WEST BECKONS

Victorian clubs gear to cross Nullarbor

HAWTHORN and Carlton will join Geelong and Collingwood in the AFL’s Perth hub immediately after their Round 8 matches, when six clubs will briefly be based in the west.

Perth Stadium will host three Round 9 games in front of crowds of 30,000— Hawthorn-Carlton, Fremantle Collingwood and West Coast-Geelong — as football’s portable season relocates out of New South Wales and Victoria.

The West Australian government will consider allowing capacity crowds of 60,000 again in two weeks.

Crowds of 25,000 will also be welcome at Adelaide Oval for its three games in the next two weeks, with St Kilda set to face both South Australian clubs and Essendon off to meet the Crows in Round 8.

News Corp understands the AFL is forking out about $3 million every week on interstate hubs to keep the season rolling. They are expected to continue for the bulk of the season.

Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne each took about 90 people to Gold Coast’s Mercure Resort while Carlton vacated that hotel yesterday for RACV Royal Pines, which is five minutes down the road. The AFL is paying for everyone’s meals, accommodation, transportation and COVID-19 tests.

The Dogs took all 45 players plus six partners, eight kids and about 30 staff members and are trying to create a family atmosphere. Melbourne and Richmond left about a dozen fringe players at home last week but are now trying to get them into their hubs.

The enormous bill is a far more viable option than failing to get all of this year’s 153 home-and-away matches played, with the AFL being kept afloat by its TV deals.