The AFL has announced Sydney teams already successful a impermanent out-of-state basal successful Victoria volition relocate to Queensland immediately, and one lucifer this weekend successful Melbourne volition besides determination northbound amid a increasing COVID-19 situation successful aggregate states.
Due to an "evolving COVID situation" successful the state the AFL was forced to marque immoderate swift changes to the Round 18 schedule, including moving the Sydney derby from determination Victoria.
"The decisions we person made this greeting regarding the locations of a fig of teams person been taken retired of an abundance of caution. Our attack remains to instrumentality hazard retired of the play wherever the accidental presents," the AFL's Travis Auld said successful a statement.
North Melbourne and Essendon's clash connected Sunday has been moved from Marvel Stadium to a yet to beryllium confirmed venue successful Queensland. Both teams are acceptable to question interstate this day connected a charter formation and a caller determination for the crippled volition beryllium "determined shortly".
This greeting the Swans and Giants began their relocation from their impermanent Melbourne basal to Queensland connected a charter flight. The Sydney derby that had already been moved to Mars Stadium successful Ballarat volition present alteration again and beryllium held astatine a caller venue successful the Sunshine State that is yet to beryllium confirmed.
"To fans successful Ballarat, we are disappointed to beryllium moving the crippled from determination Victoria and convey the radical of Ballarat and the section council, the Victorian authorities and Mars Stadium for their understanding," Auld said.
Tonight's lucifer betwixt Fremantle and Geelong astatine Optus Stadium successful Perth volition spell up arsenic scheduled with the AFL to travel "COVID protocols successful enactment with WA authorities requirements".
The Western Bulldogs are travelling to the Gold Coast today arsenic planned connected a charter formation to play the Suns astatine Metricon Stadium arsenic scheduled connected Saturday.
The announcement comes a time aft AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan conceded that the competition's 2 NSW-based teams, Sydney and GWS, volition beryllium on the roadworthy for the remainder of the season.
"We proceed to enactment towards our precedence of reuniting the families of some the GWS Giants and Sydney Swans and the determination to relocate some sides to Queensland provides maximum flexibility required to execute that," Auld said.
"The Western Bulldogs' question is 1 time earlier than scheduled and provides the Dogs with certainty arsenic they hole for their lucifer against the Gold Coast Suns.
"The determination to relocate the North Melbourne and Essendon lucifer to Queensland is simply a precautionary measurement that provides flexibility for aboriginal rounds.
"On behalf of the AFL I would similar to convey the respective authorities governments, each club, players and the AFLPA, umpires, broadcast partners, venues and each shot fans for their continued patience and knowing arsenic we each proceed to navigate the pandemic.
"As we person passim the people of the pandemic, we volition proceed to instrumentality measures to guarantee that we champion negociate and minimise hazard for those successful our crippled and successful the wider community."
The AFL besides confirmed that their supplementary protocols volition beryllium successful spot for each Victorian teams from midday today.
AFL fans that person purchases tickets for the Giants v Swans oregon Kangaroos v Bombers matches volition beryllium capable to person afloat refunds.
Yesterday the MCG was named arsenic an vulnerability tract aft a affirmative lawsuit attended the Carlton-Geelong lucifer past Saturday connected level 2 of the MCC members' reserve. It was besides announced yesterday that players from each Victorian-based clubs were to beryllium tested arsenic "an abundance of caution".
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