The AFL landscape is changing quickly.
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AFL CEO speaks
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has moved to clarify how Round 11 will proceed amid Victoria’s seven-day circuit-breaker lockdown.
After a further rise in COVID cases in Melbourne on Thursday, the Victorian Government announced that major events would be able to proceed but without crowds present.
Melbourne’s highly-anticipated clash against Western Bulldogs will take place at Marvel Stadium on Friday night with only players, officials and essential staff present, with the roof to remain open.
Gold Coast versus Hawthorn, originally scheduled to be played in Darwin, will take place at the SCG in Sydney on Saturday night at 7:40pm AEST.
Richmond’s game against Adelaide has been moved from the MCG to GIANTS Stadium and will start at 2:10pm AEST on Sunday.
Port Adelaide’s game against Fremantle at Adelaide Oval later that day will shift from 4:40pm AEST to 5:20pm AEST to ensure umpires can travel from Perth to officiate the game.
All nine matches will go ahead in Round 11.
Laurence Rosen
Queensland shifting border rules
#BREAKING - Queensland will declare Victoria a hotspot from 1am tomorrow. Any arrivals from Victoria after that time will be going into hotel quarantine. Any Victorians already up here will be required to observe the lockdown conditions in their home state
— Kristie Sullivan (@kristiesulliv) May 27, 2021
Demons release statement on Friday night footy
Read the statement below:
MELBOURNE players and football department staff have today undergone coronavirus testing and will isolate until they receive a negative result after a player was present at a Tier One exposure site on Sunday.
It is expected that players and staff will be cleared in time for tomorrow night’s clash with the Bulldogs, pending negative test results.
Regardless of his test result, the player present at the Tier One exposure site will undertake the 14-day mandatory isolation as per government regulations.
Given the timing, the club is confident there will be little disruption to its Round 11 preparations.
VFL and VFLW on hold
The VFL and VFLW games have been postponed and the upcoming round of the NAB League has been cancelled, per AFL Media’s Callum Twomey.
The VFL round was set to get underway tonight between Frankston and Richmond.
Nic Negrepontis
Essendon’s staff and players have all returned negative tests
The Bombers players and staff are all ready to go ahead of the West Coast versus Essendon.
The Bombers could potentially stay in Perth for Dreamtime at Optus Stadium against Richmond the following week.
Sam Edmund
Dees v Dogs alive for now
The game is still alive, but maybe only just.
Melbourne is in negotiations with the State Government and the AFL, the suggestion is the player might have not been working closely with players or staff.
Therefore, the AFL is trying to argue that this player has not come into close contact with his teammates and if they’re able to prove that, I imagine it’s game on.
If they aren’t and the State Government aren’t satisfied, it’s hard to see how this game goes ahead.
Sam Edmund
AFL working out broadcast arrangements for Gold Coast versus Hawthorn before venue confirmation
We still think Metricon Stadium will host Gold Coast versus Adelaide, but the main hurdle around this is broadcast related. Fixture-wise there is no issue whatsoever.
We’re also still waiting for confirmation of Adelaide’s fixture against Richmond.
Sam Edmund
WA government puts up the wall
WA is putting up a hard border with Victoria from 10am.
— Matt Tinney (@Matt_Tinney) May 27, 2021
AFL games allowed to proceed in Melbourne without crowds
Victorian Acting Premier James Merlino has confirmed that approved major events can continue to go ahead without crowds during the state's seven-day lockdown, which was announced on Thursday morning.
It remains to be seen what the AFL chooses to do with the fixtures currently scheduled in the state during Round 11.
Laurence Rosen
Dees v Dogs now in jeopardy
THE Demons are currently on a conference call with the AFL after one of their players turned up to training having unwittingly attended an exposure sight. Blockbuster against Dogs now in real jeopardy, which explains suggestions Rich-Adel could be played Fri night in Sydney.
Sam Edmund
Gerard Whateley understands it is a Tier 1 exposure site.
Hawks v Suns will NOT be in the Northern Territory
NT definitively ruled out for Hawthorn-Gold Coast game. Working on a new venue now.
Sam Edmund
Tigers on a plane to Adelaide
Richmond has confirmed their players will be on a 4pm flight to Sydney where they will face Adelaide.
Gerard Whateley
Power free to play
Port Adelaide's players and staff have all tested negative for COVID following their plane home from the Collingwood game.
Kane Cornes