AFL 2021: Latest Covid news and updates: When fans will be allowed back and policy decision
Victorian sports minister Martin Pakula has flagged when AFL fans may be allowed back through the turnstiles and revealed his stance on a controversial access policy.
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Crowds at AFL matches could be back next weekend, with Victorian Minister for Sport Martin Pakula ruling out a “no jab, no entry” policy for fans during the finals.
The expected loosening of restrictions on August 10 could extend to crowds at sporting events, with Pakula saying it was “possible” fans will be let back into stadiums before the end of the home-and-away series.
The decision comes as the league announced to would persist with a proven formula to guarantee the Brownlow Medal count goes off without a hitch.
Last year the count was held across several sites as it managed a delicate Covid situation.
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Pakula believed it would be unfair to enforce fans were vaccinated to gain entry into finals matches given “millions of people are not (yet) eligible” for a jab.
He also appeared to draw a line through rapid testing outside stadiums, which forms part of Eddie McGuire’s bold plan to get 100,000 to the grand final.
“I think there’s a place, potentially at some point, for rapid testing, but my understanding is that right now, rapid testing can throw up just as many false positives and negatives as accurate positives and negatives,” Pakula said on Monday.
“You would want to have a high degree of confidence about the accuracy of technology before you deployed it in an environment where there are tens of thousands of people.
“I’m not sure we’re at that point yet, but it is not something we’re ruling out.
“It’s something I think we need to investigate a bit more.”
It came as AFL boss Gillon McLachlan again pledged the MCG would host the grand final.
Although, he said the league would be flexible if the Covid situation was to again deteriorate in Victoria.
“If we weren’t able to have crowds or execute on the agreement, I know we’d be able to have a productive conversation with the state government,” McLachlan said.
“We’re three or four weeks before the finals and I’m very optimistic on delivering on our contract for the MCG for Victorians.”
McLachlan said on Monday the AFL considered bringing forward its pre-finals bye to last weekend after southeast Queensland’s snap lockdown on Saturday threw the fixture into chaos.
The league resisted the urge and McLachlan said he was glad they did.
“I reckon there were points there when maybe we’d have to use it,” McLachlan said.
“I think to the broader public it’s an illustration about why we think it’s important to have it in reserve.
“To the extent that we can preserve it, we will.
“(We want) to maximise our crowds and the integrity of the finals series and have the best Grand Final possible.”
League falls back on proven formula for Brownlow
By Jon Ralph
The AFL is likely to again adopt a hybrid Brownlow Medal vote count which will see players split across as many as five states for the second season in a row.
The league is still optimistic that in seven weeks’ time it will be able to host a Crown Palladium function in Grand Final week with hundreds of players in attendance.
But it has not yet reached an advanced stage of planning given the multiple fallback options that will need to be in place for likely border closures and state Covid outbreaks.
The model used by the AFL for its W Awards including its women’s best and fairest saw a large group of players at Crown then separate functions from different locations around Australia.
At venues including the Gabba, Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium small parties were held which included separate VIP carpets.
Last year the AFL held its Brownlow event with players at the Channel 7 studios in Melbourne where Gillon McLachlan read out votes, while players were spread out across Metricon Stadium, the Gabba, SCG, Adelaide Oval and Optus Stadium.
While Marcus Bontempelli is the $2.25 favourite with TAB, Ollie Wines ($5), Clayton Oliver ($7), Sam Walsh ($9) and Christian Petracca ($11) are all in contention.
In an ideal world with 16 of the 18 teams out of finals contention and able to travel the league could have held a gala function in Melbourne with hundreds of invited players if the city was not in lockdown.
But by the week of the Grand Final players from NSW who have been apart from wider families for months will be back in Sydney and likely unable to fly to Melbourne.
Similarly, WA-based players would be limited by border restriction as the McGowan government tightly guards its freedom.
Even if the league was forced to transfer its entire finals series to West Australia players most will have flown home after being knocked out of finals contention.
Players will not be vaccinated by that stage so will not be granted greater freedoms.
But if Victoria is not in lockdown and the game is in Melbourne players taking part in the Grand Final will not be locked away in their homes.
Under the AFL’s traffic lights system which replicates the freedoms of given states, players out of finals contention would be free of any biosecurity bubbles or restrictions.
Start-up date for AFL crowds to return
Victorian sports Minister Martin Pakula says it is “possible” crowds will return to AFL matches as early as next weekend.
Victoria recorded just two cases of COVID-19 on Monday, with both cases already in isolation during their infectious period.
It has raised hopes crowds will soon be allowed into games played in Victoria.
Given community spread occurred last month at both an AFL game at the MCG and at a rugby match at AAMI Park, the Victorian Government is likely to be very cautious in terms of crowd caps.
Pakula said crowd measures at AFL games going forward would be “different” than it was previously, but “it is possible” crowds will return next weekend.
“We will be looking at all manner of things, including how much of the stadiums are used, masks and the rules around masks,” Pakula said on Monday morning.
“Epidemiological conditions are always going to be relevant and of course the fact that we had transmission at the MCG means that there’s a lot of thinking going on about how we can avoid that.”
