The AFL’s two Sydney-based teams will have to evacuate the state in the coming days as Queensland closes its border to Greater Sydney from 1am on Saturday.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Wednesday morning that she would be closing her state’s borders to all of Greater Sydney amid a small rise in COVID-19 cases in New South Wales.
Sydney and the GWS will have to relocate interstate in the next 48 hours before their respective games in Queensland this weekend.
BREAKING: Queensland will close its borders to all of Greater Sydney. From 1am Saturday, more hotspots will be declared and no one from Sydney will be allowed into Queensland. #COVID19au pic.twitter.com/044iZeTZ1g
— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) July 29, 2020
The Swans are scheduled to face St Kilda on Saturday, while the Giants will take on Gold Coast on Sunday. Both sides will play in Queensland again in Round 12 before jetting off to Western Australia.
The new ruling means both the Swans and Giants will most likely have to finish the season away from their home state, similar to the conditions currently being faced by Victoria’s 10 sides.
No games are scheduled in Sydney during the upcoming four rounds.