Outbreaks put lid on crowd, with 4000 to watch Swans

SYDNEY has abandoned grand plans to host 10,000 fans at the SCG on Saturday, as NSW’s coronavirus outbreak continues to grow.

A maximum of 4000 supporters are expected to attend the clash against Gold Coast, due to social distancing measures introduced by the AFL.

Fans will not be permitted to sit behind the goals, in the first two rows of the concourse or in bays around the players’ race.

The restrictions came after NSW recorded 41 cases of COVID-19 this week.

The Swans and GWS are on standby and ready to head north if the state’s outbreak continues to spread. But as it stands, the clubs have not received any fresh warning from the AFL or NSW government to pack their bags.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has declared Liverpool and Campbelltown in Sydney’s southwest as COVID-19 hot spots and announced that residents of those two areas will not be allowed into the state.

For Sydney, Callum Sinclair, Aliir Aliir and Tom McCartin have been named to return to the side with Elijah Taylor set to make his AFL debut.

Isaac Heeney (ankle), Josh Kennedy (knee), Hayden McLean and Sam Gray are out of the Swans side that lost to Richmond last round.

The Suns have made one change for the clash.

Wil Powell has secured a recall to the senior side, named on the interchange bench.

Powell replaces Brayden Fiorini, who was omitted after coming into the team last week for the clash with Melbourne.

Nick Holman will suit up for his 50th AFL match and will start from the interchange.

FF

HF

CC

HB

FB

Foll

I. Rankine 22

N. Anderson 15

L. Weller 14

P. Hanley 1

C. Budarick 35

J. Witts 28