Brisbane Lions in Covid limbo

The Brisbane Lions remain stuck in Melbourne with the troublesome COVID-19 outbreak causing concerns for the AFL.

The Brisbane Lions are stuck in Melbourne until at least Monday Picture: Getty Images

A decision on whether Brisbane will host Collingwood at the Gabba this week will be made on Monday with the Lions stuck in Melbourne due to a COVID-19 scare.

The opening fortnight of the competition has generated optimism with large crowds and quality football but the coronavirus situation in Brisbane has tempered enthusiasm.

After spending Saturday in Melbourne at the behest of the AFL, the Lions were about to head to the airport on Sunday when they were pulled from the team bus.

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The Brisbane squad had been tested for coronavirus on Saturday and received the all-clear from Victorian health authorities within 24 hours.

The AFL remains hopeful the Lions will be able to return to Brisbane and host the Magpies on Thursday but it is approaching the situation with caution.

Queensland health officials said the next 48 hours are crucial with the latest flare-up but have at least identified a link to a previous outbreak.

The state’s chief health officer Jeannette Young is hopeful Brisbane will avoid a lockdown after a three-day closure was ordered in January following a cluster of cases.

Matches against Collingwood are usually the Lions’s highest-drawing regular season game of the year and any restrictions at the Gabba or relocation of the fixture on Thursday night will be a blow for Brisbane.

Collingwood could fly in and out of Brisbane on the same day to minimise the potential health risks.

Another option would be to play the game at Marvel Stadium, with the Lions to remain in Melbourne this week, and switch their Round 22 clash to Brisbane.

By delaying the decision another day, the AFL will have a clearer picture as to whether the latest scare will cause a bigger headache than simply inconveniencing Brisbane.

But the AFL is wary of the impact of potential border closures across the country and the implications surrounding players being deemed close contacts of rivals in hot spots.

Should the situation deteriorate in Brisbane, for example, the Magpies could be drawn into a situation that would have implications for the draw if other states shut borders to Queensland.

Western Australia tightened regulations on the weekend, with arrivals from Queensland to isolate for a fortnight and undergo a COVID-19 test on day 11 of their stint.

Victorian health authorities also ordered anyone who had been in Brisbane to isolate immediately and get tested.

The initial positive test in Brisbane on Friday sparked chaotic scenes in Geelong.

Fans were asked to leave the ground in a match where the Lions were beaten by one point in a controversial finish.

Should the Gabba clash receive the green light for Thursday night, the Magpies are likely to be tested on their return to Melbourne and forced to isolate while awaiting the results.

The situation has caused issues for the NRL as well. The Broncos, for example, are set to fly to Melbourne on a private jet on Tuesday for a clash against the Storm on Friday.

The Lions AFLW side, which returned to Brisbane earlier on Sunday, also faces an anxious wait leading into the finals series beginning over the Easter weekend.

Brisbane finished the women’s season in second position with seven wins from nine games to earn hosting rights for the finals.

But whether that remains the case depends on the health situation.

The latest scare is an example of the COVID-19 wrinkles both the AFL and clubs feared would be a factor throughout the 2021 season.

This has led the AFL to be cautious when it comes to the fixture for the season, with the league opting to release it in blocks of games rather than scheduling it as a whole.

The AFL has to date released only the schedule for the opening six rounds.

An update on the next window could be announced as early as next week.