AFL might play in hubs

AFL coronavirus cabinet member Eddie McGuire says the league is considering a plan to restart the 2020 season in four hubs based in Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania.

The AFL, which reduced its regular season to 17 rounds on the eve of the opening match, has joined the growing trend of sports across the globe to consider extreme measures in uncertain times. The competition is suspended at least until May 31 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

One plan under AFL consideration is to have all 18 teams based in one quarantined location.

Another proposal, made public by Collingwood president McGuire on Triple M yesterday, would have six teams based in both Perth and Adelaide, and another three in both Hobart and Launceston.

The teams would stay in hotels and train at state league facilities, while playing matches in a round-robin format.

But McGuire’s plan is entirely dependent on the states in question being given the green light to lift certain coronavirus restrictions before the likes of Victoria and New South Wales.

The AFL is in regular contact with the relevant government and health authorities as it monitors developments.

“That is something that is being seriously looked at and discussed and those three states in particular might just be able to get the season started a little earlier than we might otherwise,” McGuire said.

The AFL Players’ Association is committed to working with the AFL to ensure the reworked 153-game season, plus finals, goes ahead when possible. But one potential stumbling block with proposals to play in quarantined hubs is the amount of time players are asked to spend away from their homes and families.

AFL football operations manager Steve Hocking, speaking to The Age, suggested the league has not yet contemplated how the finals series will look in 2020.

Sydney coach John Longmire said on Monday his club was open to any plan that could help the AFL season resume.

“We’re open to anything. I know the NRL is talking about something similar up here, going into hubs and being open to having multiple games over short periods of time,” he told SEN. “We’re open to anything really, we want to get the game going again.”