MEDAL MAYBE

Virtual Brownlow event now in the mix

THE AFL will consider all options for a Queensland Brownlow Medal — including the drastic option of a virtual event — as it safeguards its finals series from coronavirus.

News Corp understands the league’s working group will report back on options by the end of next week for an event likely to be held in the days after Round 18.

That timeslot would allow the league to hold the event with the majority of its players in attendance, having just finished the home-and-away season in Queensland.

But there are biosecurity risks with holding a function for hundreds of players, given the AFL would need to guarantee a clean event that didn’t expose players and potentially partners to the risk of coronavirus.

There are club fears around putting players who have been in strict quarantine and high performance hubs in a venue with catering and security staff in attendance.

The AFLW best-and-fairest in April was awarded to Carlton’s Madison Prespakis after the league streamed its award on video platform because of COVID fears.

That is one option for the AFL if it cannot guarantee its biosecurity protocols have been as tight as they have in recent months.

Queensland continues to boast extremely low COVID positives but the league’s determination to avoid risks that could derail the season will intensify on the eve of the finals.

Players continue to train in small groups apart from a single training session without contact to ensure, if one player tests positive, the show can still go on.

Whether the AFL would invite wives and girlfriends who have been in quarantine hubs is another consideration given the red carpet has become a significant part of the night.

The league will also have to consider the future of a range of awards nights including its MVP, All Australian and Rising Star awards.

There is a possibility the league might consider holding those events in a single night rather than spreading them out as is custom over the fourweek finals series.