In a televised press conference last Friday, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan delivered the news football fans were waiting for, outlining the league’s return-to-play plan.
Group exercise in Benalla returns with easing of COVID-19 restrictions
McLachlan said this was "a brave new world" for the league and there would be a level of flexibility required to deliver the remaining 144 home and away matches, as well as finals football.
“I want to say today is a significant step in getting footy back for everyone,” McLachlan said.
The AFL will release its fixture in blocks of up to four-to-six weeks, with the early rounds to be announced in the next week.
Players returned to clubs on Monday for non-contact training ahead of round two, while contact training is set to resume on Monday, May 25.
With COVID-19 restrictions a state-by-state judgement call, some clubs will need to take remarkable measures to kick start their preseasons, with the four Western Australian and South Australian clubs relocating to the Gold Coast for the early part of the season.
Local football and netball back in business as training resumes
Benalla’s Tom Rockliff will be one player affected by these changes, with the Port Adelaide star and his teammates unable to conduct contact training in their home state.
The prolonged break has also given Benalla's Caleb Marchbank the chance to return to training fit and firing, after the Carlton defender injured his knee in a pre-season match against Brisbane in early March.
McLachlan said players would be held to a higher standard than the rest of the community and that discipline and resilience were required from players to make this arrangement work.
“Our industry understands the opportunity we have been given and we also fully understand and accept our responsibility to our football family and to the wider community,” he said.
Players and staff will be subject to daily screenings and bi-weekly COVID-19 testing - which need to be returned at least 24 hours before matches - while players will not be able to enjoy recreational sports, such as golf.
AFL star Tom Rockliff voices concern over ‘Victoria bias’
“We take it seriously, we have a set of protocols we will adhere to, and we will be accountable to them,” McLachlan said.
McLachlan said the next step for the league would be to work through how the 2021/22 seasons would work for the AFL and community footy.
“I hope as we take steps to get our game on track, footy is something to look forward to for those doing it tough,” he said.
11°C