Easing border controls nudge AFL closer to a regular fixture

The AFL is gradually moving closer to running with a regular fixture later this season.

West Coast Eagles players training at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast this week. Picture: Getty Images

The move by the South Australian government to open the border from next month will enable the AFL to move closer to a regular fixture later this season.

South Australian premier Steve Marshall said borders would be open to unrestricted travel from July 20. The Crows and Port Adelaide will head to southeast Queensland next week for at least 16 days after playing in a Showdown at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

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The two clubs will join Fremantle and West Coast in the Gold Coast hub where they will play three matches.

The AFL is expected to unveil the next phase of its fixture following the completion of round 3 next weekend. Negotiations with both the SA and Western Australia governments are continuing as the league seeks to receive exemptions that would allow the hub-based clubs to return home after round 5. But the confirmed easing of restrictions in SA is another step forward for the AFL.

While the Power and Crows may be required to remain on the Gold Coast until round 7, they will be allowed to stay at home for at least the final 10 weeks, which reduces accommodation costs and will save millions of dollars.

Similarly to North Melbourne and Essendon, who will fly in and out of Sydney on Sunday for matches against GWS and Sydney, clubs will only be in Adelaide for a day. The WA government is yet to provide a similar extension but the Dockers and West Coast, along with the AFL, are hopeful this will occur in coming months. Should the border stance remain firm, it is possible clubs would travel to Perth for an elongated stint in which they would play both local teams before leaving.

The prospect of fans attending matches in the thousands by next month is another step forward for the competition, which resumed with a draw between Richmond and Collingwood on Thursday.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan was delighted by a television audience of 1.6 million for the clash, the biggest for a home-and-away match in a decade.