The AFL will play matches without a crowd for the foreseeable future, due to the ongoing coronavirus threat.
League CEO Gillon McLachlan announced on Friday all scheduled matches will proceed as planned – but fans won’t be able to attend.
It follows similar measures undertaken by Cricket Australia for the recent ODI series between Australian and New Zealand, which has also seen matches played behind closed doors.
“The health and safety of fans, players, umpires, officials, partners and communities is the priority, so it is important that we take the advice of those that know best, and that advice right now is to continue with matches but not to host mass gatherings which can put everyone at risk,” McLachlan said in a statement.
“I am disappointed for our fans but we cannot put them in a situation that potentially jeopardises the health and well-being of the whole community.”
It’s the first time in competition history fans will be barred from matches.
The ongoing AFLW season will also be played behind closed doors until further notice, with the exception of Friday night’s game between Geelong and North Melbourne at GMHBA Stadium.
The AFL have confirmed fans who have already bought tickets for their club’s Round 1 matches through Ticketmaster or Ticketek will receive a full refund, while club, AFL and venue members will receive further information in the coming days.
Clubs have already been taking steps to prevent players from being exposed to coronavirus, including banning open training sessions, limiting media and sponsorship interviews and advising players to abstain from handshakes and high-fives.
The AFL remain open to the possibility of matches being postponed or even cancelled, should the crisis worsen in the coming weeks.
RT
Roar Rookie
Speaking of self-centered, who "likes" their own comments?
Fairsuckofthesav
Roar Rookie
Get used to it brother Elwood it won't go away.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I'm old enough to have talked about this with many Victorians. To the last they all said it should be in Melbourne. I'm glad l cleared that up. :happy:
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
You never asked me, or most of the people I go to the footy with, you just generalised. And guess what, I couldn’t care less how many times GF’s were held interstate, it would be only fair in a national competition.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It was falling apart last time I saw it Col.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Does anyone still play there Pete? Doubt there would be hot water for the Collingwood boys either. I actually think players would prefer playing on empty suburban grounds than a completely empty MCG. Many years ago when I was down in Melbourne I went to a Sheffield Shield game and I doubt there was more than a couple of hundred people there. Most of the people were in the bars having a drink. It felt really weird.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I’ve yet to meet one Victorian who has said, “Yeah, let’s give Adelaide / Perth the GF…just this once”. If you say that to me you will be the first. So far all Victorians have not said that to me. —– Fun fact: my son lives in Victoria.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
It's not all Victorians Rowdy, that's my point!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
How about Carlton v Collingwood at Victoria Park Col? That would be a blast from the past and we could turn the hot water off to the Blues showers
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Well there wouldn't be any whinging if Victoria was understanding, empathetic and conciliatory.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
And spread by the young and healthy to the elders who it kills. Almost an accidental euthanasia.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
No real choice. This has a long-way to go.
Eddie from Elwood
Roar Rookie
What I love is people outside Victoria telling ALL Victorians how Victorians think. Maybe curtail the mass generalisation of the comments and I might empathise with you, till then, I guess I'll keep whinging about your whinging.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Yet they play pre season games on grounds not even associated with AFL clubs. I know you think I am biased but Ikon is top standard as is GMHBA. I am sure all club grounds would be high standard as they train on them 5 - 6 days a week. Marvel is probably not a higher standard than club grounds.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Ground safety with knees though Col? Don’t want ACL’s from playing on crappy surfaces .
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
As there are no crowds will the AFL also decide whether it is cheaper to play games at club grounds rather than the MCG or Marvel?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Possible 2 games a week, extended interchange, teams hammered by virus. Perhaps 2020 offers a team out of the depths a chance to snag a strange, bizarre kind of flag?
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
It could affect babies 3 months & younger. An infants immune system doesn’t mature until 2 - 3 months after birth. So the people most at danger to any virus are babies and elderly people over 65 who may be suffering other illnesses.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
That chip will crush Victoria l one day. I hope l see the day that an Australian Football League GF is played in another Australian city other than Smelbourne. —– Procreational Activity! I can’t stand Victoria’s arrogance.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
I'm listening to the Australian doctors and the world health organisation, I'd never trust the Chinese to tell the truth about anything.