Brisbane Lions locked down in travel limbo as AFL fixture chaos looms

The AFL is in crisis with its season fixture on the brink after the Lions were locked down in an extraordinary response to Brisbane’s COVID-19 case.

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 26: Charlie Cameron and his Lions team mates look dejected after losing the round 2 AFL match between the Geelong Cats and the Brisbane Lions at GMHBA Stadium on March 26, 2021 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

The Brisbane Lions have been locked down in travel limbo following the Victorian health department’s extraordinary warning on Friday night in response to a new virus case in Queensland.

Lions players and staff remain inside their team hotel in Geelong and are uncertain if they will be cleared to travel back to Brisbane on Saturday.

Lions captain Dayne Zorko confirmed reports on Saturday when he told Fox Footy the team will likely have to stay at least one more night in Victoria, but are hoping to be cleared to fly back to Brisbane on Sunday.

With Brisbane on the brink of increased COVID-19 restrictions, there is speculation the Lions may be forced to remain in Victoria to allow the AFL 2021 season fixture to continue.

The Lions are scheduled to play Collingwood at the Gabba on Thursday, but that has now been thrown into doubt.

Fox Footy’s Tom Morris reported Saturday Collingwood officials don’t know if they will travel to Brisbane as scheduled.

The Lions’ blockbuster with the Cats in Geelong was thrown into disarray after the Victorian Government introduced new regulations in response to the mystery coronavirus case in Brisbane when a young man tested positive test for the highly contagious UK strain.

Watch the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Every match of every round Live on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Less than one hour before the first bounce at GMHBA Stadium, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services announced new regulations relating to the latest positive test.

Players and fans in Geelong Friday night.

A big screen inside the stadium ordered any spectator who had been in Brisbane or the Moreton Bay Area since March 12 to leave the stadium immediately, isolate and get tested within the next 72 hours.

The Brisbane Lions players only arrived from Queensland on Thursday.

However, the round two clash in Geelong went ahead because Brisbane’s players were granted a late-minute “orange zone permit” exemptions from the state government due to the enhanced biosecurity protocols they are abiding by.

However, questions surrounding the exemptions were raised in a Herald Sun report, which revealed the league could not guarantee the Lions players had tested in negative in recent weeks.

The AFL’s relaxed protocols do not include regular COVID-19 testing.

SEN journalist Sam Edmund reported Saturday morning the Lions players and officials are on standby inside their hotel rooms.

Zorko said: “We’re probably going to have to stay here tonight, hopefully fly out tomorrow once we all get tested.

“The testers are here now. We’ll get this done pretty quickly and then head to Melbourne and fly out tomorrow.”

When asked about the prospect of being forced to stay in Melbourne, Zorko said: “It wouldn’t be great. A lot of the boys have kids and they’re going to be away from them potentially. The clothes situation and training gear, we wouldn’t have brought enough clothes, so it wouldn’t be ideal I would have thought.”

The message on the big screen said it all.

The Age also reported Saturday the Lions were ordered not to leave the hotel.

If the Lions return to Brisbane and are locked out of Victoria, the AFL season fixture will be in tatters.

“As things stand, the Brisbane Lions are unsure if they can fly home today,” Edmund posted on Twitter.

“Talks ongoing between Qld & Vic governments & the AFL, who are concerned over Brisbane going into lockdown & what that means for Lions’ future travel plans. Players & staff currently being tested in hotel.”

The Sydney Swans’ season was also in question on Friday night after the team travelled to Brisbane for their Round 1 win over the Lions.

The relaxed NSW restrictions in response to the Brisbane positive case have reportedly cleared the Swans because no player or staff member visited the “hot-spots” identified by the Queensland government.

However, the Swans are scheduled to travel to Melbourne next week to play Richmond at the MCG.

The Swans announced Saturday morning their Round 2 match against Adelaide at the SCG will go ahead.

Chris Fagan, senior coach of the Lions.

On Friday night, GMHBA Stadium’s loudspeakers repeatedly told Brisbane fans who had flown in from Queensland since March 12 to leave the venue and immediately undertake a COVID-19 test.

Channel 7 revealed that commentators Luke Hodge and Wayne Carey were among those required to exit GMHBA Stadium.

Hodge was told to leave the commentary box by Channel 7 staff after the announcement was made and Carey was also told to leave the venue.

Channel 7 Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin told The Herald Sun both commentators will be tested on Saturday.

Abbey Holmes was called up from the boundary-rider position to replace Hodge in the commentary box.

Speaking to reporters after the one-point loss, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan conceded he thought there was a chance the match would be called off.

“I’m glad it wasn’t (called off) because it was one of the better games of Aussie rules football that you’ll ever see,” Fagan said.

“We haven’t received any information from the AFL. As far as I know, we’re flying back tomorrow, but that could change. We’ll just be ready to do whatever we have to.

“We’ll just take our advice from the AFL and the Queensland government and do as we’re told.”