South Australian Minister for Sport Corey Wingard has explained how Victorian teams could play in his state, despite the border restriction change made today.
With COVID-19 cases in Victoria spiking slightly, South Australia has amended its decision to open its borders to Victoria on July 20th. A decision that will lead to an overhaul of the fixture for Rounds 6 and 7.
However, Victorian sides coming back from Western Australia after a period playing out of a hub there could play in South Australia on the way back, if that is ticked off by the state government.
Collingwood and Geelong are scheduled to fly over to Western Australia next week where they will play three games.
They could hypothetically then fly into South Australia and play Adelaide and/or Port Adelaide before returning to Victoria.
“I’ll have to get that clarified from Health. The situation is a Victorian team coming into South Australia they would have to quarantine for 14 days before they could play,” Wingard told SEN’s Dwayne’s World.
“That’s something Health would be very keen to work through wit the AFL so if the suggestion is they (Victorian teams) head to Western Australia and play out of a bubble there and quarantine in a bubble in WA before coming through Adelaide, that’s something that Health would have a look at, but that could be something that could potentially be on the cards.”
Wingard confirmed that Sydney and GWS are still free to enter South Australia come the border opening on July 20th."
“The announcement that was made today is that our plan and attention today … was to open all our borders on July 20th, but the decision made today by the committee was not to open to Victoria,” he said.
“Yes (Sydney and GWS can fly in and out) of South Australia. I think that would be on the cards for the AFL.”
Some takeaways from Wingard:
— Dwayne's World (@DwaynesWorldSEN) June 30, 2020
- Victorians will need to quarantine for 14 days in SA if they enter SA directly from Victoria
- Victorian teams that hub in another state and then look to enter SA will be something considered
Also from Wingard:
— Dwayne's World (@DwaynesWorldSEN) June 30, 2020
- The possibility of Victorian teams hubbing in SA and being able to play each other in quarantine will also be considered
- The new "oval" hotel near the Adelaide Oval would be great to host a hub
- Advocates for the Adelaide Oval to host the Grand Final