Latest news on how Victoria’s Covid-19 scare will impact the 2021 AFL season

As Victoria’s Covid-19 crisis casts huge doubt over the 2021 AFL season, one State Government has already reached out to the league to offer its assistance.

Gillon McLachlan. Picture: Michael Klein

Tasmania is the first state outside Victoria to reveal it had spoken to the AFL about hosting teams in a hub.

Carlton and Essendon have already flown out of Melbourne with Richmond and Hawthorn to follow.

Tasmania premier Peter Gutwein said he had spoken to AFL boss Gillon McLachlan in the past 24 hours about the Covid-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

While relocating this weekend’s clash between Hawthorn and Gold Coast to the Apple Isle was not an option because of “broadcasting” issues, Gutwein said he had discussed hosting future matches in the state.

Hawthorn players have packed their bags and are preparing to fly north to take on the Gold Coast at a yet-to-be confirmed venue.

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Tasmania, which has been a second home to Hawthorn and North Melbourne, has offered to host teams in hubs if required to keep the AFL season alive. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Their scheduled Saturday night match in Darwin was cancelled and the game will be played somewhere in Queensland - most likely Metricon Stadium.

The Hawks are still waiting on AFL clarification about where they will fly.

Hubs were put back on the agenda by the AFL during a Wednesday hook-up with clubs CEOs.

Last year, the competition was largely based in Queensland a decision that ultimately led to the Grand Final being player at The Gabba.

“Obviously it is a moving feast with the AFL at the moment, again I would make the point and I have been clear right through this, we would not make any special arrangements or circumstances,” Gutewin said.

“They [clubs] would be treated the same as everybody else.

“Obviously if they had teams that were outside of Victoria at the moment that wanted to be domiciled here that could enter the state – bearing in mind it is only Victoria that the borders are closed to – then obviously we would have those discussions.

“I certainly wouldn’t rule it [a Tasmanian hub] out.

“My understanding is those arrangements [for the Hawks-Suns match] have already been dealt with.

“If I could make the point, in terms of no games being here this weekend it was a matter of broadcasting, that was the conversation I had with Gil.

“In terms of us making an offer for teams that could come into Tasmania that weren’t needing to quarantine, we certainly said we would look to facilitate that, again there were other matters that needed to be taken into account and that wasn’t possible.”

After all AFL content was scrapped from Tasmania last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Hawthorn has played two matches in Launceston and North Melbourne has hosted one at Blundstone Arena in 2021.

The next scheduled match is on Saturday June 13 featuring the Roos and GWS in Hobart.

ROOF CALL INCOMING AS DOGS EXIT ISO

The AFL is expected to make a call today on the Marvel Stadium roof, with a closed stadium to reduce the capacity to 50 per cent.

It comes as the Western Bulldogs were released from quarantine this morning, with the Dogs returning to training after all players and football department and match-day staff tested negative.

Training was cancelled on Tuesday and players and staff were tested after being notified on Monday night that a staff member had been to an exposure site following the latest outbreak in Melbourne’s north and west.

The AFL will today choose between an open roof at 85 per cent crowd capacity and the 50 per cent option with the roof closed.

Sports minister Martin Pakula said: “There will be some conditions around mask wearing and there will be some conditions about the roof at Marvel … the AFL are considering some of those options as well speak and they will have something to say before lunchtime today.”

Essendon has left Melbourne early. Picture: Getty Images

Essendon is being forced out of Melbourne today, two days ahead of schedule, for its clash against West Coast at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday night.

All players and match-day staff will be tested on arrival in Perth and will be forced to isolate until they receive a negative test.

Bay 101 cafe in Port Melbourne which has been listed as an exposure site is owned by Essendon list boss Adrian Dodoro.

The Bombers have confirmed Dodoro was not at the cafe on the morning of May 24.

No other Essendon player or official or family member attended the cafe between 7.30am and 8.20am.

Carlton is also on the move, with the Blues to fly to Sydney late this afternoon, three days early, for their Sunday clash against the Swans.

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KEY POINTS

• Essendon, Carlton will flee Victoria on Wednesday.

• A section of the MCG has been classed as an exposure site from the Collingwood-Port Adelaide match.

• Western Bulldogs players and staff have tested negative and will train on Wednesday.

• Bombers players and staff will have to test negative to COVID on arrival in Western Australia.

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All Carlton players and staff who are travelling to Sydney have been tested this morning.

The plan is to fly back almost immediately after the 3.20 fixture on Sunday.

The Hawks are also looking to travel early to Darwin for their clash with Gold Coast on Saturday night.

While the situation is changing rapidly, there is a chance Hawthorn could fly out to the Northern Territory on Thursday.

The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday that the Western Bulldogs were sent into isolation after a club staff member visited Highpoint shopping centre during an exposure period.

Now the league’s main concern is the trickle-down effect of the nine new COVID cases in Melbourne, and how it will affect the Round 11 fixture.

The AFL, at this stage, is unlikely to relocate all 10 Victorian sides out of the state, despite considering it during a COVID planning day Tuesday.

The AFL’s biggest concern is West Coast’s home clash against Essendon on Saturday night.

WA premier Mark McGowan ruled on Tuesday night that Victorians could still enter the state subject to a negative covid test.

But a border closure still remains a possibility if the circumstances in Melbourne worsen.

The league could consider getting West Coast out of Perth and for them to play Essendon at a neutral venue, such as Adelaide.

The Eagles would then fly to Melbourne for Round 12 to take on Carlton on Sunday June 6.

The Dogs players were informed not to go to training on Tuesday morning and instead were told to have AFL-arranged COVID tests.

The Dogs hierarchy became aware of the incident on Monday night when the staff member, who they will not name, told them he had been at Highpoint in the three-hour exposure window.

He had subsequently been in contact with the Dogs players and coaches, but the AFL and State Government are confident there is a very low risk of him getting COVID and passing it to players.

The Dogs had a scheduled training session on Tuesday and a day off on Wednesday.