Pakula said premier Daniel Andrews was determined for the grand final to be played at the MCG following the move to the Gabba last year.
“His expectation that the grand final would be at the MCG with crowds and that’s my expectation as well,” Mr Pakula said.
“There’s a lot of work to do. We’ve got effectively about eight weeks until the grand final now … so we’ve got a little bit of time, but it’s creeping up on us.”
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said he was ‘optimistic’ the grand final would be played at the home of football.
“Our starting position is our contract and our expectation it’ll be here at the MCG, and then we work backwards from there,” he said.
We have a fabulous relationship with the state government … and at the moment we’re three or four weeks away from finals.
“I’m very optimistic about where we’re at in delivering on that contract with the MCG and Victoria.”
Covid latest: When AFL crowds could be back
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld says the league is determined to safeguard its pre-finals bye as a last resort option after safely navigating the league’s most dramatic 48 hours since the pandemic began.
The league is confident the decision to move five clubs quickly out of Queensland on Saturday in extraordinary circumstances was the right call despite the NRL gaining permission to play their all of their games in the sunshine state on Sunday.
Auld revealed the AFL had little warning about the southeast Queensland lockdown call on Saturday morning and praised clubs for being able to mobilise in a hurry.
There will be one more round of empty stands this weekend before the league works hard to introduce and scale-up crowds at Melbourne games from about 25 per cent of Victorian venues from Round 22 leading into finals.
The AFL has the luxury of bringing forward the pre-finals bye if necessary over the next few weeks, but Auld told the Herald Sun the league was determined to keep it up its sleeve as an emergency measure.
“The bye is a bit of safety net or break glass (in case of emergency) mechanism, so our absolute priority is to play the games when we can,” Auld said.
“Pushing games back (into the bye weekend) or pushing rounds back you are only pushing them back into more uncertain periods, so our view is to take the opportunity when we can to get a game away or get a round away.
“On this occasion (on Saturday) we were able to get the teams out and get the games away and get them played.
“You have some comfort knowing it (the bye week) is there but certainly our focus is on getting the teams in places where they can continue to play.
“And there was some great work from people inside the clubs and at the AFL to gets some aircraft ready and available at Brisbane to be able to get them in (Melbourne), and once we knew that we knew we were a chance to reschedule those Sunday games.”
The NRL’s ability to secure exemption from Queensland to play their games on Sunday raised eyebrows in club land across the league after the AFL evacuation on Saturday.
But Auld said the call was the right one as the league already had one eye on Round 21 requirements.
The fixture chief said the league did not have the full details about the Queensland lockdown until it was announced on Saturday morning, prompting a lightning response.
“We are like everyone else and there was some small discussion a little bit earlier than the press conference to suggest there were some concerns,” Auld said.
“But we didn’t know exactly what was going to happen and particularly the areas the lockdown covered because if it had have been just Brisbane there could have been some opportunity and flexibility through the Gold Coast.
“We had a number of discussions with the Queensland Government and they were talking with the NRL about continuing to play with conditions.
“But for us we may have been able to stay there and play, but the issue for us was the week following (Round 21) because the NRL has their teams in Queensland and so it’s less of an issue for them moving in between states.
“But for us look at Round 21, Gold Coast, Sydney and GWS all play Victorian teams, so while we might have had a solution for Round 20, it makes sense when you look ahead to get out of Queensland.”
Auld said the league would continue to develop contingencies for the worst-case scenarios over the final three rounds of the season.
The league is hopeful crowds will be allowed to attend games from Round 22 leading into finals, including a Grand Final at the MCG, despite strong interest from Perth Stadium where a packed house would allow 60,0000 fans to attend.
HOW THE 48 DRAMA UNFOLDED
— Sam Landsberger
The AFL pulled off the ultimate Houdini act by evacuating five clubs from Covid-hit Queensland and throwing together a Super Sunday to help save the season.
Five games were packed into six hours on Sunday to keep the fixture on track while protecting the ace up the AFL’s sleeve — the pre-finals bye.
In a day of high drama on Saturday, Melbourne was in the air and bound for Gold Coast when the detection of six new cases in the Sunshine State triggered a snap lockdown which banned all professional sport.
The Demons made an emergency landing in Brisbane and then completed the eastern seaboard’s ultimate U-turn as their private jet was rerouted back to Melbourne.
Round 20 appeared doomed on Saturday morning as three games were postponed and a VFL match was abandoned nine minutes into the first quarter, with Gold Coast leading 1.2 (8) to Southport 1.0 (6).
Back on Tour âœˆï¸ pic.twitter.com/KrwAh3WoKX
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) July 31, 2021
But just hours after Queensland’s 4pm restrictions were enacted, fixture boss Travis Auld had reason to pop the champagne as two private jets carrying Essendon, Sydney, Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney all hit the Tullamarine tarmac.
The Bombers and Giants spent 90 minutes sitting on the tarmac due to a luggage delay before eventually hitting the sky at 4.30pm.
A series of high-powered phone hook-ups between the AFL, club bosses and government officials helped secure clearance for those clubs to land in Victoria.
