The Lions' Round 3 clash against Collingwood is in some doubt as Brisbane players remain stranded in Victoria following a COVID-19 outbreak in Queensland.
Lions players will remain in Melbourne until Sunday after having their flights delayed as another positive case was announced by the Queensland health authorities on Saturday.
Harris Andrews tells @1116sen Lions group set to stay Saturday night in Melbourne travelling down highway after covid test in Geelong.
— peter ryan (@petryan) March 27, 2021
The outbreak now places the AFL in a tough position to make a call on Thursday's clash between the Lions and Magpies, which is scheduled to be hosted at the Gabba.
According toย Fox Sports'ย Tom Morris, the league could opt to move the match to the MCG or Metricon Stadium, while also considering the option of changing the date of the match.
Brisbane players arrived in Melbourne on Thursday ahead of Friday night's clash against Geelong at Kardinia Park, with the Cats edging out their fellow premiership contenders by one-point.
While anyone who had attended the match that had recently arrived from Brisbane was told to leave the grounds and isolate, the AFL announced that Brisbane players, coaches and officials obtained an exemption from the Victorian government.
We encourage everyone in the community to follow advice of the Govt-anyone who has entered Victoria from the City of Brisbane & Moreton Bay Region since Mar 12 must immediately self-isolate, get a coronavirus test within 72hrs & stay isolated until they receive a negative result.
— AFL House (@AFL_House) March 26, 2021
This was the AFLโs statement last night. Surely itโs incumbent on the AFL to come out and explain the โapproved AFL protocolsโ that allowed the exemption to be granted.
Based on Chris Faganโs comments, the current AFL COVID protocols appear negligible at best. https://t.co/OMgvXUmDPV pic.twitter.com/raqxSS2kiF
— Shane McInnes (@shanemcinnes) March 27, 2021
Collingwood players were set to arrive in Brisbane on Wednesday and would look to return to Victoria by Friday.
Under the Victorian Governments latest guidlines, Magpies players would be required to isolate and test negative to the COVID-19 virus on their return.
All AFL and AFLW games that have been scheduled for Saturday are set to go ahead as planned.