The AFL has been forced to modify Round 5’s fixture after the Victorian outbreak of COVID-19 saw Richmond denied entry to Queensland.
The Queensland government resisted Richmond’s scheduled travel to the Gold Coast to play West Coast on Thursday night. The Palaszczuk government is adamant any sporting team that has recently played in Victoria will be forced to isolate for 14 days upon entering Queensland.
What this means for the Gold Coast Suns, who are still scheduled to play Geelong in Victoria, is yet to be revealed. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan will front the media at 12:30pm (AEST).
The new Round 5 fixture is as follows.
All times AEST
Thursday, July 2
Carlton vs St Kilda; 7:40pm, Marvel Stadium
Friday, July 3
Collingwood vs Essendon; 7:50pm, MCG
Saturday, July 4
West Coast Eagles vs Sydney Swans; 1:45pm, Metricon Stadium
Geelong Cats vs Gold Coast Suns; 4:35pm, GMHBA Stadium
Brisbane Lions vs Port Adelaide; 7:40pm, The Gabba
Western Bulldogs vs North Melbourne; 7:40pm, Marvel Stadium
Sunday, July 5
Adelaide Crows vs Fremantle; 1:05pm, Metricon Stadium
Melbourne vs Richmond; 3:35pm, MCG
GWS Giants vs Hawthorn; 6:10pm, Giants Stadium
MORE TO COME
– with AAP
Macca
Roar Rookie
Steele Sidebottom has "self reported" multiple breaches of the covid19 code and Collingwood are in "negotiations" with the AFL over sanctions. You have to the Pies, the really have the self report and negotiate trick down pat.
Yattuzzi
Roar Rookie
Only the SL. bit. I vaguely remember him being a school teacher, maybe it was Don. I often misspell on my phone. I don’t much read rubbish that is not footy on this site. But really a Trump lover and anti Vaxer?
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
The other option is for all teams to go to Victoria and finish the season off there.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Ridiculous statement. How on earth can one central government in Canberra govern such a large area? The pen pushers in Canberra know nothing of the issues 4,000 km away.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
I thought Paully D was quoting Adam Simpson.
DTM
Guest
My life is not meaningless and I do not NEED to watch the Simpsons.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Most of NSW's cases were due to the Ruby Princess. These new Victorian cases are the first real big community outbreak and it's all because of people who knew they had it but broke the rules!
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
What? I don't like your opinion - don't impose it on a footy thread.
Nat
Roar Rookie
Mate, mining state and food bowl. We'll be fine.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Fair enough. Although I must correct one point - it's not the Victorian bias Western Australian's don't like, it's that the AFL isn't biased towards Western Australia that they don't like.
Mitcher
Guest
‘try to’ Editor.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
It's the Mabo as always with Jonny boy mate, he decided a few weeks back to become Lisa Harvey and Christian porters mouthpiece whilst claiming he's a swing voter just not a Labor greenie who is apparently over 70 which we can all tell is an age demographic he believes to be expendable and disposable when compared to money and proprietor of nw caravan parks.
Boo
Guest
I used to do a training drill when coaching kids divide the team into two nines .Set up three onballers and six forwards and give them five minutes to score as much as they could ball it up and off we went .Repeat with the other nine players and obviously the highest scoring group one.I would kick it back in from a point .Maybe the AFL can use this concept to offset interstate problems and have two teams playing consecutively on there home grounds.An attacking style of game that enables an mcg and interstate grand final .Is this next in this bizarre season?
Nick
Roar Guru
And replacing them with what? I'm no fan of the state model per se, but there is no equal in how to stably run a large geographical expanse. USA, Brazil, Russia, India, Canada and Australia are all federations for a reason. They are ungovernable otherwise.
Nick
Roar Guru
Guarantee Fyfe still gets 3 brownlow votes this week.
Nick
Roar Guru
Sigh, that's my point. Not surprised YOU didn't get it.
Nick
Roar Guru
It's Mabo.
Nick
Roar Guru
Christ Almighty people need to watch the Simpsons just once in their meaningless lives.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yat, Are you seriously defending Jonboy? The man is an semi-literate, Trump loving anti-vaxxer, race baiting individual. Be super careful who you choose to jump in for here. There's nothing wrong with asking him to actually use the language correctly. It's staggering how often he makes the mistake. It's just embarrassing to see basic spelling and grammar go to the dogs like that. I don't apologise for calling it out. It's a poor reflection on you that you'd defend him.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
Every West Australian hopes Victoria gets a hold of this virus and sorts it out. Just because we dislike the Victorian bias in the AFL, it does not mean we wish any misfortune on other Australian's.