Ticket sales for this weekend’s AFL matches in Melbourne are on hold while the Victorian government decides if the latest COVID-19 outbreak will impact crowd sizes at sporting events in the city, following the announcement that a positive case attended last Sunday’s clash between Collingwood and Port Adelaide at the MCG.
Around 23,000 fans were at the G for that game, forcing some footy fans into self-isolation.
“A positive case attended the Collingwood/Port Adelaide game at the MCG on Sunday, 23 May – sitting in Zone 4, Level 1 of the Great Southern Stand (the Punt Rd end of the stand),” tweeted Victoria’s Department of Health.
“People seated in Zone 4, Level 1 – those with a bay between M1 & M16 on their match ticket – will be contacted directly with advice to get tested & isolate until negative.”
The government on Tuesday announced new restrictions, but the AFL is hopeful fans can still attend Friday night’s highly-anticipated top-two clash between the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne at Marvel Stadium.
The AFL announced on Tuesday morning it would pause ticket sales for games in Round 11 and 12 while it awaits further directions.
Acting premier James Merlino said authorities were reviewing the situation surrounding sports crowds.
“For footy crowds and for other events there will be a public events advisory panel which will advise of any changes – we’re not making any announcements today,” Merlino said.
Western Bulldogs players and staff had coronavirus tests on Tuesday morning and are self-isolating until they receive negative results, after a staff member visited Highpoint shopping centre when it was a coronavirus-exposed site.
The Bulldogs expected “minimal disruption” to their preparations for Friday’s game.
Other AFL matches scheduled in Melbourne include Saturday games featuring Collingwood and Geelong at the MCG and St Kilda and North Melbourne at Marvel, while Richmond host Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday.
(Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Meanwhile Essendon confirmed they expected to travel to Perth as planned on Friday – with a few members of their travelling party flying a day earlier, as per usual for away trips ahead of Saturday night’s clash with West Coast at Optus Stadium.
The Bombers will need to quarantine on arrival until they receive negative coronavirus test results, in line with Western Australia’s new border restrictions for those travelling from Victoria.
The outbreak has hit the Melbourne Rebels’ Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season, with New Zealand stopping the travel bubble with Victoria for 72 hours from Tuesday night.
The Rebels were due to fly to Queenstown in New Zealand on Friday morning for Sunday’s competition clash with the Highlanders and are now relying on flights resuming on Saturday morning.
NBL teams Melbourne United and South East Melbourne Phoenix will be temporarily relocated to Queensland. United played Brisbane Bullets on Monday and will remain in Brisbane until they depart for Saturday’s away game against the Sydney Kings. Phoenix were due to travel to Cairns on Tuesday afternoon ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Taipans.
NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger said depending on “how the situation develops over the next 24 hours”, the Cairns-Phoenix game may yet need to be moved, along with Melbourne’s home game against Cairns on May 31.
In the NRL, Melbourne Storm are interstate until early June, as are Melbourne’s Super Netball teams.
The opening State of Origin rugby league clash between NSW and Queensland is due to be held at the MCG on June 9, with NRL boss Andrew Abdo saying they are closely monitoring the situation.
(Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
“If need be we’ll increase the protocols and if we need to consider contingency planning for where we play State of Origin we will,” Abdo said.
There are two A-League games slated for AAMI Park this weekend, however Tuesday night’s FFA Cup game between Oakleigh Cannons and Preston Lions was postponed after Preston players and officials were among those required to self-isolate.
Preston played Whittlesea Ranges in their NPL3 clash at BT Connor Reserve in Reservoir on Friday night, which has now been listed as a tier-two exposure site.
Supercars are planning for this weekend’s Winton SuperSprint to go ahead but will monitor the situation in Melbourne and follow government advice.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
He’s saying they are going to be forced to close due to restrictions but football will go ahead with crowds. That is not the case.
Cat
Roar Guru
What about the food truck owners? The catering companies? The day labourers hired to clean or provide security? Screw them right? It’s just the AFL. Only double standard here is yours Republican.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Cases plural.
