In St. Kilda, Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon, Richmond, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs there is at least one coach or player who has to move on Wednesday until midnight.
Foxfooty.com.au assumes that the three unaffected clubs are Geelong, Melbourne and Hawthorn.
The clubs were informed on Wednesday afternoon that players living in Melbourne’s COVID-19 hotspots would need to move to play in New South Wales.
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The ruling left clubs, players and coaches looking for options in widespread uncertainty. It is believed that at least two Victorian clubs had an emergency meeting with players in the early afternoon. Approximately 50 players and employees currently in the bubble are said to be affected by the blindsided clubs’ decision.
Although clubs were not officially notified that they would be entering a hub in Sydney, the AFL has made it clear that games from round 6 require maximum flexibility.
For the Western Bulldogs, who have already played both teams in Sydney, this means that in the unlikely event that the club is sent to New South Wales next week, some players will have to move immediately.
The league has offered to temporarily accommodate players in hotels.
Health officials in NSW made it clear that any Victorian who comes to the state from a COVID-19 hotspot can face a $ 11,000 fine and up to six months in prison.
The 10 Victorian clubs are expected to switch between states next week, although this has not yet been officially announced.
St. Kilda expects to move to Sydney, while the dogs are more likely to be sent to Perth, Adelaide, or Queensland.
The advantage of Sydney and Queensland as hubs is that the two states have multiple standard AFL venues, while Perth and Adelaide have only one.
An AFL-approved stadium is fine for four teams in one hub, but a hub with six or more clubs would likely require two stadiums.
Any player and coach who moves on Wednesday before midnight must have their new accommodation assessed by a club Covid officer or club doctor.
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