AFL considering worst-case scenarios but still planning for 22-game season in 2020
The AFL is preparing for Round 1 to kick off on Thursday night but is considering all options amid daily emergency briefings on the growing threat of the coronavirus.
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The AFL is considering all options in the face of the escalating coronavirus crisis, including the extreme measure of postponing Round 1.
While the league is still preparing for the season opener to go ahead before paying fans, chief executive Gillon McLachlan is chairing daily emergency briefings with clubs, the government and health groups.
But with the growing threat of coronavirus, the Herald Sun understands that, as of Thursday night, the AFL couldn’t guarantee Thursday’s season opener going ahead.
“This is not moving by the day, this is moving by the hour,’’ an AFL source said.
“There are some big calls to make.
“We are continuing to take advice from government and from the relevant medical authorities and we are planning for the season to go ahead on March 19.’’
America’s National Basketball Association has suspended its season after Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
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Only hours earlier, NBA officials and owners indicated games would be played as scheduled with fans locked out.
It’s not known how long the season will be suspended.
Victoria’s chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton has the power to enforce a crowd lock-out at sporting events.
McLachlan is working closely with Dr Sutton’s department.
The health priority is to slow down the spread of the virus to help ease the burden on the state’s health system.
No decision has been made about this weekend’s Grand Prix which usually attracts several hundred thousand fans to Albert Park on Sunday.
The growing crisis is a huge test of McLachlan’s leadership.
It’s understood he will have no hesitation in cancelling football matches to protect the health of the football industry and the greater community.
It’s believed the AFL will plan to ensure all 22 rounds of the season will be played.
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That could mean, in terms of catch-up, playing on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, clubs being forced to play three matches over a two-week period in a revised schedule and possibly extending the season into October.
Key talks are being held with clubs about the financial burden they will be confronted with.
In terms of any AFL player being tested, they would face the same conditions as the rest of the public.
“While Epworth Hospital has long had an association with the AFL, there is no prioritisation of AFL players for COVID-19 testing at our emergency department,” the hospital said.
Epworth has two private emergency departments at Richmond and Geelong for patients who require specialist emergency physician advice and treatment across a range of conditions.
Coronavirus tests are performed on patients with appropriate criteria to warrant testing. Turnaround time for results is the same for all patients.
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Originally published as AFL considering worst-case scenarios but still planning for 22-game season in 2020
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