The AFL’s hopes of a June 11 season restart have been disrupted by the SA government reportedly rejecting travel and training exemptions.
Restarting the season could hinge on Adelaide and Port Adelaide joining West Coast and Fremantle in temporarily relocating to quarantine hubs on the eastern seaboard, throwing the planned return date into question.
The league was poised to announce its return to train and play dates on Thursday but on Wednesday night, South Australian health officials threw a spanner in the works by reportedly rejecting the league’s request for training and travel exemptions.
In a letter to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan, reported by Newscorp, South Australia’s SA COVID-19 Transition Committee rejected an AFL request for players to be able to bypass a 14-day quarantine period when flying in and out of the state.
It was signed by SA chief public health officer Professor Nicola Spurrier and commissioner of SA Police Grant Stevens.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
“On public health advice, the committee has resolved that any economic and social benefits to be gained by allowing modification or exemptions to SA quarantine requirements for AFL players and staff were not outweighed by the public health risk,” the letter said.
The Crows and Power were also denied exemptions that would allow them to commence full training, including contact.
South Australia’s rules only allow for non-contact training in groups of ten until at least June 8 – just three days before the proposed season restart of June 11.
“The committee also agreed that the restrictions on training for sport in South Australia should apply equally to the AFL,” the letter said.
As players across the league are currently restricted to training in pairs due to varying rules across the states, it appears likely the two SA clubs will have to relocate to allow all 18 clubs to quickly progress to full training.
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Victorian clubs already have a state government exemption while NSW and Queensland clubs are certain to receive allowances in line with those granted to their NRL counterparts.
West Coast and Fremantle are considering temporarily relocating to the Gold Coast if they, as expected, are unable to secure state government quarantine exemptions.
A move to South East Queensland would allow the WA clubs to stay in a warmer climate, while also negating a potential home advantage that Victorian clubs would have if they moved to Melbourne.
“If that’s what we need to do, I’m more than happy to do it,” Fremantle skipper Nat Fyfe told Channel Nine.
Meanwhile, North Melbourne and Hawthorn’s hopes of hosting games in Tasmania this year appear to be fading after premier Peter Gutwein made it clear the state wouldn’t be able to “accommodate” AFL football under its current border restrictions.
Raimond
Roar Guru
WC won their first flag after a Grand Final disaster, that should be their model.
RT
Roar Rookie
Davico it matters not, because for every person who goes fishing (or claims to have after realising they were wrong) there is someone else who actually thinks that way. :happy:
Nick
Roar Guru
Not really sure how i played a race card
Jonboy
Roar Rookie
Good on Malthouse he was spot on talking about the football side of things.Kochie like Forrest and Stokes are all about the dollars. Mick like most Aussies won’t tolerate commo bullies. Don’t play the race card rubbish.
Davico
Roar Pro
Error of judgment maybe, but he was not wrong!
Davico
Roar Pro
So Spruce you think what Koch said in reply to Malthouse’s comments was fair? Seems a long stretch to me from what he said and bringing back the white Australia policy! Though lets be honest Koch is no better than Stokes in that all he really gives a rat’s about is his own wallet!
Davico
Roar Pro
Got one! Seems it is a Tiger Shark!
RT
Roar Rookie
And right now he has kept that rule to make sure the WA and SA clubs are not disadvantaged. I assume that detail was lost on you.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I couldn’t imagine a worse holiday than sailling on the “Swingers Dettol Express”. —– Getting around in Kombi or carving up a highway on a bike is much better.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Cruises often get mass gastro cases too. Not quite the love boat.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
No cases in SA now either!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
— COMMENT DELETED —
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
I hope so. Adelaide has their Round 1 Draft Pick this year.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
I had west coast as my tip this year, if they can be around the mark by time borders reopen and get a few home games before finals they will be extremely hard to beat
Davico
Roar Pro
Yep just like the Vic clubs complaining that more than two people could train together in the other states so it was SO UNFAIR! Lets run to Gil and have him implement a rule to make sure the poor Vic clubs were not disadvantaged! fffzzzzzzz
Maxy
Roar Rookie
true nat no perfect solution, port/Adelaide/westcoast and fremantle had the option to go to Melbourne or go to gold coast,they all picked gold coast they have there reasons and I would presume weather would be one ,not playing all games in Victoria [massive advantage to vic teams] another, and also keep congestion to the absolute minimum regarding the virus
Nat
Roar Guru
I agree jimmy. I believe they are looking at an 18(?) round season. Get everyone into Vic and devise an 8wk draw. Not ideal but the game has the best chance of starting as scheduled within their health guidelines. So much will change in that time re border control and social distancing. Then, in any scenario, the last 10 weeks either stays at the status quo or start sending guest teams home and the Vic teams play away. IMO there is no perfect solution they can create for the rest of the season proper while we have the virus still in society so why try. Start here, finish here and this is the first 8 weeks - let's go.
Maxy
Roar Rookie
makes sense to all relocate to vic ,that would be the easiest and cheapest way to do this,but in doing so would be gift wrapping the premiership to probably Richmond or Collingwood .once the 6 sides finish there hub games on the gold coast and if borders are still locked down only fair to make vic teams travel to gold coast to play more games instead of sending west coast/port etc to Melbourne have to get some fairness into this ,all Melbourne teams will be living a normal life unlike the rest of teams in hubs
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
They just stay away as in any workplace. Not a lot of sickness around, though. All the care taken with Covid awareness has limited the movement of colds and flus too. Silver linings everywhere!
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
As with other Kool-aid derivatives always dilute to the designated ratios.