Crowds will be at GWS v North Melbourne, Adelaide v Port Adelaide games in Round 2
Four clubs will have something unexpected at the footy this weekend — fans. But after getting the green light from state governments, who will get the precious tickets to footy’s restart?
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About 2000 South Australian footy fans will be allowed into Adelaide Oval to watch the Showdown on Saturday.
The Crows and Port Adelaide have been given the all clear from the South Australian Government to allow 2000 fans into the stands plus another 240 in private rooms.
“As a club we are delighted that 1475 of our loyal Members will be able to attend this game, along with some of our corporate clients who have stood by the club throughout these uncertain times,” Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said.
“We will allocate the 1475 tickets amongst our Membership base via a ballot system. The club will communicate specific details to our members as soon as we can.”
Adelaide CEO Andrew Fagan said the Crows would divide its 475 tickets via a ballot among members who have pledged their support for 2020.
KT: All of our 11-game access members who have pledged their full membership for 2020 will go into a ballot and those invited to attend will be chosen from there. #pafclive
— Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) June 9, 2020
The news followed a decision earlier on Tuesday by the NSW State Government to give the green light for the Giants to host spectators at Sunday’s AFL relaunch at Giants Stadium.
GWS has been granted permission to accommodate a couple of hundred fans for its Round 2 clash against North Melbourne after starting the ball rolling for AFL and NRL clubs to follow early last week.
The Giants contacted the Government immediately after restrictions were lifted to allow 50 people into restaurants – confident the same regulations would apply to corporate facilities at their Sydney Olympic Park Stadium.
Off the back of that the NRL had secured access for fans for this weekend of action and the Sydney Swans are also exploring options to get spectators into the SCG for their first match back against Essendon.
It’s understood that GWS will have a significant number of members allowed through the gates along with corporate guests.
Any fans attending AFL matches will need to be temperature tested and restricted to corporate areas.
Meanwhile, hopes Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast could have up to 1000 fans at football matches this weekend have been dashed.
The Suns hoped to get 1000 supporters into Saturday night’s match against West Coast at Metricon Stadium, while the Lions, who host Fremantle at the Gabba, could have 700 in attendance. Ongoing construction works at the Gabba has limited venue capacity drastically.
But Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said today the matches will be played at empty stadiums.
“We have to be measured and responsible,” she said.
“Once (Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young ) ticks off those plans, she will get back to those organisations and we will be able to make some public announcements.
“Seating will have to be taken into account. Hand hygiene of course. And they will have to look at how they would separate different areas.”
Ms Palaszczuk confirmed crowds would not be returning to either the AFL or NRL this weekend.
“We want to see some crowds supporting their local football matches, but also the future netball matches, sporting matches right across the board,” she said.
“We also want to see more families cheer on their children when they play community sport.”
When asked how people she believed could be allowed to be seated at the Gabba and Metricon Stadium, Ms Palaszczuk said it depended on the “health response”.
“Can I say I’m very encouraged we’re on zero (new cases) today,” she said.
“Hopefully it means at the end of this month we will be able to open up more things.”
Suns chairman Tony Cochrane had hoped to get clearance today from the State Government for a “test crowd” for Round 2.
“It’s certainly a real possibility but we’re not over the line yet,” Cochrane told SEN Breakfas
“We are waiting for some clear definition from the State Government but it would appear that we’ve got a chance of doing a test crowd of up to 1000 people.
“I want to emphasise that that has not actually been decided yet in full.”
Clubs would need to adhere to the same social distancing guidelines currently in place for Queensland restaurants and bars.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan says it is “very possible” crowds will be at matches in Queensland and New South Wales in the next couple of weeks.
“Right here, right now, there’s not an authorisation (in Queensland and New South Wales) that I’m aware of,” McLachlan told SEN.
“The health officials and the government will make those decisions.
“We’re clearly having conversations... Clearly I think it’s highly likely (to get crowds back soon) in many states and quite possible here in Victoria.
“We got to let governments make the decisions.”
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