Victoria an abandoned state as AFL players flee north to hub life

The final Victorian clubs left in the state have deserted coronavirus-riddled Melbourne for coastal paradises.

3 min read

8:42PMJuly 06, 2020.

Updated 9:40PMJuly 06, 2020

Hawthorn players James Frawley and Shaun Burgoyne take a dip in the ocean pool at Coogee Beach on Monday after the club escaped Melbourne before the NSW border closed. Picture. Phil Hillyard

A remarkable chapter in the history of the AFL is under way after the final Victorian clubs left in the state deserted coronavirus-riddled Melbourne for coastal paradises on Monday.

For at least the next month, every club will spend time in a hub in Queensland, NSW or Western Australia to enable the season to proceed. The coronavirus crisis has had dire consequences for employees of AFL clubs around the country amid a significant economic downturn.

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But the league has reason for cheer on one front with television audiences spiking across the country while most fans are shut out of games.

The challenge ahead is daunting but, with an even season not quite one-third completed, it is clear the teams that handle hub life will be well placed to challenge for the premiership.

Richmond premiership star Bachar Houli, who is one of three senior Tigers players to remain in Melbourne, nonetheless believes life in the Gold Coast hub presents a great opportunity for his club.

The Tigers will be missing at least eight players from last year’s premiership side when they host Sydney at the Gabba on Sunday in a bid to reclaim a spot in the eight.

But Houli, who opted out of travelling to the hub along with Shane Edwards for family reasons, believes the time away will strengthen Richmond’s premiership defence.

He said the hub would “be great for the connection of the footy club” and “hopefully in four or five weeks we are bigger and stronger”.

Former Fremantle skipper David Mundy, who helped the Dockers to their first win for the season against Adelaide on Sunday, believes the key to success for the new arrivals is to embrace the opportunity to spend more time strengthening bonds.

“The only difference is that we are all living in the same hotel, so there is a bit more face time with our guys outside training and playing, which for our guys has been a real positive,” he told RSN 927. “We have, largely, a really young group who are developing and trying to find their way. To have that additional time together has been a real benefit for us.”

Despite the historic situation the AFL finds itself in as it seeks to play 45 games in 32 days, in one regard the competition will take a step closer to normality as Victorian clubs play in front of fans again.

There was a minor blow when WA Premier Mark McGowan said on Monday plans that would have enabled 60,000 fans to attend the homecoming derby between West Coast and Fremantle on July 19 were under revision.

Concerns have been raised in some quarters about the quality of play in an interrupted season as scoring has dipped, and the AFL moved to tighten the holding-the-ball interpretation in round five.

The quality of play has not hurt television ratings, which have increased by 21 per cent in comparison to last year.

In part this is due to a surge of interest in Queensland and NSW, which correlates with growing participation rates in those states at a time more matches than ever are being played in Brisbane, Sydney and the Gold Coast.

With fans watching the game from their living rooms instead of from the stands, viewing figures have increased substantially this year, with the AFL eclipsing the NRL on Thursday and Friday nights.

While the classic between the Melbourne Storm and Sydney Roosters last Thursday drew 18,000 more viewers than St Kilda’s dismantling of Carlton, that was an outlier.

The AFL has averaged 1.2m viewers on Thursday nights, up 21 per cent on last year and about 38 per cent more than its counterparts. On Fridays, the lead is 21 per cent on average. In Brisbane, the audience increased 38 per cent this year with the Lions and the Suns winning most of their matches.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he was delighted free-to-air audiences had increased by 16 per cent in NSW and Queensland this year.

“These participants are not just playing the game, they’re watching, following and supporting teams in NSW and Queensland, (which is) reflected in the viewership figures released today,” McLachlan said.

“We hope all Australians can continue to support their clubs during what continues to be the most challenging period for our game at all levels.”