Play between GWS and Carlton delayed due to lightning storm at Drummoyne Oval

THE AFL was forced to delay the AFLW clash between GWS and Carlton due to unsafe conditions as a lightning storm hit Drummoyne Oval in Sydney. The weather even wreaked havoc for the TV broadcast.

Tayla Harris flies for a mark against GWS. Picture: Getty

THE AFL was on Friday night forced to suspend the AFLW clash between GWS and Carlton at Drummoyne Oval due unsafe conditions as storms hit Sydney.

Lightning strikes and thunder came over the ground during the opening quarter of the opening match of Round 2, with AFL officials deciding to delay the match at quarter time.

Fair to say it wasn’t ideal conditions for footy. Picture: Getty

Play recommenced once conditions were deemed safe, at 7.55pm. The match was ultimately suspended for approximately 30 minutes.

Players from both clubs retreated into their respective changerooms during the delay.

“The lightning was very close so it was lucky, I suppose, it was at a break,” GWS football boss Wayne Campbell said.

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“(AFL football boss) Steve Hocking and Brett the match manager were looking and gave us the nod and we quickly went off the ground, which I think was the right decision.”

Campbell said GWS were relaxed during the break despite the bizarre scenes.

“The girls were pretty relaxed between the break but I think Carlton came out the better,” he told Fox Footy.

Fans came prepared for the bad weather. Picture: Getty

Calrton’s Alison Downie said the Blues weren’t worried about the delay or the conditions.

“The main message was to relax and take it all in,” she said.

“We’ve trained in this sort of weather so we just thought ‘bring it on’. It’s worked really well for us.”

The bad weather wreaked havoc in Sydney, with Fox Footy temporarily losing their broadcast before commentators Kelli Underwood, Anthony Hudson and Kate Sheahan were forced to move down to the boundary line for their call.

Kelli Underwood and Anthony Hudson had to call the GWS v Carlton match from boundary line in the second term. Picture: Fox Footy

The commentary box had sustained water damage.

GWS led Carlton at quarter time before the league opted to delay the match, with Phoebe McWilliams having kicked the only goal in very wet conditions.

It is the second time in AFLW history the league has had to delay a game due to inclement weather, with last year’s clash between Melbourne and Brisbane affected.

Players from both teams left the oval at Casey Fields before returning once conditions were deemed safe.

Last year’s Melbourne v Brisbane clash was delayed to due lightning. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

Originally published as Play between GWS and Carlton delayed due to lightning storm at Drummoyne Oval