As discussions ramp up in a bid to restart the AFL 2020 season, a Victorian-based hub is seen as the best-case scenario, according to The Herald Sun.
Up to 500 players and officials could relocate to Victoria for as long as the seasons plays out. Games would be played between the MCG, Marvel Stadium and GMHBA Stadium.
There is also a potential for suburban grounds with television broadcasting facilities, such as Ikon Park, Moorabbin and Whitten Oval, to play a role in allowing every game to be played in football's heartland.
The logistical nightmare of moving everyone to one state has seen the AFL consider staging multiple hubs in multiple states. Hubs could be located in Adelaide, Queensland, Perth and Sydney and run alongside with Melbourne. Players are expected to be tested for coronavirus two times a week when staying in the hubs.
The AFL also expects footy fans to be locked out of watching football live for the rest of the season, with the MCG putting their hand up to host as many as six empty stadium games a week.
"We've got a few options in front of us," AFL fixture boss Travis Auld told The Herald Sun.
"They range from one hub with 18 teams together, playing at two or three stadiums for a season.
"Then there's an opportunity to have up to three hubs, say six teams in each hub located in different states playing a traditional home-and-away venues.
"It may mean we play games five, six, seven days a week. A lot of night games, a lot of midweek games [and] one round might blend into another."
The potential of having 18 teams located in one state would require hotels, transportation, and food services that would benefit the local economy. Victoria's relaxed state borders and Melbourne's bulk training facilities see it as the best option.
Other states tighter border restrictions pose a key stumbling block in the opportunity for multiple hubs. The ability to play games regularly would be severely impacted if players had to be quarantine for two weeks after travelling across state borders. As such, the AFL wants border restrictions to ease so that as soon as players touch the ground they can train and play.
Western Australia has tight border restrictions and the AFL is tirelessly working to gain special exemptions. Both the WA government and Perth Stadium are keen to host a hub, after chats with the AFL.
But on Wednesday WA premier Mark McGowan said: "We currently have people come in for work purposes and have to isolate in a hotel for two weeks before they go to work".
The WACA Ground could also be used. The hotels and parklands between the venues works with the AFL's quarantine model.
Queensland could also have a chance with both Metricon Stadium and the Gabba. The Gold Coast's Royal Pine could be overrun with AFL teams as it boast gyms, pools, tennis courts and a golf course. Teams would stay at Accord Hotels in Brisbane.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan wants to ensure that as soon as footy restarts there are no more breaks in play until the final siren of the Grand Final. He promised to fans that a league restart date would be revealed by the end of the week.
But fans might have to wait until the start of May, with AFL heavyweights seeking the strong support from all state governments and chief medical officers.
Club bosses are optimistic of being able to play in either late June or July. The AFL's 18 football managers are expected to find out more today at their weekly dial-in meeting with AFL operations manager Steven Hocking.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who is on the AFL's COVID-19 war cabinet, said the AFL was preparing for hubs all over the country.
"They're going to plan to do it everywhere, so that when the time comes they can do it somewhere," McGuire said on Triple M.
Travis Auld knows where the AFL stands in society as the pandemic changes the AFL landscape.
"[We're] very aware of our place in society... we don't want to be a distraction and certainly not a burden on the health system," Mr. Auld said.
He also said players were becoming more understanding of the hub concept after some intial turbulence.
Players are accepting of the possibility of heading interstate for up to a month at a time to play as many as six games in a block to restart the season.
Strict quarantine protocols that limit player's movement from their homes or accommodation to training and games venues will be in place for as long as the season goes ahead.
There is also a possibility of changes to how teams train. Under one option, clubs could train once a week as a team then the rest of their sessions would be in divisional groups, such as defenders, midfielders and forwards.
This will allow, if any player is infected with coronavirus, to have less exposure to teammates throughout the week. It will help to stop the whole team falling ill with the virus.
Family members, including partners and children, could also be allowed to stay with players in footy's hubs.
