Soccer, AFL crowd limits under a cloud

Reduced capacity could force the A-League Grand Final interstate, while the return of AFL fans to Melbourne stadiums is also up in the air.

Melbourne risks having its second A-League Grand Final in as many years hijacked by Sydney. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Melbourne risks having its second A-League Grand Final in as many years hijacked by Sydney due to Victoria’s strict COVID-19 restrictions.

Melbourne City bosses have pleaded with the State Government to allow crowds of about 50 per cent normal capacity at AAMI Park this weekend, declaring the grand final will otherwise be moved to NSW.

City chief executive Brad Rowse said it wanted 14,000-15,000 fans at the Melbourne stadium — and a decision by Tuesday night — or the match would move to the Harbour City.

“It’s just a crying shame if we lose out on another Grand Final being played in Melbourne like last year because they are that hard to come by and it would be a shame to gift it to another state,’’ he said.

It comes as Melbourne United hopes for fans in the stands at its NBL Grand Final clash with Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena on Friday night and the AFL awaits word on Victorian crowds.

Mr Rowse said it would be a crushing blow for fans and the spirits of Victorians if the grand final against Sydney United had to be moved to Sydney.

Melbourne risks having its second A-League Grand Final in as many years hijacked by Sydney.

“We know we are not getting to get 100 per cent and we’re probably not going to get 85 per cent, but the numbers we need to get approved are minimum 14 or 15,000 to justify having it in Melbourne,” he said.

“If it comes back and government approved 25 per cent, that’s 7500, it’s going to be very difficult for us to keep the event in Melbourne.”

If crowd numbers don’t stack up, Mr Rowse said the decider against Sydney FC would be moved to Bank West Stadium in Paramatta where a full capacity of 30,000 was likely.

“It kills us to think we’ve earned the home grand final, we are at the peak of our powers in a second successive grand final and to not have fans come to the game at our home venue,” he said.

“It would hurt to have to gift it across to NSW if we can’t get the numbers.

“If we don’t get to those numbers, we would have to lose it.”

Victoria’s active COVID-19 case count has dropped to 28 but harsh restrictions remain on gatherings, major events and sports stadiums.

In comparison, NSW has 10 active local cases but full capacity at its sports stadiums.

The government said decisions on restrictions and crowd capacity at sporting events would be made based on data and public health advice from the Chief Health officer.

“We want to make sure we stay one step ahead of this virus so we can run this outbreak to ground and return to normal as soon as possible,’’ it said.

An empty AAMI Park.

Mr Rowse said City was “doing everything possible’’ to keep the match in Melbourne.

“The decision will need to be made by close of business Tuesday by hook or by crook so tickets can go on sale and the logistics and everything can be planned,’’ he said.

“We are appealing to the Victorian government to see if we can get an exceptional decision on this and they have been really positive and I think they are trying the do everything possible.

“But there is a time factor and if we don’t get it we will default and it will go to Sydney.”

NBL Commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said the league was working closely with the Government and Melbourne Olympic Park to confirm a “Covid Safe patron capacity”.

“We are thrilled United will be able to return to Melbourne and John Cain Arena for the Grand Final series and we are working on having as many fans in the stands as possible,’’ he said.

AFL CROWD SIZE STILL UNDER A CLOUD

A “whole range” of coronavirus restrictions are likely to be eased this week, but the return – and size – of football crowds is still up in the air.

The AFL is pushing for fans to return to stands at Melbourne stadiums for round 15, but how many will be allowed through the turnstiles is still being negotiated.

It’s believed 20-30 per cent of capacity could be allowed, tens of thousands of fans fewer than the league had originally hoped for.

Asked if crowds would return given low case numbers, Covid-19 commander Jeroen Weimar said: “That’s a matter for the chief health officer, I’m just the logistics guy that runs a response.

“They’re reviewing the situation day by day. They were working all weekend looking at the changing situation both here in Victoria and interstate.

“As we saw last week, these things can turn very quickly. We are now on a really good trajectory with the parts of the outbreak that we know about.

“We’ll have to wait and see what comes up to meet us in the next couple of days to see what judgments Brett (Sutton) and the team can call around how to go forward.”

The AFL is pushing for fans to return to stands. Picture: Michael Klein

But Acting Premier James Merlino on Monday said another easing of restrictions was “being assessed right now”.

“I do have confidence and an expectation that later in the week we’ll be announcing a whole range of easing of restrictions for regional Victorians and Melburnians,” he said.

“But I don’t want to foreshadow those … As Professor Sutton always says, everything is on the table in terms of assessment, and it will be public health advice in terms of what can be eased further in a Covid-safe way.”

Victoria recorded one new locally acquired case of Covid-19, a primary close contact who had been in quarantine during their infectious period. There are 28 local active cases, and another 26 in hotel quarantine.

In a positive sign, there are now fewer than 1000 close contacts associated with Melbourne’s Covid-19 clusters and the number of exposure sites has steadily fallen over the past fortnight from almost 400 to 108 on Monday morning.

Victoria’s Covid-19 rules were eased on Thursday night with the border between metro Melbourne and regional Victoria removed, along with the 25km metro travel limit.

Masks are no longer required outdoors but must be worn indoors.