AFL 2020: More players, games moved to Qld due to coronavirus

Victorian AFL teams reportedly won’t be able to return home for the rest of the season as coronavirus causes more havoc for the league.

The AFL is moving more teams to Queensland and scheduling extra games in the Sunshine State because of growing fears over the spread of COVID-19 in Victoria and NSW.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed the league had approached her with the proposition of moving more players into hubs up north.

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She said AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan had asked for accommodation for “hundreds” of officials and players, and announced her government and the league were working on a two-month agreement.

“I can reveal that the AFL has approached Queensland to move more of its teams and players here to Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“He is looking to book accommodation for hundreds of players and officials at Queensland hotels for two months.

“It means more Queenslanders here can go and see the games.”

Ms Palaszczuk said the health and safety of Queenslanders remains her top priority, and told McLachlan this update should put her state in the box seat to host the AFL grand final.

“I stress none of these measures can happen without strict quarantine protocols and the COVID management plan that has allowed the AFL season to proceed,” she said.

“Given the choice between not having a season and having it based in Queensland I think I know what the fans would like to happen.

“As everyone knows, AFL is more than a sport to Victorians. We know how they feel.

“And, as I told Gil (McLachlan), if the season is based here then the grand final should be played here too.”

Footy players will be heading to warmer weather.

Victorian-based clubs had already been sent elsewhere as the state experiences a worrying surge in COVID-19 cases and AFL commentator Gerard Whateley said today those teams have been told they’ll be based in Queensland for the rest of the season.

“I’m being told from a well-placed source that all Victorian clubs were told this morning that they will be based in Queensland for the remainder of the home and away season,” Whateley said on SEN.

“This is the biggest development in the race to keep the season alive. There’ll be 11 rounds in nine weeks and Victorian teams will not return home. They’ll be based in Queensland.

“Staff have been informed that they can’t bring families. Players are waiting to hear what the family environments will be.”

Whateley also said the “hub in Perth will continue as scheduled”.

“There’s a very real chance that Brisbane and Gold Coast don’t leave Queensland for the rest of the year,” he added.

“There’s a very real chance the WA teams don’t leave Perth for the rest of the year.”

All 10 Victorian teams will reportedly be moved to Queensland and will play games in South Australia, Western Australia and NSW on a fly-in, fly-out basis.

The AFL will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation in NSW but for now, the Sydney Swans and GWS Giants will be permitted to stay in their home city.

An increasing number of infections in NSW have been linked to a Sydney pub cluster and two more venues in the state’s capital have shut down this morning after customers who visited over the weekend have since tested positive.

Queensland has recorded no new cases in the past 24 hours and has only four confirmed, active cases.

Yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk closed Queensland’s borders to residents of 77 Sydney suburbs she classified as coronavirus hots pots.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman told NCA NewsWire anyone from those areas in Liverpool and Campbelltown, in Sydney’s south-west, would be turned around at the border if they were not Queensland residents.