VFL season suspended due to coronavirus crisis, AFL call imminent

The head of the AFL Players Association expects a decision on the viability of starting the men’s season will be reached within a day.

AFL Victoria will suspend the VFL competition amid the coronavirus pandemic. Picture: AAP

With meetings underway in Melbourne on Monday between the AFL and club executives, at least one major league has opted to postpone the beginning of its season.

The Victorian Football League has opted to delay the beginning of its season as AFL clubs with teams in the league moved to isolate players in those programs in a bid to keep COVID-19 at bay.

The initial move by Richmond, which was followed by the Western Bulldogs, effectively meant that their VFL teams did not have enough players to field senior and reserves sides.

Discussions are also underway in relation to the premier Under-18 competition in Victoria, with a decision to be made on whether the NAB League should be suspended indefinitely.

As the AFL discusses the crisis, with the Players Association to hold a phone hook-up with their men’s and women’s players later on Monday, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared a state of emergency would come into place at midday.

AFL call imminent

The head of the AFL Players Association expects a decision on the viability of starting the men’s season on Thursday will be reached within a day.

Paul Marsh, the chief executive of the player’s union, has spent the morning in discussion with delegates from AFL clubs around the country.

It follows extensive consultation with the AFL over the weekend ahead of the scheduled start of the season on Thursday between Richmond and Carlton.

Marsh, who issued a statement following the meeting on Monday, said further meetings will be held on Monday night with the entire playing group.

The men’s meeting is due to take part early on the evening while a women’s meeting will follow, with the footballers to be surveyed on whether they believe it is viable to play during the current health crisis.

“We are obviously dealing with an unprecedented issue at the moment,” he said.

“It is impacting everyone in our country. The AFL and the AFL players are part of this.

“We have been working around a process with this issue that will hopefully inform what we do next.

“Over the last 48 hours we have just been working through this with the AFL, independent experts, trying to get all the information so that we can communicate the situation and inform our players.”