AFL STATE OF PLAY But clubs may have to wait on training for WA, SA rivals
The AFL’S commitment to a level playing field for all 18 clubs means Victorian- based teams may have to hold back from training as full squads until rivals in other states are granted the same permissions.
The AFL is in the process of finalising its return-to-play plans this week, with an announcement on a 2020 season restart possible as soon as today.
One key aspect under consideration is training protocols, after the 10 Victorian clubs were among the professional sporting organisations given special exemptions by their state government to operate at full capacity.
The caveat, under a ruling announced by Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday, is that they must do so in exclusive facilities away from the general public.
AFL clubs in NSW and Queensland are likely to be handed similar exemptions, as their NRL counterparts have already been given. But it is unclear where AFL clubs in Western Australia and South Australia stand on exemptions, with both states currently limiting all outdoor activities to groups of 10 people or less.
Further complicating matters is the fact West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide have players still serving mandatory quarantine periods after returning from other states.
Some of those are in quarantine until May 21, which could push back the AFL’S plan for full training before a possible season restart next month.
If WA and SA clubs are not granted permission by their state governments to train as full groups, they could be forced to temporarily relocate their operations in order to help recommence the AFL season.
On Monday, the Victorian government paved the way for the AFL clubs under its jurisdiction to operate at full capacity from tomorrow.
But the premier’s announcement came with some provisos to ensure community health and safety during the coronavirus pandemic.
“If they’re using a training facility, an indoor gym for instance, or an outdoor area, it must be exclusively for them,” Andrews said.
“We can’t have a situation where there’s a carve-out for professional sport because it’s a workplace, because it’s basically a job, we can’t have a carve- out and then have other people who are not connected to that sport intermingling.
“This is about containment, it’s about managing a risk and in the event that there is positive tests we’re in a very strong position to be able to contact- trace and take whatever appropriate public health measures are deemed so.
“This is exclusively for those professional sports and they need to have control of the space they’re in, and they need to listen to the advice of the chief health officer.”