Brisbane hopeful of having some spectators at Round 2 clash against Fremantle
How good would this be! One club is putting plans in place for fans to attend their Round 2 clash, currently in talks with the venue. And they are hopeful of it becoming a reality.
AFL
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BRISBANE is hoping to have some spectators at the Gabba this Saturday when they resume their 2020 AFL campaign against Fremantle.
Sydney and Greater Western Sydney have also submitted official requests to the AFL and the NSW Government, asking for limited crowds at home games in coming weeks.
The three clubs are expected to get an answer back by the middle of the week, as the respective governments, local health authorities and AFL consider the proposals.
An AFL spokesperson said last night: “We will continue to be guided by the governments and health officials and remain open to the potential of having fans attend games if it is safe to do so.”
It comes a day after AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said it remained his “ambition” to have a “full” house at this year’s Grand Final, potentially on October 24. But he conceded small crowds in Victoria were unlikely in the first month of the re-started season.
The Herald Sun this week revealed the AFL was investigating whether up to 50 fans could attend games as soon as next month.
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The league has formed a working party to oversee the potential return of spectators at games, including the possibility of starting with 50 seated patrons at the MCG and Marvel Stadium.
While a timeline is far from guaranteed, there are increasing hopes the Victorian State Government will consider allowing small AFL crowds from July.
From June 22, up to 50 people will be able to gather in some public venues. AFL venues are not currently included, but there are hopes this could change if restrictions continue to be eased around the country.
The Lions have been in talks with Gabba authorities about a COVID-safe plan that would allow a small number of fans into the ground.
They could potentially be housed in corporate boxes and open areas around the ground in accordance with strict social distancing requirements.
Brisbane CEO Greg Swann said the club expects to know if spectators can get through the gates by the middle of the week.
“We’ve spoken to the Gabba and they’ve come up with a plan to get some people into the stadium,’’ Swann said.
“We are certainly hoping it can happen for the Freo game. It would be good if it can happen.”
The NRL is pushing to have spectators at matches next round.
Melbourne Storm launched a bold bid to have 5000 fans attend matches at AAMI Park by July 2, with Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy saying the club was finalising a proposal for the Victorian Government.
The NRL is pushing to have spectators at matches next round while AFL CEO Gil McLachlan has spoken optimistically about welcoming back fans sooner rather than later with a dream of having a full house for the October 24 grand final.
Meanwhile, the Gold Coast have warmed-up for their clash with West Coast at Metricon Stadium this Saturday night with an intra-club match on Friday night.
Forward Alex Sexton – who missed the Suns’ Round 1 loss to Port Adelaide through a hamstring injury – kicked four goals in the match simulation as did Ben King.
Veterans Jarrod Harbrow and Pearce Hanley also got some game time under their belts after missing the season-opener while defender Charlie Ballard had his first competitive hit-out after overcoming a shoulder injury.
No.1 draft pick Matt Rowell got some early touches while no.2 selection Noah Anderson spent time on the wing. Queenslander Connor Budarick performed well and is a strong chance to retain his place in the senior side.
Family reunion will be strictly an on-field affair
AFL-playing brothers Callum and Brendon Ah Chee normally reside 3600 km apart.
The Queensland hub put in place for the resumption of the 2020 AFL season means the siblings will be just an hour away from each other with Callum based in Brisbane with the Lions and Brendon with the West Coast Eagles at a Gold Coast resort.
But the strict COVID-19 measures mean the only time they will be able to have a face-to-face family reunion is when Brisbane host the Eagles at the Gabba on June 20.
“It will be a bit strange. I don’t think I can go and see him and he is here for about a month or so…hopefully we get the opportunity to play against each other and I get to see him at some stage,’’ Ah Chee said.
“Obviously it (the Gold Coast hub) is something he’d rather not do but everyone wants to see footy back. Everyone wants to play.
“The weather is amazing. They are pretty lucky to be coming over here.’’
Silky halfback Ah Chee missed Brisbane’s Round 1 loss to Hawthorn due to illness so he is yet to play a senior game in Lions colours after being traded from the Suns at the end of last year.
“It was just bad timing. I got through the pre-season well and didn’t get injured which was awesome and then come Rd 1, I was a bit crook,’’ he said.
“Obviously with the coronavirus, it was a bit unknown so it was pretty important to stay at home.
“It was just a bit of a cold. Unlucky to miss out but I’m fit and ready to go now.
“These things happen and I’m just happy to be back to training on the Gabba. I didn’t get to train on the Gabba before Round 1 so it was the first time coming back and I’ve loved every bit of it.’’
Brisbane will host Fremantle next Saturday while the Eagles will take on Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium.
NO.1 PICK INSPIRED BY LIONS GREATS TO STAY AT GABBA
Brisbane young gun Cameron Rayner says the elevation of Lion Kings Jonathan Brown and Simon Black to the AFL Hall of Fame is a reminder to the current ‘department of youth’ on the benefits of staying and playing at the Gabba.
Collectively, Brown and Black achieved almost everything there is to achieve in the AFL as one-club players during their glorious careers with Brisbane.
The Lions have become a destination club in recent times having stopped the exodus of young talent that hit its low point with the departure of the ‘Go Home Five’ at the end of 2013.
Brisbane boast an enviable core of young players that can grow together into a premiership force if they remain at the Lions.
Rayner – the No.1 draft pick in 2017 – was handed the no.16 guernsey at Brisbane made famous by Brown.
He joked that he thought he had an instant fanbase when he first arrived at the Gabba with so many supporters donning his number on the back of their Lions jumpers.
He said the past deeds of Brown and Black were a modern-day retention weapon for Brisbane.
“100 per cent. To see that (triple premiership) team, they started all young together and had success as they grew older,’’ Rayner said.
“That’s something that we want to do here. I feel like we’ve got the foundation. We just need to put in the work and strive towards that.
“It is a little bit reassuring to see it can be done. Hopefully we can do that and follow in the same footsteps.’’
Rayner said he enjoyed seeing highlight’s of Brown’s career in the No.16 jumper.
“I watched a video on Facebook of Browny. You sit there and watch it and take in that he’s a superstar of the game. I guess I took that for granted,’’ he said.
“It’s an honour to wear that jumper and it’s so exciting to see them put in the Hall of fame. They are both superstars of the game.’’
Brisbane will resume their 2020 campaign at the Gabba next Saturday against Fremantle with Rayner saying the nailbiting loss to the Dockers in Perth last year still stung the Lions.
“It was a shocker that one. It was a good game, a close game and we know what they can do. We play good footy at the Gabba so we’ve got to make sure we can take advantage of it,’’ he said.
“I saw it (the Fremantle win over Brisbane) on Facebook the other day. I remember the feeling, it was terrible. We know what we did wrong in that game and we went back and corrected it.’’
MORE AFL:
Brisbane champion Jonathan Brown has been inducted into the Australian football Hall of Fame
Brisbane great Simon Black has been inducted into the Australian football Hall of Fame
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