Geelong is likely to receive special permission to fly out of Adelaide after the airport’s curfew deadline in a move that keeps the game on Thursday night.
The AFL’s first Thursday night match since Round 5 remains in limbo given the South Australian government is yet to grant a travel exemption for the Cats to enter the state to play Port Adelaide.
But the airport exemption is poised to become the dealbreaker.
The 7.40pm start time has put the AFL in something of a tricky spot given the same-day travel protocols that Collingwood were made to follow for a day game can’t be followed by Geelong because of the airport’s 11pm curfew.
There is the option to push the game back to an empty Saturday afternoon slot, but the league and broadcaster Channel 7 clearly want the game played on Thursday night given its proven ratings success.
Seven has already lost the Round 14 West Coast-Richmond Thursday night game, which has been moved forward to this Sunday night.
Geelong was tonight put into home and hotel lockdown for 60 hours in preparation for the flight to Adelaide after a day of meetings that saw all planning centred on the game staying in its Thursday night slot.
The Adelaide Airport Curfew Act 2000 states the city’s curfew is “not a blanket restriction”.
The Act states: “Curfew restrictions do not apply in cases of emergency, or in exceptional circumstances for which the Minister may grant dispensations for aircraft to operate when they would not otherwise be allowed to do so. These must be issued in accordance with guidelines, which define ‘exceptional circumstances’.
“Under curfew legislation and regulations, the Minister has the power to grant a dispensation that allows an aircraft to operate during a curfew. In practice, a dispensation is granted by the Minister where he is satisfied that there are exceptional circumstances to justify the flight.”
Like Collingwood, SA Health are likely to put a set of protocols to the AFL that would see Cats players and staff tested before leaving Melbourne. Geelong would then fly to Adelaide on Thursday, be tested again upon landing and waiting until those tests are negative before facing the Power and flying out that night.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from SEN. Sign up HERE.