AFL boss Gillon McLachlan says health and safety the reason for ‘ghost matches’
The AFL is preparing for ‘ghost matches’ to be played behind closed doors in Round 1 due to the coronavirus threat. Here's what it means if you bought a ticket for any opening round game.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- The AFL’s plan for COVID-19 crisis
- What the AFL should do if worst happens
- Gates closed for AFLW games
AFL “ghost matches” will be played from next week as footy grapples with the COVID-19 crisis.
League chiefs considered postponing Round 1 during emergency talks late yesterday, but have opted to push ahead without crowds for as long as they can.
The worst of the coronavirus outbreak is not expected to hit Victoria until the middle of next month, complicating plans to suspend the season.
Richmond and Carlton will kick off the premiership action at a vacant MCG next Thursday night – a fixture that would normally attract 90,000 supporters for the unfurling of the Tigers’ premiership flag.
Watch every match of every round of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE & On-Demand with KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“The health and safety of fans, players, umpires, officials, partners and communities is the priority,” league chief Gillon McLachlan said last night.
“So it is important that we take the advice of those that know best, and that advice right now is to continue with matches but not to host mass gatherings which can put everyone at risk.”
McLachlan said footy supporters with tickets for Round 1 would be refunded.
But fan bans will be enforced at all AFLW matches this weekend, six weeks ahead of the women’s grand final.
The AFL Grand Final is scheduled for Saturday, September 26 but could be pushed back into October if home-and-away matches are lost – as expected.
Months of matches played in front of empty stands will come at a crippling financial cost to the game.
MORE CORONAVIRUS NEWS:
Adam Zampa twists Kane Williamson's blood as bowlers lead Australia to ODI victory
Coronavirus: West Ham boss calls for Premier League season to be declared 'null and void'
Under the AFL’s plans to play games without fans, access to stadiums will be restricted to players, umpires, coaching staff, essential club support staff, medical officials, TV and radio broadcaster teams, league officials and stadium staff.
It follows the Federal Government ban on more than 500 people attending mass gatherings, enforced from Monday.
All 18 clubs have adopted a series of measures to protect their players and officials from exposure to the virus but a single infection could lead to the cancellation of matches because of strict quarantine requirements.
“It is inevitable someone will test positive within an AFL club within weeks,” top medico Dr Peter Brukner said yesterday.
“What happens then? You have to cancel or postpone the league.”
The AFL is also exploring plans to use private charter flights to ferry teams around the country, but the economic fallout from the crisis will test the game’s financial strength.
Clubs can reap up to $1 million profit from blockbuster matches.
Senior AFL officials were playing down the league’s exposure to the coronavirus crisis as recently as Monday.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan travelled to the US two weeks ago, while league chief medical officer Dr Peter Harcourt had to be convinced to cancel a European vacation on Wednesday.
League staffer Scott Taylor remains in self-quarantine after attending a wedding in Bali.
Richmond AFLW player Lauren Tesoriero has withdrawn from Saturday’s match against St Kilda for precautionary reasons after her housemate returned from a trip to Japan.
Pies CEO endorses AFL decision
Glenn McFarlane
Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson said a decision to close games to fans for the foreseeable future was necessary for the sake of public health in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
“The health of our fans, players, coaches, staff and our communities at large must be the first priority and the AFL’s decision rightly reflects this,” Anderson said.
“It will be tough for our members and fans not to be able to attend matches, and eerie for our athletes to play to empty stadiums, but taking steps to minimise the already serious threat to public health must be everyone’s priority.”
The Magpies face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium next Friday without fans for the first time in the club’s history.
Anderson said: “Our fans and members are passionate and whilst they won’t be able to cheer our AFL and AFLW teams on from the stands in the short term we know they will stick with the club and keep showing their support in other ways.
“We all look forward to the day when they can pour back through the
gates of the ‘G.”