Saints refuse to rule out Moorabbin as alternative venue for China game

St Kilda GM of Football Simon Lethlean has refused to rule out Moorabbin as an alternative venue if the China clash with Port Adelaide is rescheduled.

The coronavirus outbreak has cast doubt as to whether the Beijing match will take place with reports indicating it could be moved back to Melbourne.

Returning back to the club’s heartland of Moorabbin has delighted Saints fans with an AFLW match taking place last Sunday and a Marsh Community Series match against Hawthorn scheduled next Thursday night.

Over 8000 people packed out RSEA Park for the Saints' AFLW debut game against the Western Bulldogs.

“It’s not ruled out and it’s just held an AFLW game, it’s about to hold a men’s match in a week or so, so we’ll see how it handles that sort of crowd and that sort of event,” Lethlean told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.

“Obviously Marvel’s there with the roof and is our home ground too, so there’s some viable options, but we’ll soon do the work on all the options that are available to us.

“We’re about to host a night game here Thursday week at RSEA Park against the Hawks, so it’s a doable event, whether it’s appropriate for a home and away game, others will need to decide.

“We’ll certainly have a look and see if it’s possible and there’s no point in ruling things in and out at the moment.

“It’s certainly our home game to bring back to Victoria.

“We’ve got to talk to the AFL, Port Adelaide and the broadcasters about what’s best, whether that’s the Monday, whether it’s a Sunday the week after or Thursday the week after.”

The cost factor of hiring temporary stands to boost the RSEA Park capacity could also be a determining factor as to whether the ground can host an AFL match for premiership points.

“You can certainly put more temporary grandstands in but like anything it would come at a cost," Lethlean added.

“The cost would need to be appropriate given there’s a stadium at Marvel that’s got the seats there already.

“You can certainly do it, it’s just a matter of cost.”

The last time St Kilda hosted a VFL\AFL match at Moorabbin was back in 1992.

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