Suddenly, a double-header at Marvel Stadium will see Gold Coast host Melbourne (12.10pm) and Greater Western Sydney (6.10pm) host Port Adelaide.
Power dodged the mayhem through sheer good luck, having spent last week based in Melbourne as Saturday’s drama surfaced before it headed for the airport.
Buddy Franklin will resume his love affair with Essendon in a 3.10pm game at the MCG, which will be shown on Channel 7.
That contest will deliver Sydney a timely bonus run on the MCG on the verge of finals.
It also returns Franklin to the scene of some of his biggest hauls against the Bombers.
All three games relocated to Victoria will be closed to the public.
The mad scramble to get the games completed on Sunday saved the AFL from cashing in the pre-finals bye, a move which would’ve left the season — and a September 25 grand final — on tenterhooks.
Flight 1. ☑ï¸
— Melbourne Demons (@melbournefc) July 30, 2021
See you soon GC. ðŸ‘#FiredUppic.twitter.com/733ksfYo8M
Demons off to Perth, Bombers trying to fly back to Melbourne immediately. @superfooty@triplemfooty
— Jay Clark (@ClarkyHeraldSun) July 31, 2021
Now Demons being told they’ll return to Melbourne instead of Perth. Still on tarmac in Brisbane. Dees may not play this weekend. @superfooty@triplemfooty
— Jay Clark (@ClarkyHeraldSun) July 31, 2021
Queensland’s snap lockdown reinforced why any long-term plans being made for the grand final should be written in pencil.
The 2021 season has proven far more fragile than last year as states flicker between green and red as if they are disco lights.
It is understood the final month of the home-and-away season is worth about $40 million in TV cash to the AFL, which helps explain why binning matches is not an option.
While the AFL has found a way to solve round 20 in the face of Queensland’s unexpected outbreak, the knock-on effect will see next weekend’s schedule adjusted.
News Corp can reveal that Melbourne and West Coast are now expected to meet on Monday night in round 21 at Perth Stadium.
The Demons must complete seven days in quarantine in Western Australia before that match can be played.
Slept the whole way, should I tell him? pic.twitter.com/6nVqSplDAd
— Max Gawn (@gawndog37) July 31, 2021
Literally game anywhere! Stuck on tarmac, whip out the new laptop 😂 #GameAnywhere#11thgen@IntelANZpic.twitter.com/d3ifS8SFqm
— Mitch Robinson (@MitchRobinson05) July 31, 2021
Our game against the @GoldCoastSUNS has been called off at quarter time following the Queensland State Government three-day lockdown announcement.
— Southport Sharks (@SouthportSharks) July 31, 2021
We are working with the AFL on further arrangements. pic.twitter.com/Pi9fQcWO55
The marquee clash between Western Bulldogs and Essendon would be a logical replacement for that Saturday night timeslot.
That game can no longer be played on Friday night because the Bombers cannot be given a second five-day break this season.
The Giants have not received a five-day break and so their game against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium could be a contender to be played on Friday night.
Cats superstar Jeremy Cameron (hamstring) is unlikely to make it back in time to take on his old side.
The outbreak could see Victoria flooded with extra games in the run to September.
The Suns are likely to join the Swans and Giants in Melbourne for at least next week.
Fox Footy expert Jonathan Brown said there was no point leaving football heartland given the desperation to complete the final 32 games.
“Once you’re here now you probably need to stay here,” he said.
Flag hero in alleged Covid breach after police visit
Fremantle has stood down assistant coach Josh Carr after he was issued with a summons for three alleged breaches of the WA Government’s Quarantine Directions Orders.
Carr, who returned home from the Gold Coast with the team on Sunday night after playing Sydney in the Gold Coast, was not home when police visited the 41-year-old’s house on Wednesday.
Fremantle chief executive Simon Garlick said players and staff had been given multiple reminders about adhering to the directions orders.
“We appreciate and understand the pressures that quarantine measures can place on individuals, however there is no excuse,” Garlick said.
“And while Josh was very apologetic and remorseful, we are frustrated and disappointed by his actions and concerned about the negative impact they could have on the very positive relationships we’ve maintained with WA police, the State Government and the AFL throughout the course of the pandemic.”
The club has stood down Carr from all coaching duties as they work with the AFL integrity department to determine any further action.
The AFL said it will investigate the matter along with Fremantle.
“The Government quarantine orders are in place to best protect the health and wellbeing of our players and staff, their family and friends and everyone in the wider community,” AFL EGM Football Andrew Dillon said in a statement.
“We are in a privileged position to be able to continue to play matches and we must respect that privilege that is afforded to us by the relevant state governments.
“The club will ensure appropriate support is in place for the individuals involved while the circumstances that lead to the charges are investigated by the AFL integrity team.”
In addition to the Carr incident, first-year player Brandon Walker also breached orders after he self-reported to the club he had walked his dog on Tuesday.
Garlick said the 18-year-old had inadvertently breached the directions orders but the club won’t take any further action.
“He is a young player, and while Brandon’s breach was accidental, it is still disappointing and unacceptable,” Garlick said.
“We’ve given Brandon an official warning, and he is well aware of the seriousness of the breach.”
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