The 2025 season opener between Brisbane and Geelong at the Gabba is in doubt as the encounter could face a tropical cyclone.
The Lions are currently discussing with the AFL about contingency plans in case the game doesn't go ahead.
Both the Cats and Lions have Round 3 byes, which means if Thursday's contest is affected by the inclement weather, it could be rescheduled to then.
Ahead of the Opening Round of the 2025 season, AFL boss Andrew Dillon was quizzed about the Thursday's clash.
"Our opening game is a big game, but it's not the main game," Dillon said in Sydney at the launch of Opening Round.
"The main game is actually that the people of southeast Queensland and northern NSW are safe and that's the focus now.
"(The forecast) has already slightly changed in the last 12 to 24 hours."
Dillon also alluded to the timing of the decision could be as late as Thursday afternoon, giving the unpredictability of weather patterns.
"The deadline will be when we know actually what is going to happen. At the moment, there are forecasts and those forecasts have changed," Dillon added.
"When we're absolutely 100 per cent confident about what's going to happen, we'll make a call then.
"Weather patterns are unpredictable. The health and safety of our players and fans will be the number one priority in every decision we make."
Channel 7 meteorologist Jane Bunn revealed that the Cyclone is set to cross the coast late on Thursday night or early Friday morning.
Meteorologist @JaneBunn reveals when Tropical Cyclone Alfred will hit Brisbane. https://t.co/5zYfOfGqUb #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/A7KTunwXGH
โ 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) March 3, 2025
Following its 2024 premiership triumph, the Lions were set to unfurl the flag in front of the home crowd.
Ironically, the matchup between the two powerhouses in 2024 faced similar conditions, which resulted in the Cats taking out the low-scoring (37-63) contest.
The clash saw Brisbane kick 4.13 and record its fourth loss of the year, before making a historic run to its fourth flag.
The Bureau of Meteorology says in its forecast: "Destructive wind gusts exceeding 130km/h possible depending on the movement and development of Tropical Cyclone Alfred".
The area of south-eastern Queensland hasn't seen a tropical cyclone make landfall as a categorised system in 33 years.
There has been no indication of any impact the weather may have on Saturday's contest between Gold Coast and Essendon at People First Stadium.
But the AFL is monitoring the Cyclone's effects on the clash with the Bombers set to travel north on Friday.
