CATS UP FOR THE HUB LIFE
GEELONG is open to the possibility of moving into a second interstate hub later in the season if the AFL cannot schedule games in Victoria due to border restrictions.
With COVID-19 cases increasing in Victoria, particularly around Melbourne, there is an increasing likelihood teams will be required to set up in hubs more than once.
The AFL has not confirmed its plans beyond this weekend’s games amid the everchanging landscape, with Richmond’s scheduled clash with West Coast postponed due to new Queensland Government policy surrounding Melbourne clubs.
Geelong is set to move into a Perth hub next month to play against Collingwood and the West Australian teams.
While the Cats are planning for a three-week stay, Geelong football manager Simon Lloyd said they were also prepared to consider something similar down the track if needed.
“We have stayed open to the idea that that may happen later in the year, but at this point we can only deal with what is in front of us and that is that we are going into a highperformance centre from July 11 to the second of August,” Lloyd said.
“With what has happened in the past 24 hours with the change in fixture, what that has told us is that for clubs and the AFL everyone involved needs to be flexible because it is going to be that type of season.”
The Cats have previously spoken of their excitement and determination to embrace the challenge of life in the “highperformance hub”.
Lloyd said that mindset would be the key to Geelong’s chances of succeeding in Perth.
“What this season is telling everyone is that we need to continue to be agile,” Lloyd said.
“Whoever wins the premiership this year will be the team that is able to adjust at different points of time and the team that is the most resilient as well.
“The AFL has a lot of challenges they are trying to work through and as a club we are trying to support the AFL with the challenges they are facing and understand what they are up against. The big thing for us is to try to play as many games of football as we can throughout the season and to see the season out.”