AFL 2020: More players, games moved to Qld due to coronavirus – NEWS.com.au

The AFL wants to move more teams to Queensland and schedule extra games in the Sunshine State because of growing fears over the spread of COVID-19 in Victoria and NSW.Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk revealed the league had approached her with the proposition of moving more players into hubs up north.
She said AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan had asked for accommodation for “hundreds” of officials and players, and announced her government and the league had come to a two-month agreement.
“I can reveal that the AFL has approached Queensland to move more of its teams and players here to Queensland,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“He is looking to book accommodation for hundreds of players and officials at Queensland hotels for two months.
“It means more Queenslanders here can go and see the games.”
Ms Palaszczuk said the health and safety of Queenslanders remains her top priority, and told McLachlan this update should put her state in the box seat to host the AFL grand final.
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“I stress none of these measures can happen without strict quarantine protocols and the COVID management plan that has allowed the AFL season to proceed,” she said.
“Given the choice between not having a season and having it based in Queensland I think I know what the fans would like to happen.
“As everyone knows, AFL is more than a sport to Victorians. We know how they feel.
“And, as I told Gil (McLachlan), if the season is based here then the grand final should be played here too.
“Negotiations between the NRL and the Chief Health Officer are continuing.”
Victorian-based AFL clubs had already been sent elsewhere as the state experiences a worrying surge in COVID-19 cases with hundreds of new cases announced this week.
An increasing number of infections in NSW have been linked to a Sydney pub cluster and two more venues in the capital have shut down this morning after customers who have since tested positive visited over the weekend.
Queensland has recorded no new cases in the past 24 hours and has only four confirmed, active cases.
Yesterday, Ms Palaszczuk closed Queensland’s borders to residents of 77 Sydney suburbs she classified as coronavirus hots pots.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman told NCA NewsWire anyone from those areas in Liverpool and Campbelltown, in Sydney’s south-west, would be turned around at the border if they were not Queensland residents.

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