Revealed: These 7 Vic clubs are already exposed by COVID outbreak – but all 10 may be forced interstate

[Eastdog]

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/coup...ad64ed3ce195e5

Revealed: These 7 Vic clubs are already exposed by COVID outbreak – but all 10 may be forced interstate
July 01, 2020 3:27pm
Tom Morris
FOX SPORTS


St Kilda, Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs all have at least one coach or player who will need to move homes by midnight on Wednesday.

Foxfooty.com.au understands the three clubs not impacted are Geelong, Melbourne and Hawthorn.

At lunchtime on Wednesday, clubs were told players living in Melbourne’s COVID-19 hotspots would need to relocate to be eligible to play games in New South Wales.

Kayo is your ticket to the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Watch every match of every round Live & On-Demand. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly

The ruling left clubs, players and coaches scrambling for options amid widespread uncertainty. It‘s understood at least two Victorian clubs conducted an emergency meeting with players early in the afternoon. Approximately 50 players and staff who are currently in the bubble are said to be impacted by the decision that blindsided clubs.

Even though clubs have not been officially told they will enter a hub in Sydney, the AFL made it clear it requires maximum flexibility for fixtures from Round 6 onwards.

For the Western Bulldogs – who have already played both Sydney teams – it means some players still need to move homes immediately in the unlikely event the club gets sent to New South Wales next week.

The league has offered to put players up in hotels as a temporary option.

Health officials in NSW made it clear that any Victorian coming into the state from a COVID-19 hotspot would face an $11,000 fine and as many as six months in prison.

It’s understood the 10 Victorian clubs are expecting to move interstate next week, though they are yet to be told officially.

St Kilda expects to be relocated to Sydney, while the Dogs are more likely to be sent to Perth, Adelaide or Queensland.

The benefit of Sydney and Queensland as hubs is because the two states have multiple AFL standard venues, whereas Perth and Adelaide have just one.

One AFL approved stadium is fine for four teams in a hub, but a hub with six or more clubs would likely require two stadiums.

Each player and coach who moves accommodation before midnight on Wednesday will need to have their new accommodation assessed by a club Covid officer or the club doctor.

[Mofra]

Interesting. Is NT completely off the table? They have the least restrictions in the country.

[Sedat]

Interesting. Is NT completely off the table? They have the least restrictions in the country.

I hope NT is seriously considered as a base for some of the Vic teams. There will be less restrictions and more normality there than any other proposed hub location.

[bornadog]

I hope NT is seriously considered as a base for some of the Vic teams. There will be less restrictions and more normality there than any other proposed hub location.

Crazy, the heat up there is not easy to get use to, even if it is the dry season you are still looking at 22, 23 at night and daytime will be average around 28 to 33 when they are training.

[Sedat]

Crazy, the heat up there is not easy to get use to, even if it is the dry season you are still looking at 22, 23 at night and daytime will be average around 28 to 33 when they are training.

They will be able to freely mingle wth society up there and not be stuck in their resorts the whole time. They will also be able to play to capacity crowds in both Darwin and Alice Springs. From a holistic level, it would also be wonderful for the AFL to give something tangible and enriching back to the indigenous communities up there over the course of multiple weeks - they would be able to conduct a lot more mid week footy clinics and also other initiatives to assist the indigenous communities away from training and match days.

[bornadog]

They will be able to freely mingle wth society up there and not be stuck in their resorts the whole time. They will also be able to play to capacity crowds in both Darwin and Alice Springs. From a holistic level, it would also be wonderful for the AFL to give something tangible and enriching back to the indigenous communities up there over the course of multiple weeks - they would be able to conduct a lot more mid week footy clinics and also other initiatives to assist the indigenous communities away from training and match days.

Can't argue with that but playing and training in the heat is not ideal. I wouldn't like to see our boys doing that, it will take alot out of them

[Axe Man]

Doesn't make alot of sense. Having already played GWS and Sydney we are not going to Sydney.

Also strange that SA, WA and Queensland will allow players from these hotspots when they have more stringent rules than NSW?

[bornadog]

Doesn't make alot of sense. Having already played GWS and Sydney we are not going to Sydney.

Also strange that SA, WA and Queensland will allow players from these hotspots when they have more stringent rules than NSW?

Based in Sydney we can play the QLD teams, plus any others flying in and out or based there.

[1eyedog]

Libba lives in Brunswick West.

[Happy Days]

Libba lives in Brunswick West.

Not anymore.

But then again the entire club is 250m from a COVID boundary so maybe it'll all be moot soon anyway.

[Ozza]

Libba lives in Brunswick West.

Not for a while now. Is somewhere inner west now.

[Eastdog]

Not for a while now. Is somewhere inner west now.

Kingsville I believe.

[Twodogs]

Kingsville I believe.

I live in Kingsville and I haven't seen Tom around the place.

They will be able to freely mingle wth society up there and not be stuck in their resorts the whole time. They will also be able to play to capacity crowds in both Darwin and Alice Springs. From a holistic level, it would also be wonderful for the AFL to give something tangible and enriching back to the indigenous communities up there over the course of multiple weeks - they would be able to conduct a lot more mid week footy clinics and also other initiatives to assist the indigenous communities away from training and match days.

Yep I think the NT is ideal. They will get used to the heat (running the AC 24/7 is the answer) and we could develop a mini home ground/conditions advantage as well as the advantages it would bring with the locals getting involved with us. We have a lot of support in the NT. EJ went up every year for the local GF (and the Tiwi Island GF as well.)

Not anymore.

But then again the entire club is 250m from a COVID boundary so maybe it'll all be moot soon anyway.

It's weird but the ground used to be considered to be in 3012 West Footscray, but I just checked and it's now 3011 Footscray

[Rocco Jones]

Yeah, Sydney is important for two reasons:
- can play interstate teams
- can play in SA or Qld after two weeks in NSW

[Dry Rot]

Yeah, Sydney is important for two reasons:
- can play interstate teams
- can play in SA or Qld after two weeks in NSW

Third important reason - I will be able to see the Dogs play here.