Game to fly in and out

THE AFL has shunned a hub for the women’s competition and is instead adopting more a fly-in, fly-out model for Round 4, as it deals with a COVID-19 outbreak in Melbourne.

The AFL announced its fixture for the next games on Sunday, with Victorian teams continuing to play each other, while the non-Victorians will fly around the country.

Fremantle left Perth on Friday with enough luggage for at least two weeks on the road but instead was informed by the AFL after its 30-point win over Adelaide on Sunday that it would instead head back to its home state to face Gold Coast at home on Saturday.

The AFL has shunned a hub to try to ensure minimal disruption for the players across the league.

Meanwhile, St Kilda will open the round by taking on Geelong at home on Friday night, before Carlton faces Richmond at home on Saturday, and the Kangaroos take on Collingwood in a blockbuster at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.

On Sunday, the Crows are back on the road, this time heading to Hickey Park to take on Brisbane, the Western Bulldogs will face Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney will host West Coast.

Fremantle coach Trent Cooper said his side arrived in Adelaide on Friday prepared to play three games on the road and was shocked it isn’t.

“I have to get my head around it, we were more than happy to play our block away here, and we’d planned for that … I trust the AFL will be doing the right thing and thinking further ahead to make sure we’re getting the season away,” he said.

“The (players will) just roll with the punches; that’s what we saw in the men’s comp, that those sides who took on the challenges the best were the ones who performed the best and we want to make sure we don’t have anything outside of our control influence the way we play.”

Crows coach Matthew Clarke was pleased to stick to a fly-in, fly-out model.

“We’re in a semi-professional environment with players who have jobs and other employers that they need to look after, so as much as possible we can fly-in, flyout will be to the betterment,” he said.

AFL’s head of women’s footy Nicole Livingstone said the league would continue to take the advice of governments and health officials as it worked through the rounds.

“We will continue to remain adaptable as we listen to and work closely with each stakeholder to ensure the best possible outcome,” she said.