AFL to resume from June 11
By Anthony Colangelo
The AFL will resume its season on Thursday June 11.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan confirmed the news at a press conference on Friday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.
“Today I want to announce that our AFL competition is returning,” McLachlan said.
“All players and returning football department staff are being tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to the club and that testing is continuing today. All players will be undergoing education sessions on the protocols they will need to follow.”
Players will have to abide by strict rules to ensure the season’s resumption is not derailed.
Clubs will begin training from Monday, but only non-contact. Contact will begin in week two.
There will be two contact sessions per week with players tested for coronavirus before each.
Other things like meetings will all be conducted via online teleconferencing. Time at the club will be minimised as much as possible.
The fixture will be released in blocks of four to six weeks, the first of which will be announced over the next week-and-a-half.
All teams will be based out of their home states for training.
West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide will then move to the Gold Coast for at least four weeks.
“The AFL will implement protocols over and above the government restrictions to protect the health and safety of every member of our industry and the wider community,” McLachlan said.
“These have been developed with the advice of the Federal, State and Territory governments along with the relevant Chief Health Officers as well as the AFL's own medical team and with consultation with players, coaches and clubs.”
Under the plan, there will be tougher restrictions on players including how many people can visit their homes.
McLachlan confirmed families can travel to the Gold Coast hub which will house Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and Fremantle.
“Families can go to join the players. They will be under the same protocols and under a strict set of protocols that have been worked through with the Queensland government,” McLachlan said.
It is unclear how long they will need to be in those hubs given the spread of the virus in the future cannot be predicted.
Discussions remain ongoing for the amount of players on the interchange bench
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12.43pm
By Anthony Colangelo
The AFL will resume its season on Thursday June 11.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan confirmed the news at a press conference on Friday afternoon at Marvel Stadium.
“Today I want to announce that our AFL competition is returning,” McLachlan said.
“All players and returning football department staff are being tested for COVID-19 prior to returning to the club and that testing is continuing today. All players will be undergoing education sessions on the protocols they will need to follow.”
Players will have to abide by strict rules to ensure the season’s resumption is not derailed.
Clubs will begin training from Monday, but only non-contact. Contact will begin in week two.
There will be two contact sessions per week with players tested for coronavirus before each.
Other things like meetings will all be conducted via online teleconferencing. Time at the club will be minimised as much as possible.
The fixture will be released in blocks of four to six weeks, the first of which will be announced over the next week-and-a-half.
All teams will be based out of their home states for training.
West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide will then move to the Gold Coast for at least four weeks.
“The AFL will implement protocols over and above the government restrictions to protect the health and safety of every member of our industry and the wider community,” McLachlan said.
“These have been developed with the advice of the Federal, State and Territory governments along with the relevant Chief Health Officers as well as the AFL's own medical team and with consultation with players, coaches and clubs.”
Under the plan, there will be tougher restrictions on players including how many people can visit their homes.
McLachlan confirmed families can travel to the Gold Coast hub which will house Adelaide, Port Adelaide, West Coast and Fremantle.
“Families can go to join the players. They will be under the same protocols and under a strict set of protocols that have been worked through with the Queensland government,” McLachlan said.
It is unclear how long they will need to be in those hubs given the spread of the virus in the future cannot be predicted.
Discussions remain ongoing for the amount of players on the interchange bench
Less
12.43pm
