With the coronavirus pandemic spreading worldwide, the AFL are keeping all options open as the season's commencement looms, with the extreme measure of postponing round one not out of the realms of possibilities.
Gillon McLachlan is in constant communication with the clubs, the government and health groups about the next options moving forward with the coronavirus becoming a bigger threat.
As of Thursday night, the AFL are preparing for the season opener to go ahead in front of fans, but wouldn't guarantee it fully, according to a report by The Herald Sun.
“This is not moving by the day, this is moving by the hour,’’ an AFL source told The Herald Sun.
“There are some big calls to make.
“We are continuing to take advice from government and from the relevant medical authorities and we are planning for the season to go ahead on March 19.’’
No decision has been made yet about the AFL season.
The league, federal and state governments are awaiting advice from the Chief Health Officer.
— Sam McClure (@sam_mcclure) March 12, 2020
In the USA, the NBA has suspended its season until further notice after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
Only hours before the announcement, the NBA were preparing to play games behind closed doors but that changed rapidly.
The determination of whether AFL games should be played behind closed doors lays within the hands of Victoria’s chief health officer Dr Brett Sutton, whom McLachlan is working closely with.
The priority is for the spread of the virus to be slowed down in the hopes to help ease the concerns to the state's health system.
There are also concerns about the Grand Prix which is set to take place this weekend, with a decision looming on whether the event will take place.
McLachlan's leadership looks set to be tested with the crisis growing rapidly.
Should the health of the football industry and communities alike need protection, McLachlan will have no hesitation in cancelling football games.
The AFL are believed to be planning for all 22 rounds of the season to take place.
If a catch up on games is needed at any point, games on a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday nights could be played with clubs being forced to play three matches over a two-week period in a revised schedule and possibly extending the season into October.
The financial burden the clubs will be looking at should games be cancelled are also still being discussed.
Should any AFL player need or want to be tested for the COVID-19 virus, they will be under the same conditions as the rest of the general public.
“While Epworth Hospital has long had an association with the AFL, there is no prioritisation of AFL players for COVID-19 testing at our emergency department,” the hospital said.
