AFL in line to save $40m by avoiding quarantine hubs

The AFL could save up to $40m if it is able to convince state governments that its health protocols are coronavirus proof.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison during Friday’s press conference speaks at Parliament House in Canberra. Picture: Getty Images

The AFL could save up to $40m if it is able to convince state governments that its health protocols are coronavirus proof.

The league is another step closer to the 2020 season resuming after Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced restrictions could be eased following another meeting of the national cabinet next Friday.

While Morrison said the AFL needed to satisfy state governments its plans were effectively COVID-19 proof, it is clear the federal government is determined to restart the economy.

The optimism stemming from the most recent meeting is a tick of approval for the AFL, which had submitted for review to federal and state chief medical officers its latest thinking on a return to play, as well as a comprehensive health policy.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has earmarked mid-May as the period the league will announce its return to training and then playing dates for the season.

With two key meetings of the national cabinet set down for next week, it should now be able to make these crucial decisions with greater certainty.

The league is assessing the latest government advice and is set to brief clubs this weekend about its plans as the path towards resumption becomes clearer.

Should Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland ease border restrictions, the AFL may avoid having to implement the contentious and costly use of quarantine hubs.

“The individual jurisdictions will ultimately provide any of the clearances that are necessary on a health basis to deal with any of the major codes, be it the NRL, the AFL or the others,” Morrison said.

“We had a good discussion on that today and we received the advice that we did from the medical expert panel.

“What will be occurring is that those jurisdictions that are relevant to those codes are going to, through the medical expert panel, provide consistent health advice to those jurisdictions … about the decisions they would need to make regarding the proposals being put forward by those codes.”

South Australia has just recorded its ninth consecutive day without a new case of coronavirus, while Western Australia also achieved another clean slate on Friday.

Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has given the state’s three NRL clubs approval to begin training next week.

Based on that development, it is highly likely the Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns will also be eligible to begin training when allowed by the AFL.

The Queensland government has also given NRL clubs permission to travel to play matches because they are working and are also in quarantine. Should similar measures apply to the AFL, players will be able to remain at home with their families.

That would satisfy the footballers’ union as some members have expressed clear reservations about the prospect of living in hubs away from their families.

The AFL would be looking at a potential bill of around $40m if the worst-case scenario, which involved housing clubs in quarantine hubs for the remainder of the season, came to pass.

Instead, it appears increasingly likely the season will progress in a more orderly fashion with the use of chartered planes to fly clubs to interstate matches among safety recommendations.

Based on federal guidelines, people will be able to gather in groups of 10 for training from Monday week.

The AFL is expected to allow clubs to train for three weeks before the season recommences, with a resumption in late June now looking more likely.