Republican
Guest
......problem is if you go, (and it shouldn't even be an option right now) you may well share the virus with those who are NOT asking for it, the many in your community who don't support footy or attend footy matches.
Republican
Guest
.......how so Train. Many have already closed, even in Canberra which has existed relatively unscathed compared to Melbourne. My daughter works in small business in Melbourne, an Australian wide one and I can tell you that they have already closed at least two retail outlets while another lock down of great austerity for Melbourne would ensure further closures. It's incredulous that you would defend what is an unscrupulous double standard. It seems the sub culture of selfish hedonistic sporting advocates in this nation believe they are beyond reproach.
Republican
Guest
......there is business, i.e. small business and there is the BUSINESS. that of great influence i.e. elite sport, which is owned by media networks and integral to Plutocracies ie ours. It is clear elite athletes of all persuasions are afforded special treatment, that's market forces for you and thats capitalism at its most inequitable. The double standard is breathtaking and Blind Freddy can see that it is. You know someone once stated Religion is the opium of the people, in Australia's case 'Sport' replaces Religion mores the pity.
Republican
Guest
.....expound kindly Cat?
Cat
Roar Guru
Surely they will rethink it after another case attended a game at Marvel
Ron The Bear
Roar Rookie
If you go to the footy in Melbourne this weekend, you're asking for it.
Cat
Roar Guru
On one hand you worry about businesses on the other you want to shutter a whole bunch of them. Which is it?
dab
Roar Rookie
Football is not a life and death matter. It is much more important than that.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
I've got nothing against the qr code thingy etc but the only thing that doesn't add up to me is, I've been to 3 games so far and catch a train in and a designated bus home. The showdown was the worse for this as they knew we had basically full capacity yet the train services only put two carriages on for the second last train i think it was going in, the 2 carriages were packed, we were shoulder to shoulder, i think about 3 people if that had masks on and halfway to the city they had to make it an express service. Now I'm no genius but common sense would of said that being a showdown and the largest crowd since rona that you would of put 3 carriages min on, surely the cost of one more carriage would be a lot less than if something had gone wrong and we're forced into shutdown again. The trains are now privately owned im pretty sure so that decision falls on them, Not the government i think, although you'd think the government would make a strong recommendation to run extra carriages to reduce the risk but obviously not as all three games I've been too have been the same set up. Now the other thing that doesn't add up to me is, we don't have to scan the code on public transport, get to the train station and theres no qr code, get to the oval and theres a qr code once you get in to your area but outside while lining up, im pretty sure 1 out of 3 times i had to scan while waiting. Again I don't have a problem with scanning, whatever makes things easier if worse case scenario happens but there just seems to be alot of grey areas in where I have and haven't had to scan. In my opinion the risk on the train jammed in like sardines and lining up at the gates when people from all different areas and directions mix, seem to be a higher risk then when your actually already in the ground seated in your designated area and its pretty easy to track who you've been around etc. I don't get it but I'm just happy to be able to go, so whatever floats there boat.lol.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Small businesses aren't on the verge of closing. If any do, the AFL games will be before them. As cat noted it's private events lacking covid controls that are impacted.
Brian
Guest
Is it though? You could buy a ticket with what ever name you want. the name of the person who paid is recorded. The rest can just write John Smith on the ticket. I love AFL but the notion that small business' and schools are on the verge of closing, that private gatherings are limited to 5 visitors whilst the AFL has crowds is absurd. Its 44 people chasing a peice of leather it does not actually achieve anything
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
We all live in corona quarantine, corona quarantine, corona quarantine... *Insert yellow submarine music here.
Cat
Roar Guru
I believe it’s called engage your brain before your mouth.
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
I like your thinking or drones spraying sanitiser.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Just load up one of those water bombers they use in bushfires full of bleach and drop it on the Melbourne cricket ground. Job done.
Republican
Guest
Certainly concur. The double standard is breathtaking. I believe it's called capitalism.
Republican
Guest
It will be interesting to see if our sporting elite expose yet again the double standard of our COVID control.