As Freo fly in, AFL aiming for fans in the stands this weekend
Fans could be watching football from the stands in at least two states in this weekend’s resumption round.
Fans could be watching football from the stands in at least two states in this weekend’s resumption round as the coronavirus pandemic continues to ease throughout Australia.
Victorian clubs are also bracing for lengthy road trips to Western Australia later this season should border restrictions ease enough to enable travel into the state for matches.
When shutting down the season, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the league needed to be flexible during the crisis.
The vastly improved health outlook across the country has opened the door for fans to attend matches, a prospect that appeared unlikely even a month ago, though in the initial stages crowds will be no bigger than those who normally attend suburban or regional matches.
The Showdown between Port Adelaide and the Crows on Saturday night will have a crowd of 2000 fans before those clubs relocate to southeast Queensland for at least three weeks.
As the hosts, Port have received an allocation of 1475 tickets for members in what is a small step towards normality. The Crows will receive 475 tickets and Adelaide Oval members the remaining 50, Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas said.
“Of course, we wish we could have all our members at the ground on Saturday night,” he said. “But we know this season will be different and we will strive to provide equal opportunity to all our members on Saturday night and across the remainder of the season.”
Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ruled out the prospect of fans attending matches in Brisbane and on the Gold Coast this weekend.
“We want to see crowds supporting their local football matches but also future netball games (and) sport across the board,” the Queensland premier said.
“We have to be measured and responsible and that is why the plans are currently with the chief health officer and once she ticks off those plans, she’ll get back to those organisations and we’ll be able to make some public announcements.”
But with six clubs based in southeast Queensland from next Monday, there is hope some fans will be able to watch games at the Gabba and Metricon Stadium from next week.
Gold Coast chairman Tony Cochrane said the Suns were told an application for a trial run involving less than 1000 fans for the clash against the Eagles on Saturday night was well received by Stadiums Queensland and was confused by the delay.
Both the Swans and Giants remain hopeful of receiving permission as soon as Wednesday for small crowds to attend matches against Essendon and North Melbourne respectively on Sunday in Sydney.
“We’re working with the NSW government at the moment that, if it does become available, we’re at the front of the queue,” Sydney chief executive Tom Harley said.
As it stands, allowing a small portion of fans into matches will actually lead to a loss in the initial stages given the costs incurred for opening a portion of stadiums.
But Kangaroos coach Rhyce Shaw said it would be another important step for the game if 350 Giants fans were able to watch their clash on Sunday.
“Any opportunity we can take to get crowds into a game, we must take that opportunity,” he said.
McLachlan said it set the tone for supporters about what to look forward to later this year.
“We will work through it in the right way, the safe way, and I don’t think we need to be there this weekend for our members and supporters to still have hope and promise and optimism they will get to the footy this year,” he told SEN.
Fremantle, meanwhile, arrived on the Gold Coast to join the Eagles on Tuesday ahead of a clash against the Lions in Brisbane on Saturday.
Both the Eagles and Fremantle will play between four to six matches on the Gold Coast before returning to Perth.
The AFL is leading discussions with the WA government in regards to quarantine and hopes the two Perth-based clubs will be able to host matches from midway through July. Modifications to quarantine laws would be required for Victoria and NSW-based clubs to play both the Eagles and Dockers in a longer-than-usual stint in WA. McLachlan is hopeful of reaching an agreement next week and a decision is expected by the end of round 3, with the AFL due to publish its fixture for the next block of matches following the completion of round 5.
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