AFL Covid news 2021: Stay up to date with how the Crows and Power are being impacted

The Crows’ clash with Brisbane will go ahead at Adelaide Oval on Saturday - but with a reduced crowd capacity. Find out who can get tickets first.

Adelaide will get to play their game at home. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Adelaide chief executive Tim Silvers says it will have to be a process of “first in best dressed” for fans wanting to watch the Crows take on Brisbane after Adelaide Oval’s capacity for the game was cut.

After being told by the AFL to fly to Melbourne on Wednesday, to avoid a potential lockdown, the Crows have travelled back to Adelaide on Friday ahead of Saturday’s game.

As part of SA Health giving the AFL the all clear to hold the game in South Australia, with Brisbane flying in and out on Saturday, the capacity at Adelaide Oval has been reduced to 25,000.

Stream selected Fox Footy shows on Kayo Freebies completely free this June including AFL 360, On The Couch, Bounce & more. No Credit Card. No-brainer. Register Free Now

Adelaide Oval’s capacity will be reduced to 25,000 for Saturday’s Crows-Lions clash. Picture: Jono Searle/AFL Photos/

Silvers said this would have a big impact on where fans could sit under the new “strict capacity”.

He told ABC radio that members would get a chance to secure seats this morning.

“All emails will get an email around 9.30 this morning,” he said.

“It will be a functional email which will dictate the how and the when... and the open window will start from 11am and it will be a process of first in best dressed from there.

“We are rapt that our members and supporters can get to the game, but with the 25,000 capacity it is strict capacity.”

Silvers said fans can buy tickets for friends, but they would have to work through the process after getting an email.

Crows-Lions given the all-clear — but with restrictions

Adelaide will fly back home to keep its Saturday afternoon clash against Brisbane at Adelaide Oval.

South Australia on Thursday recorded no new Covid-19 cases, avoiding the need for a lockdown and clearing the path for the Crows’ return home on Friday.

But the crowd for Adelaide Oval will be halved for the match to 25,000. The Lions will fly in and out of SA on Saturday on a charter plane.

Both the Crows and Lions will have to abide by travel arrangements and other protocols agreed to by the AFL and the State Government.

The Crows trained at Xavier College in Melbourne on Thursday. Picture: AFC

AFL Executive General Manager Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld thanked fans for their patience.

“We are pleased to be able to confirm the Adelaide Crows and Brisbane Lions game will proceed as planned at Adelaide Oval,” Mr Auld said.

“On behalf of the AFL, we thank everyone in the game for their agility and understanding during what has been a challenging week and for their continued support of the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.”

The Crows and Port Adelaide fled Adelaide for Melbourne on Wednesday as a pre-emptive strike to avoid the prospect of a potential lockdown, following a spike in cases, which saw hundreds of people go into isolation.

But after tests on Thursday cleared most people of the virus, it appears the decision was made to allow the Crows to return.

Earlier in the day, SA chief public health officer Prof Nicola Spurrier said she still remained concerned by the high number of cases around the country, but was happy for the game to be played in Adelaide.

Taylor Walker and young son, Hugo, arrive with luggage at West Lakes. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dean Martin

The Crows left on the same flight as Port Adelaide on Wednesday night. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

“I have no problem with the game going ahead, but we need more protocols in place,” Prof Spurrier said.

After consultation with the SMA, SA Health, State Government and the Crows, a maximum of 22,500 patrons will be allowed for the game in addition to 2500 corporate tickets.

SMA chief operating officer Adam Vonthethoff said it was pleasing for a crowd to still be allowed, amid speculation the game may have been played before an empty stadium.

“There has been an enormous amount of work put in behind the scenes to enable this game to go ahead and we look forward to welcoming fans on Saturday afternoon,” he said.

The Crows, along with Port’s SANFL players, will now return to Adelaide before their respective games on Saturday.

They are expected to fly in on Saturday morning. Port’s AFL side plays in Melbourne on Saturday night and will return to Adelaide on Sunday.

Power left its Port Adelaide headquarters at Alberton for Melbourne. Picture: Tricia Watkinson

As part of the approval for the Crows’ game to be played in SA, Adelaide Oval has had to make some changes to its Covid management plan.

This includes the pods on the hill to revert to one person per 2 sqm, indoor capacities will also revert to that distance between people and patrons inside must be seated for food and beverage consumption.

The Don McSweeney Aboriginal Lands Cup Curtain Raiser has been cancelled as part of the changes.

Meanwhile, Adelaide trained at Xavier College, while Port Adelaide ran out at Windy Hill on Thursday after the two clubs’ urgent relocation to Melbourne.

Originally published as AFL Covid news 2021: Stay up to date with how the Crows and Power are being impacted