Up to 16 AFL teams to be based in Queensland to help finish 2020 season
The ever-changing AFL fixture has copped another edit, with the Lions and Kangaroos clash changing venues, while the Magpies v Crows and Saints v Cats games have also seen minor reworks. See all the latest changes here.
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The AFL fixture has been reworked yet again with the second Tasmania game shifted to Queensland.
After the Apple Isle shut its borders until the end of August and Premier Peter Gutwein declared no special exemptions would be made for AFL teams, North Melbourne’s Round 12 clash with Brisbane will now be played at Metricon Stadium on Saturday, August 15.
The league said the Gold Coast stadium had been preferred given both clubs are based in Queensland.
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The Round 11 fixture has also undergone some minor tinkering, with St Kilda now the home team for this Monday’s meeting with Geelong at the Gabba.
“With the support of both clubs, St Kilda will become the designated home team to help achieve broader equity in home club commercial deliverables,” the league said in a statement, citing perimeter signage as one example.
“Club member access will remain equitable for both clubs.”
The match between Adelaide and Collingwood on the following night has also been brought forward from 7.10pm (AEST) to 6.35pm (AEST) to ensure the Magpies can fly directly back to Queensland that night, with North Melbourne to share the flight having played in Adelaide on Sunday.
Emotional reunion for Magpies families
– Glenn McFarlane
Collingwood signed off on its costly three-week trip to Perth with an emotional reunion with some of their wives, partners and children on the Sunshine Coast on Monday night.
As the Magpies look to reignite their season after back-to-back losses to West Coast and Fremantle following a win over Geelong, the sign greeting the players when they arrived at the Novotel’s Sunshine Coast Convention Centre said it all.
A hand painted welcome sign saying “We’ve missed you” complete with the names of the kids reunited with their dads showed that for all the high stakes of AFL footy that it is only a game after all.
.@SP_10 reunited with Jax. 🥰 pic.twitter.com/przEAEFQJZ
— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) August 3, 2020
Scott Pendlebury was back with his wife Alex and their two kids Jax and Darcy, while Jack Crisp couldn’t wipe the smile from his face back with his children.
Magpies fans are hoping being back with their families can provide the players with a spark ahead of Thursday’s clash with Sydney at the Gabba.
Not much went right for Collingwood after their initial win over the Cats in Perth. Jordan De Goey received the bad news about his finger injury that will likely keep him out until the finals, coach Nathan Buckley and assistant coach Brenton Sanderson were fined $25,000 for breaking COVID-19 protocols with a game of tennis with Alicia Molik, the Eagles smashed the Pies after a strong first term and the Dockers produced a stunning upset.
HOW AFL PLANS TO FINISH FINAL ROUNDS
- Jon Ralph and Brett Stubbs
The AFL is planning for 16 teams to eventually end up in Queensland for the last three or four rounds of the season with only Adelaide and Port Adelaide remaining in South Australia.
West Coast coach Adam Simpson is preparing for his side to relocate into a Gold Coast hub, likely until the end of the AFL finals.
It comes as Hawthorn and North Melbourne have all but been shut out of playing matches in Tasmania this season — a move that could cost the clubs millions of dollars under an existing contract.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Monday its borders would remain shut to all states until at least August 31.
The Hawks and the Roos have a contract with the Tasmanian Government worth a combined $8 million a season for each club to play four home games in Launceston and Hobart respectively.
Hawks president Jeff Kennett said he completely understood the Premier’s call and the decision would have no impact on the clubs relationship with the state.
The South Australian teams are expected to stay in Adelaide and will fly in and fly out of that state to play games in Queensland.
The league will hub two teams in Cairns and schedule three games at the northern Queensland city’s Cazaly Stadium but there is no word yet on who those teams will be.
The 18 clubs can then fly in and out of Cairns, Adelaide and the Northern Territory for their playing commitments so the AFL can keep marching through its fixture.
Richmond and Essendon have been drawn to play their annual dreamtime clash in Darwin in Round 13 on August 22.
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ROOS DEFENDER SET TO LEAVE QUEENSLAND HUB
— Kate Salemme
North Melbourne defender Jamie Macmillan will leave the club’s Queensland hub and return home to Victoria for the birth of his first child.
Macmillan, 28, is expected to play against Geelong at the Gabba on Wednesday night and against Melbourne at Adelaide Oval on Sunday before heading home.
The Kangaroo’s wife, Olivia, is expected to give birth next week, with Macmillan committed to playing as many games as he can before then.
The matches against the Cats and Demons are expected to be Macmillan’s last of the 2020 season.
“It’s a situation we’re managing day-by-day but she’s (Olivia) been awesome for me, encouraging me to stay here as long as I can but I will be going home for the birth,” Macmillan told the club’s website.
“I’ve just got to try and work out when that is. At this stage it probably looks like it’ll be next week sometime but I’m trying to get in as many games as I can.
“Essentially that’s where it’s probably landing at the minute.
“She’s got appointments throughout the week as we go and we’re keeping an eye on it but I’m hoping to get in those two games at a minimum and then we can work out from there how she’s feeling at home, how she’s coping as well, obviously there’s a different situation down in Melbourne at the minute and (it’s) changing by the day.
“We’ll keep monitoring it but that’s the plan at the minute, to head home probably after that Melbourne game but again, it’s wait and see.”
With Victoria now entering stage four restrictions as the COVID-19 outbreak deepens, Macmillan is unlikely to play again this season.
He would be required to undergo 14 days of quarantine by himself should he wish to return to Queensland after the birth.
“It just means that unfortunately if I do go home it’s going to be very hard to come back,” Macmillan said. “If I do come back I’ll probably have to serve the two-week quarantine period somewhere in a hotel room by myself, which to then turn around and play a game of football days or weeks later, is challenging.
“They’re the obstacles I face and have come into the decision-making.
“At the end of the day it’s my first kid and I want to be there to support Oli. Everyone says it’s one of the best moments of your life, so I don’t want to miss that.”
After matches against Geelong and Melbourne, North Melbourne will play Brisbane at the Gabba on August 15.
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Originally published as Up to 16 AFL teams to be based in Queensland to help finish 2020 season
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