Testing times for players in the AFL
Push to increase crowd capacity
AFL players face a return to COVID-19 testing next week as the league waits for the Government’s advice on capacity crowds.
The game’s stars in Victoria and Western Australia have agreed to undergo testing next week in response to the latest hotel quarantine outbreaks in Melbourne and Perth.
Club and league officials are hopeful any community transmission will be quickly contained amid a push to increase crowd capacity at the MCG, Marvel Stadium and GMHBA Stadium to 75 per cent.
It is understood a 50 per cent capacity is a more realistic target for the blockbuster season-opener between Carlton and Richmond on March 18 at the MCG, pictured.
A 50 per cent cap would allow 50,000 fans to attend the Round 1 clash at the MCG, while a 75 per cent call would lift the number to 75,000.
In 2019, 85,016 people watched the Tigers beat Carlton by 33 points but there was eerie silence in empty stands for last year’s season-opener.
The AFL yesterday said it was not yet locked in to any crowd capacity figure.
A league spokesperson said it would be guided by the State Government and health officials. A call will be made closer to Round 1 after revamping the pre-season competition to help reduce interstate travel before the regular season.
Players will undergo swab testing next week for the first time since the start of pre-season training.
They submitted themselves to tests twice a week and played in interstate hubs for up to four months to help save the 2020 season in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.
Talks are ongoing about whether players will have to be tested regularly in season.
While awaiting advice on crowd capacity, the MCG remains unsure if crowd zones will need to be in place for matches at the ground.
The venue was segregated into five zones for the Boxing Day Test and BBL matches over the summer.
Staggered entry times for fans could be among other COVID protocols considered for the AFL season, pending crowd capacity, and all games would be fully ticketed.