AFL 2020: Richmond v West Coast game postponed, round five fixture changed

The Queensland government has told Richmond to stay in coronavirus-stricken Victoria, forcing the AFL into a rapid reshuffle.

Dustin Martin. (AAP Image/Scott Barbour)

The AFL has rescheduled three games in this weekend’s round five fixture because of Victoria’s spike in COVID-19 cases.

The Queensland government didn’t want Richmond coming to town to play West Coast on the Gold Coast on Thursday night.

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So the Tigers will stay in Melbourne and play the Demons, who were scheduled to play Sydney.

The Swans will instead travel to Queensland to play the Eagles, who have been located in the Sunshine State for the past few weeks.

It’s a blow for Sydney, which was preparing to welcome back a crowd of 10,000 to the SCG.

Carlton’s clash against St Kilda was also shifted, to the prime time Thursday night slot, giving both teams just five days to recover from their Saturday matches in round four.

New timeslots for the games have been issued.

ROUND FIVE — NEW SCHEDULE

Thursday, July 2

Carlton v St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, Victoria — 7.40pm

Saturday, July 4

West Coast Eagles v Sydney Swans at Metricon Stadium, Queensland — 1.45pm

Sunday, July 5

Melbourne v Richmond at MCG, Victoria — 3.35pm

Cancel your flights, Dusty. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The NSW Government at this stage appears OK with Victorian teams crossing its borders, meaning Hawthorn’s trip to play Greater Western Sydney will go ahead.

But there are fears this is just the start of the league’s headaches amid a spike of coronavirus cases in Victoria.

The Gold Coast Suns’ next two games are in Victoria — this week against the Cats and in round six against the Hawks — and any forced quarantine on their return to Queensland could wreak havoc.

Likewise, the Brisbane Lions are scheduled to play Collingwood in round six.

If Covid cases in Victoria today are as bad as rumoured (70+), all 10 Victorian teams must be on the precipice of moving into an interstate hub.

Thursday night will be the least of the AFL’s concerns if/ when other states fall into line with QLD and WA.

— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) June 29, 2020

It seems like only a matter of time before the AFL has to bite the bullet and send all Victorian teams interstate or else the competition will have to shut down again.

They can play against each other for a few weeks but eventually they’ll need to play teams from other states.

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) June 29, 2020

The AFL announced in a statement it would work through the new exemptions before announcing changes to rounds six and seven.

Port Adelaide president David Koch called for calm as his team prepares to leave its Queensland bubble for Victoria after this weekend.

“I think we need to keep it all in perspective,” Koch told FIVEaa Breakfast. “Yes, compared with the rest of Australia, Victoria is doing it tough on cases at the moment, but when you look at it, yes, it might be 40 a day they’re getting out of 6.5 million people, but I really wouldn’t call it a second wave – I’d call it a second bump.

“I think there’s only one case in intensive care. Medical resources are not being stretched at all. I think we’ve done such a superb job right around the country at containing this.

“Yes, it’s worrying, we can’t let it get out of hand, we have to be vigilant but they’re doing a pretty good job.”

AFL 2020: Tune in Monday morning to find out who your team is playing

— Daniel Cherny 📰 (@DanielCherny) June 29, 2020