The Victorian Government has confirmed crowds are still banned from AFL matches despite its lifting of most COVID-19 restrictions as of midnight last night.
In a move that places the AFL’s hopes to host its finals and premiership decider in Melbourne in doubt but which echoes advice from the World Health Organization about fans returning to sporting events, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews announced fans will be barred from attending matches in the state for at least two more weeks.
While the easing does increase venue capacities, Premier Andrews acknowledged his decision to continue to ban large crowds from sporting fixtures would not be popular, stating “I know that’s not necessarily news people want to hear but we have to be cautious.
"This (Coronavirus) has not gone away. It's under control. But it's in our country."
With only three weeks left to go until the AFL finals and six weeks until the Grand Final, round 22 will be the earliest fans can return to venues hosting AFL matches in Victoria in some capacity.
Following the last Victorian lockdown, it took seven weeks for crowd limits to be increased to 40% capacity, which at the MCG equates to 40,000.
Amid this uncertainty, Perth has emerged as a possible destination to host the entire nine-match AFL finals series this year, with Adelaide and Brisbane also looking at hosting the series
Perth’s 60,000-seat Optus Stadium earned positive reviews when it hosted the Richmond versus Essendon Dreamtime clash in round 12, with 55,656 spectators attending while the Gabba in Brisbane would be looking to repeat its hosting of last year’s Grand Final.
This week will mark the third consecutive round that spectators have not been able to attend games in Victoria.
The situation has resulted in two matches being shifted to Tasmania this weekend.
North Melbourne will take on Geelong in Hobart on Saturday, while Hawthorn hosts Brisbane in Launceston on Sunday.
Last week, infectious disease clinician Professor Dale Fisher of the National University of Singapore, who Chairs the World Health Organization’s Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network, called for large sporting crowds to be banned while the Coronavirus pandemic continues.
The Australian born infectious disease clinician, who has been resident in Singapore since 2003, said politicians needed to stop pretending there’s “no pandemic going on” in between clusters and make some unpopular decisions, instead of bouncing between acting as if there was little threat from the disease and an “imminent catastrophe”.
Professor Fisher said governments needed to ban all large public gatherings, including sporting crowds, until the end of pandemic adding that Australian governments should mandate masks for all indoor settings outside the home, instead of constantly chopping and changing the rules.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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