AFL moves to allay hub fears for restart

A multi-pronged start to the AFL competition, with hubs based around the nation, appears most likely.

Giants star Lachie Whitfield hurdles a fence during a training session at Mount Martha in Melbourne Picture: AAP

A multi-pronged start to the AFL competition, with hubs based around the nation, appears most likely as fixture boss Travis Auld works on a model that will give the league the best chance of completing another 16 rounds plus finals series this year.

He said an abridged 2020 season was likely to resume with teams placed into a hub model, be it with all 18 sides based in one city, or with the competition split into three different states.

“We’ve got a few options in front of us. They range from one hub with 18 teams together, playing obviously maybe in two or three stadiums for a season,” Auld said.

“Then there’s an opportunity to have maybe up to three hubs with, say, six teams in each hub, located in different states, playing at a traditional home-and-away venue, so there’s a few options in front of us.

“We don’t control all the variables here. We don’t pretend to control all the variables. We’re in the hands of governments largely, and the community generally, as to when they think it’s right for us to start a game.

“All we can be is as best prepared as we can and have the industry fully aligned, including clubs and players, broadcasters and venues, (and make sure we are) all on the same page, so (that) if we get the opportunity to restart, then we’re ready to go.”

It is possible matches will be played almost daily, particularly if clubs are based in hubs for a restricted length of time. The AFL has stressed it will not be rushed into fast-tracking its plans despite the NRL’s determination to resume its season in late May.

The league is also keeping tabs on sporting competitions around the world as it looks to find the best solution to ensure as smooth a season as possible, with July appearing the most likely date for a resumption.

Auld told the Working Through It podcast featuring James Hird and Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell the 2020 season would have significant differences.

“We won’t take a traditional round to round, weekend to weekend approach,” Auld said.

“It may mean that we play five, six, seven days a week, with a lot of night games, a lot of midweek games. One round might blend into another.

“There will be shorter breaks because we reduced the length of games, which could allow us to play games off four-day breaks, as long as we get the parameters right for the players.”

When the prospect of starting the season in hubs was first raised, footballers and administrators queried whether it was a workable solution given the health crisis.

But after AFL Players Association president Patrick Dangerfield softened his stance, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett conceded on Wednesday it may prove the right decision.

Auld said the league is talking regularly with football clubs and the AFLPA as a decision on a restart to the season draws closer, though it has been reported the AFL may delay that call until May.

“I think early on there was a lack of information, because we simply didn’t have, it and players were (being) asked questions about what a hub looks like and what they would think about a hub. It was difficult to understand how we were going to deal with those concerns they have had,’’ Auld said.

“I think they are keen to play and a hub is just another term for how we can put our players in an environment where we can, firstly, prioritise their health and safety, but also not be a burden on the community.”

GWS Giants chief executive Dave Matthews said western Sydney was an ideal location for a hub.

“It’s built for purpose,” he told Sportsday. “There are over 900 hotel rooms. Then you take into account Blacktown and the SCG, where you have three venues. It’s a precinct that is ready made. It just seems obvious. I’m not posturing at all.”