Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir says he expects Sunday’s clash with Brisbane to be moved to the Gabba as Perth’s COVID-19 scare continues to cause havoc with sport in the state.
Perth Glory’s A-League contest with Melbourne City at HBF Park on Wednesday night will be played behind closed doors due to the restrictions currently in place.
Perth was plunged into a three-day lockdown late last month after a traveller caught COVID-19 near the end of his hotel quarantine and then infected a friend once he was released.
That forced Fremantle’s Round 6 clash with North Melbourne to be played behind closed doors.
A crowd of 45,000 was initially approved to attend Sunday’s western derby, but the game ended up being a lockout after a quarantine hotel security guard and two of his close contacts tested positive to coronavirus days earlier.
With no guarantee that crowd restrictions will be eased in time for Sunday’s game between the Lions and Dockers at Optus Stadium, the AFL is in serious talks about moving it to Brisbane.
(Photo by Daniel Carson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
If that occurs, then the Round 21 clash between Brisbane and Fremantle – scheduled for the Gabba – will be played in Perth.
“I think it’s very likely,” Longmuir told 3AW about the prospect of Sunday’s game being moved to Brisbane.
“As a club, we haven’t got final confirmation but the way it sits over here at the moment, the fixture could be in turmoil if we have more cases.
“I think the likelihood is that we will move the fixture and we will play at home later in the year against Brisbane, and we might be on the road for a couple of weeks.”
Fremantle said the lockout against North Melbourne cost them about $1 million in lost revenue.
Sunday’s western derby was a West Coast home game and would have cost the Eagles a significant sum in lost revenue.
Glory are hopeful a crowd will be allowed to attend their home match against Melbourne Victory on Sunday.
© AAP
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