Doubt surrounds the AFL fixture for Round 16 as rapidly changing interstate border restrictions cast a shadow over this week’s matches.
Amid the raft of hypotheticals being tossed up, Carlton coach David Teague is taking a measured approach to what might unfold for the AFL in the coming days.
The Blues are scheduled to take on Fremantle at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday night, but rapidly changing interstate border restrictions have cast a shadow over the Round 16 fixture.
“At this stage, we’ve been told we’re flying Friday over there, but obviously it’s a moving beast,” Teague said after his side’s ten-point win over Adelaide on Sunday night.
“We’ll be ready for whatever the AFL and the state governments allow us to do.
“Over the last 12 months, most clubs are getting pretty agile and flexible and ready to go.
“We want to be able to play well anywhere, anytime and that’s going to be our challenge.”
There is a prospect of an AFL hub being formed in Melbourne, while fans in Perth were turned away from the West Coast-Western Bulldogs game on Sunday.
It came as part of a series of restrictions imposed by the Western Australian government after a woman who returned from Sydney tested positive to COVID-19.
It could mean the Dockers-Blues clash is moved to Melbourne.
“Wherever the AFL see fit and wherever we can get the game done, we look forward to the challenge of playing an in-form Fremantle,” Teague said.
Adelaide, too, are bracing for the prospect of a late fixture change.
The Crows are due to host Brisbane at Adelaide Oval in the Saturday twilight slot, but South Australia’s border is now closed to Queensland.
The Lions would require a special exemption to travel to SA and Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks admits he doesn’t know what is in store for his team this week.
“What I do know is it’s becoming a little bit harder to find venues to play football in and actually travel around the country,” Nicks said.
“We’ll be flexible, as we have been, and we’ll play wherever we can.
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed that we are able to play but we’ll have to see what happens.”
Nicks said the Crows are prepared to go into a hub if required.
Sydney and GWS moved their football operations to Melbourne last Tuesday and appear set for an extended stay, given the crisis in NSW.
The Swans are scheduled to take on West Coast at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium on Sunday and the Eagles could be forced to stay in Victoria beyond that.
© AAP
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