Port Adelaide and Crows react to plans for quarantine hubs in states to resume AFL season
Port Adelaide’s football general manager Chris Davies says the club is “willing to play anywhere” that has been approved by the AFL and government health authorities to restart the season.
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Port Adelaide’s football general manager Chris Davies says the club is “willing to play anywhere” that has been approved by the AFL and government health authorities to restart the season.
In a bid to resume the 2020 season, put on hold after just one round because of the coronavirus pandemic, the AFL could send multiple teams to be isolated in a town or city to play a bunch of matches in what has been termed a “quarantine hub”.
AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking told News Corp this was one of “at least 10” different scenarios as to how the league could play the remaining 144 matches in the season.
The Advertiser understands that clubs have been briefed about scenarios by league bosses, but they are mainly related to timing of the season resumption rather than hubs.
But Davies told The Advertiser Port Adelaide was open to playing games in a different state to resume the season.
“We’d be willing to play anywhere that is approved by the AFL and government health authorities to ensure the season recommences,” he said.
Crows head of football Adam Kelly said the club would be open to ways to get the season back underway.
“I think the important thing is that we need to be flexible,” he said.
“Some of the things spoken about over recent days whether they prove to be real or otherwise what is important we get the season back underway.
“From our clubs point of view we will be flexible and adaptable to what the industry needs in getting a season underway and concluded.”
South Australia could be a hub, along with Western Australia and Tasmania should the infection rate of COVID-19 flatten in those states.
The Northern Territory has also been mooted as a potential location for a hub and AFLNT’s Sean Bowden on Monday reiterated the desire to have eight to nine teams coming up north to use two ovals.
Adelaide Oval’s Stadium Management Authority has not been approached by the AFL over any potential plan for SA to be a quarantine hub for matches.
The Oval is the only venue in Adelaide that has broadcast quality lighting, which would hinder the ability for SANFL venues to be used.
Kelly also said if the 2020 season was to resume at the intended date, May 31, then players would have to be notified soon that they would have to return to their clubs if they went home to another state because of quarantine requirements.
“I think the AFL is conscious of ensuring that all 18 clubs are on the same level playing field so whenever a decision is made on lifting training suspension there would have to be some forewarning,” he said on SEN.
“The decisions they make will be made on a reflection of state by state scenarios we are facing.”
Kelly said even when the season was resumed he expected some of the protocols that we in place before Round 1, training in groups, would still be implemented.
Originally published as Port Adelaide and Crows react to plans for quarantine hubs in states to resume AFL season
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