AFL in chaos after COVID-19 update: Gillon McLachlan responds as fans call for Victorian teams to move interstate

CEO Gillon McLachlan has responded after a spike in COVID-19 cases saw fans call for Victorian teams to be sent to interstate hubs.

The AFL fixture is up in the air.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has responded as footy fans called for the league to move Victorian-based teams into interstate hubs so the season can continue after the fixture was thrown into chaos.

As Victoria experiences a spike in COVID-19 infections, recording 75 new cases today, the Queensland government announced restrictions on sports teams from the Sunshine State playing against Victorian sides.

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Queensland chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young revealed strict new regulations that include:

— Any Queensland team that plays against a Melbourne team in Queensland is required to quarantine after the match for 14 days

— Any Queensland team that plays in Melbourne is required to quarantine for 14 days on returning to Queensland

— Any Queensland team that plays in another state against a team who has been in Melbourne in the preceding 14 days is required to quarantine on their return to Queensland

The updated rules affect three fixtures this round and mean Richmond’s clash against West Coast, scheduled for the Gold Coast on Thursday night, has been called off. Instead, the Tigers will play Melbourne, who were supposed to play Sydney, the Swans will play West Coast in Queensland and Carlton’s match against St Kilda has been shifted to Thursday night.

The AFL’s four South Australian and West Australian clubs all moved into Queensland hubs to bypass border restriction issues as the season restarted from its coronavirus-enforced hiatus, but now there’s talk all 10 Victorian teams should leave home because of the state’s worsening virus situation.

The @afl has got to get Vic teams out of the state into hubs if we have any hope of getting this season done.

— Jamie Briggs (@BriggsJamie) June 29, 2020

For the @AFL season to continue, it's time for an SA/WA Hub right?

Get all teams to either state, have a 14 Day Break to quarantine for those required. Play games at Optus, Adelaide Oval and some smaller grounds if required with a crowd. Play across Monday-Sunday.

Why not?

— Matt Tarrant (@MattTarrant) June 29, 2020

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 may have to move quickly into hubs. WA obviously, but also NT. It’s being explored, as quickly (possibly) as post this weekend. Key issues are a lot of Vic teams have played each other. The major risk / problem, if NSW follow QLD on restrictions @7NewsMelbourne @7Sport

— Tom Browne (@TomBrowne7) June 29, 2020

Speaking at a press conference today, McLachlan said at this stage games were still be played in Victoria and there would be no immediate move to send more teams into interstate hubs.

However, he said the league had lots of “flexibility” and “optionality” to make changes if the situation requires it.

“At the moment, football is going ahead in this state. Everyone knows that if there are challenges here (in Victoria) that mean we do need to respond, than we can move,” McLachlan said.

“The implications (of the Queensland announcement) are being worked ahead. The rolling fixture might be daily.

“We have options on the table. We are ready if we need them.

“I don’t think we need to do that (establish new hubs for Victorian teams). All I know is we’ve got flexibility to make change.

“We have options on the table. We are ready if we need them. At the moment we’ve got a fixture for this weekend and will continue day-by-day.

“We’ve got options, that is what this is about. We are having a tougher period in Victoria (with coronavirus), we will respond to that as we need.”

McLachlan also said the Gold Coast Suns will need to quarantine for 14 days after their clash with Geelong at GMHBA Stadium this weekend, and “might not go back to Queensland” at all.

Richmond will no longer play West Coast in Queensland this weekend as the AFL moves with the times.

The AFL’s general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld says more fixturing changes loom beyond this round.

“I want to thank the Queensland government … for their support of the AFL season and for helping us to make the changes this week that are in line with their quarantine requirements related to COVID-19 hotspots,” Auld said in a statement.

“Since the beginning of this COVID-19 pandemic we have said consistently that every decision we make will be anchored in the advice of government and the chief health officers and that we would always rely on their advice.

“We understand the decision of the Queensland government.”