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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.

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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.