Crowds allowed at NTFL grand final in Darwin despite virus fears

THOUSANDS of punters will still be allowed to attend the NTFL grand final in Darwin, while crowds have been locked out of games on the Tiwi Islands and Alice Springs.

The NTFL grand final will go ahead as scheduled with a crowd at the TIO stadium in Darwin despite coronavirus fears

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THOUSANDS of punters will still be allowed to attend the NTFL Grand Final in Darwin tonight, while crowds have been locked out of games on the Tiwi Islands and Alice Springs.

The NT News understands the Office of Township Policing for the Tiwi Islands has decided to prevent visitors from entering the remote community for tomorrow’s highly-anticipated Tiwi Islands grand final.

It comes after Australia’s Chief Health Officer Professor Brendan Murphy yesterday told the nation’s leaders to cancel mass gatherings of more than 500 people as COVID-19 continues to spread.

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The Tiwi Regional Council had been assessing earlier yesterday whether to ban interstate travellers from attending.

Attendees will now be restricted to those already on the Tiwi Islands.

The event traditionally attracts a large number of visitors from all over the Territory and the country.

A council spokeswoman called for calm and understanding.

“Let’s be cautious and considerate for the other communities where we have a lot of chronic illness. A flu or bug like that can harm our community. It would spread like wildfire,” she said.

AFLNT CEO Stuart Totham said crowds would not be allowed to attend tonight’s AFLW match in Alice Springs.

Organisers have decided to proceed with the match between Melbourne and Carlton at 6pm without a crowd.

NTFL CEO Stuart Totham

Footy fans are still expected to pack into TIO Stadium in Darwin throughout today and into the evening where the NTFL Grand Final will go ahead as scheduled with a crowd despite coronavirus fears.

Mr Totham said TIO Stadium would have antibacterial dispensers and signage in key locations as an extra precaution, as well as extra cleaning staff around the ground.

“We normally get between 7000 and 10,000 people on grand final day,” he said.

“I encourage all the punters out there to stay home and watch it on TV if you’re feeling unwell or have been overseas in the last fortnight. But if that doesn’t apply to you, come out and support your teams.

“Everyone’s safety is in the forefront of our minds and the risk around having a public gathering with multiple thousands of people.

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“But taking into account we’ve got one case of the coronavirus here in Darwin, we felt while there is a risk, it was worth proceeding.”

Mr Totham said all players and clubs had been advised to minimise “personal contact” and to be ultra careful with personal hygiene during the games this weekend.

Darwin soccer clubs have also been advised that players should not shake hands during matches and players and match officials are only to use their own water bottles. In the Territory, there has been no community spread of the virus.