The AFL must use an interstate hub for finals – and there's only one safe choice

The AFL is the only truly national football code of scale in Australia – 18 clubs split across five states, which play multiple games in every state and territory each season.

Every code has faced its own challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, but none has a bigger footprint than the AFL, and none has had to skate over as much thin ice to keep the sport going.

Every case of coronavirus in Australia has an impact on the AFL in some way or another, and we have all admired how head office and particularly the clubs and players have navigated their way through an unfathomably complex period in the planet’s history.

The sacrifices made so the show may go on will never be fully appreciated.

State borders closing at a moment’s notice is where the pressure is really applied, and wreaks havoc on the plans of players and staff. On the weekend alone we had a situation where Melbourne was already flying to Queensland for their Saturday afternoon match against Gold Coast, had to turn around once they landed, and still play the next day – a task they completed with distinction.

But that situation is not something we can force upon any club during finals.

There are three home-and-away rounds left, to be followed by a week off, and then finals are due to commence.

The pre-finals bye must be used for all players to quarantine on their way to a hub. The only question left is where?

New South Wales is obviously out of the question. They’ll be lucky to be out of lockdown by grand final day and it’s doubtful they’ll be at zero cases per day if they do.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Canberra is too close to NSW. Northern Territory isn’t going to happen.

Tasmania would be both effective, romantic and fitting. Two great stadiums with character, both with brilliant surfaces and backdrops that shine on TV.

Tasmania is as safe and COVID-free as any place in Australia. But the AFL isn’t humble enough to throw them a bone after having denied them so much over so long while embarrassing themselves with the Gold Coast and GWS expansion.

Queensland was the great saviour of AFL in 2020, but haven’t been as accommodating this time around, and in fact have created as many problems as they’ve solved. They are facing their own concerns right now.

So that leaves Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.

Victoria has the MCG, but also the most conservative government when it comes to crowds. A full venue for the grand final – and, in fact, for as many finals as possible – must be a priority.

Victoria also borders NSW and we’ve already seen one lockdown in the southern state due to Gladys Berejiklian letting her ‘gold standard’ slip to reprehensible levels. The speed at which Delta spreads terrifies the Daniel Andrews government and has seen two quick lockdowns last a couple of weeks already. I’m not sure the AFL can or should be taking the risk.

When it comes to South Australia and Western Australia, both have managed minor outbreaks with speed and efficiency, and shown all haste to slam borders shut to others.

But the tyranny of distance works in the favour of the latter. They are the furthest from NSW.

Optus Stadium is the newest marquee ground in the country, and would shine if given the chance to host nine finals. No surface in the Australia could handle it better.

(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The added beauty of Optus is that we would be seeing a truly neutral finals series at the pointy end. Fremantle are pure hopeless, even if they somehow made their way in, and the way West Coast are going they couldn’t win finals with Batman at full-forward and Superman at centre-half back.

A finals hub is a necessity. We simply can’t have the messiness of recent weeks and months in a finals series. Of being halfway through the week and not knowing when or even if games will be played.

Western Australia is best placed to ensure the finals series goes off without a hitch. The AFL must take this unique option to share the greatest spectacle we have, as they did last year with Queensland and the Gabba.