeks in Melbourne, as scheduled. Then take on Carlton (as scheduled) in Sydney in some kind of hub, play the two Sydney teams there before coming home to a packed Metricon stadium (or Gabba) for QClash. Hopefully by then Victorian teams will have been relocated to hubs thus allowing them to come to Queensland.
Sharon Edwards
Forget playing in Melbourne, they need to relocate out of Victoria.
Hub for us in Darwin, then home games.
Darren Kent
I can hear the Victorian clubs fans b***hing now if we stay up here in a hub.
The team needs to be able to win on the road if they want success, so if we had to spend a few weeks interstate, then I’m okay with that.
If (and it’s a big if), we make finals, I don’t want to hear those fans b***hing that we had it easy by playing so many games at home.
Lorelle Gibbs
The only thing that matters is the health and safety of the players and staff (and ultimately their families). The AFL needs to ensure that happens. Yes rescheduling will be a nightmare but everyone needs to look at the long term picture.
Lynton Martin
Seeing we have a partnership with the NT government, I think it would be great for us to relocate to Darwin until we can return home without the quarantine, playing our home games there including the Carlton match on free to air television. Being young club, I think being in quarantine for 14 days will jeopardise our momentum. What I expect to happen though is play Geelong then stay somewhere in Victoria outside Melbourne (regional Victoria potentially Ballarat) to play the Hawks before playing both NSW teams then flying back home to be in a quarantine that will coincide with a bye.
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