AFL to open an ‘Ablett bubble’

The door has been opened for Gary Ablett to return for the finals with the establishment of a Covid transition hub.

Gary Ablett has been offered a way back into the finals series. Picture: Michael Klein

The door has been opened for Gary Ablett to return for the finals with the establishment of a third transition hub to enable re-entry while the AFL is moving Sydney and Fremantle to Cairns for the last month of the competition.

Ablett and Richmond’s Shane Edwards had chosen to remain in Victoria with family, the Cats star opting to be with his son who has health issues and the Tigers player awaiting the birth of a child on the weekend.

The new hub will give both players a chance to rejoin their teams before the finals.

The AFL has started to put in place arrangements for the last four rounds of the season with the Swans and Fremantle settling in Cairns as the competition moves out of Western Australia.

The decision puts paid to any hopes the Giants or Swans would return to Sydney for the last month of the season.

Gary Ablett and his son Levi

Rugby league teams cross the border to Queensland, but it is understood the AFL is not willing to subject more sides to quarantine restrictions when they fly north because of Queensland’s closed border and wants to keep the competition concentrated.

It is expected 15 sides will be based across Queensland and three in Adelaide. The Swans and Giants play the derby in Perth tomorrow night.

“We are delighted to again be playing games at Cazalys Stadium and to have Sydney and Fremantle staying in Cairns which has such a passionate AFL support base,” the League’s general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld said in a statement.

“We are really grateful for the support of the Queensland government which has ensured our season has been able to continue, along with the wonderful support of Tourism Queensland and Cairns Regional Council.

“We are really excited to bring our games to Far North Queensland and now for a period of time having teams in the community and contributing to the local economy when it is really needed.”

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Ablett left Geelong to be with his family on July 18 but the transition hub, which SEN reported would open on September 1, would give him a chance to make the finals with the home and away season due to end on September 20. At 36 it may be the star’s last final series.

The AFL has not confirmed the new arrangements but The Australian understands it intends to give the players a chance to come back into the fold.

Ablett, Edwards, other staff and families would have to serve two weeks in the Queensland hub before being cleared to join the teams.

Carlton’s Liam Stocker and St Kilda defender Nathan Brown had also returned home.

Brisbane Lions chairman Andrew Wellington told Gerard Whateley on Wednesday he did not believe the Gabba would be able to operate at capacity for the Grand Final.

The ground holds 37,000 and if the executive is correct then Perth’s Optus Stadium will firm as favourite for the big game.

“I’m not sure about a full Gabba (for the grand final),” he said on SEN’s Whateley.

“But I think certainly you would be able to have a significantly greater crowd that what we’re currently at.”

Clubs are on the move again with Melbourne and St Kilda set to play under lights at Traeger Park in Alice Springs on August 29

Dockers general manager Peter Bell said that while the club wasn’t yet aware of the quarantine restrictions they were ready to move.

“We were really pleased with the way our players and staff welcomed and embraced the move to the Gold Coast in June, and this will be no different,” Bell said.

“The opportunity to train and play together in Cairns will add to the significant growth we have already made as a young team, in a short period of time.”