Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says AFL industry has to make quarantine hub plan work if it can resume season

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch has backed the AFL’s potential ‘quarantine hub’ model to restart the 2020 season saying “we’ve got to make it work”.

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says the AFL industry has to make the quarantine hub model work if it is the plan to resume the league. (AAP Image/Kelly Barnes)

• Arnfield’s biggest challenge in his Port return
• How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription

Port Adelaide chairman David Koch has given his backing to the AFL’s potential ‘quarantine hub’ model to restart the 2020 season saying “we’ve got to make it work”.

The push for clubs to be based out of multiple locations around Australia, where COVID-19 infection rates are declining or low, and have them play a punch of the 144 remaining games of this season has been gathering more momentum.

Possible locations for the hubs that have been mooted are Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, northern Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Koch said if that was the return-to-play plan by the AFL, then the industry had to make it work.

“If we have to do it, if that is the plan that is decided on … we make it work, we’ve got to make it work,” he said on SEN.

“If that is the best option then you have to do what’s best.”

David Koch is eager to get the season underway. Picture: AAP Image/Kelly Barnes.

The South Australian government is yet to be approached by the AFL, who have told clubs it will have a return-to-play plan for them by the end of the month.

There is also a possibility that scheduling issues with the MCG, if the AFL season runs later than October, could result in the grand final being played in Perth or even Adelaide.

Koch said he just wanted the game to be back playing.

“Anywhere is a possibility we just want to get footy back, it’s an important part of our lives,” he said.

While there has been support for the idea of hubs, players such as Geelong superstar – and AFLPA president Patrick Dangerfield – and former Crows captain Taylor Walker have been wary of the idea.

Koch said it was too early to tell how Power players would react to the plan.

“You just can’t predict which of the half dozen plans (the AFL goes with) and the reaction of players,” he said.

“All I know is amongst the clubs, amongst the presidents, chief executives and commissioners of there is an enormous sense of that we are in this together.”

Originally published as Port Adelaide chairman David Koch says AFL industry has to make quarantine hub plan work if it can resume season