HOPES of AFL crowds being allowed at Geelong’s GMHBA Stadium this weekend have been extinguished due to Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown being extended by seven days.
Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has ruled out the Cats’ clash with St Kilda being open to the public, despite the Geelong region coming out of lockdown on Tuesday.
Metropolitan Melbourne will remain in a hard lockdown until at least August 19, casting further doubt on the MCG hosting this year’s AFL grand final.
The AFL is yet to finalise the round 22 fixture but Wednesday’s announcement from the state government means Friday night’s GWS-Richmond clash will almost certainly take place at Marvel Stadium.
There was talk of the blockbuster clash, which is an effective elimination final for the Giants and Tigers, being played in Geelong if spectators were allowed to attend.
GWS and Richmond faced off at the Docklands ground in round nine when Tigers coach Damien Hardwick lamented his club having to play a home game there rather than at the MCG.
But it is a Giants home game this time around and they have requested the match to be played anywhere but the MCG.
“The fact of the matter is we win a fair few games (at Marvel Stadium) so we’re happy to play there. Doesn’t really worry us where we play,” Hardwick told reporters on Wednesday.
In better news for the AFL, easing of restrictions will allow for the Gabba to be at 50 per cent capacity for the Brisbane Lions’ game against Collingwood.
Sunday’s western derby between Fremantle and West Coast is expected to be played in front of a sellout crowd of close to 60,000 fans.
(C) AAP 2021
