AFL boss Andrew Dillon addresses opening round clash amid cyclone worry

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has been questioned over the opening round contest as a Tropical Cyclone threatens to wreak havoc.

The AFL’s opening round encounter in Brisbane remains up in the air as Tropical Cyclone Alfred threatens to cancel the first match of the season.

Experts have predicted the unprecedented weather event to make landfall near Brisbane on Thursday, the day the Brisbane Lions are meant to take on Geelong at the Gabba at 7:50pm.

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The Bureau of Meteorology has forecast winds of up to 130km/h in Brisbane on Thursday, with winds of 90km/h or more expected on the days either side.

Alongside the extreme winds, hundreds of millimetres of rain have been forecast to fall on southern Queensland and northern NSW.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon says the league is in constant communication with the Bureau of Meteorology and says at this moment in time the game will be going ahead.

“To start off, our opening game is a big game – but it’s not the main game,” Dillon said in Sydney at the launch of Opening Round.

“I think the main game at this stage is for us to be in contact with the Queensland government and the Bureau of Meteorology and the main game is actually the people of southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales are safe. That’s the focus now.

“It (the forecast) has already slightly changed in the past 12 to 24 hours, so we’re three days out from the game. We’ll continue to work with the clubs, the broadcasters, but importantly the Bureau and the Queensland government, on the game.”

Dillon added: “For every game we have contingencies – and there are options with byes and the like – but at the moment the game is scheduled for Thursday night. The Lions are working towards that, as are Geelong and as are the AFL and Channel 7 and Fox.”

The AFL boss wouldn’t be drawn into elaborating on what the potential options would be, but did add: “I won’t go into all the hypotheticals, but there’s plenty of options. Having the games in Opening Round actually provides a lot more flexibility for us in a normally scheduled round.”

He said a call on the game going ahead could be made in the hours leading up to the opening bounce.

“At the moment we’re talking about forecasts – and those forecasts, as I said, have changed,” he said.

“We’ll continue to work with the Queensland government and the Bureau on that. There’s no actual deadline, it’s when we’re absolutely 100 per cent confident about what’s going to happen – then we’ll make the call.

“Weather patterns are unpredictable and the health and safety of out players and our fans will be the No.1 priority in any decision that we make.”

Player and fan safety will be number one priority for the AFL. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The cyclone is heading towards Brisbane. Source: Windy.com

As of 5:30am on Monday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology predict winds to exceed 130km/h on Thursday in Brisbane, with winds of 90km/h or more expected on the days either side.

Should Cyclone Alfred hit landfall as assumed, the worst conditions will likely be seen just south of the cyclone in conditions that could see up to 600 millimetres fall in a 24-hour period throughout southeast Queensland — despite the more conservative forecast below.

The Bureau of Meteorology issued an update on the category two system just before 5am on Sunday, stating Alfred was forecast to move southward and weaken “roughly parallel” to the Queensland coast on Sunday, before moving to the southeast on Monday.

Tropical Cyclone Alfred has been progressing down the Queensland coast and is expected to make landfall near Brisbane. Picture: Facebook

“Alfred is then expected to slow down and is likely to turn westward from Tuesday, moving back towards the southern Queensland coast,” the Bureau said.

“Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently moving over the Coral Sea about 510 km east of Rockhampton and is expected to cause strong to gale-force winds around K’gari (Fraser Island) on Sunday.

“Severe coastal hazards are likely for southern Queensland and northeast New South Wales.

“A large and powerful to potentially damaging easterly swell as well as abnormally high tides are forecast about exposed southern Queensland beaches, possibly extending to northern New South Wales from Monday.”

If the match is officially postponed, the Brisbane Lions have told the AFL their preference would be to play the match against Geelong in Round 3.