AFL fans are anxiously awaiting an update from the League, which is expected to postpone both Opening Round fixtures in Queensland as Cyclone Alfred heads towards the state’s coast.
The Bureau of Meteorology said the weather system, now a category two, is expected to move towards the coastline from Tuesday at a pace of 14 kilometres an hour, with power expected to be down for at least three days.
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan on Tuesday urged the AFL to put the players’ safety first and postpone the game between the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions.
“I’m a people first person,” Fagan told media at a training session at The Gabba.
“It’s not a tropical thunderstorm, it’s a cyclone. I have never been in one, so I don’t know what to expect. But I’ve seen the carnage they’ve caused at different periods in Australian history.
“I’m not too keen on the idea of things going ahead if it’s going to be like that. It can’t, can it?
“The sooner the decision’s made, the better.”
Fagan said the ideal date for the match would be round three, when the Cats and Brisbane both have a bye.
Gold Coast is set to face off against the Bombers on Saturday at People First Stadium, but as the cyclone is set to make landfall between Thursday and early Friday, heavy rain is expected to wipe out Saturday’s match as well.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said on Monday that the League was waiting for more information about the weather systems’ movements before making the call.
“The deadline will be when we know actually what is going to happen. At the moment, there are forecasts and those forecasts have changed. When we’re absolutely 100 per cent confident about what’s going to happen, we’ll make a call then,” he said.
“Weather patterns are unpredictable. The health and safety of our players and fans will be the number one priority in every decision we make.”
However, Geelong coach Chris Scott said on Tuesday he was eager for a decision to be made soon, raising his concerns about flying his team “into the eye of a cyclone”.
“We do need to know, we have some players that are scheduled to get on a plane this afternoon, so we probably need some guidance,” Scott told SEN radio on Tuesday morning.
“Even in principle, the idea of getting on a plane and flying into the eye of a cyclone doesn’t sound like a great idea.
“If they (AFL) ask us to do something we feel is inappropriate, then we will make that known at the time, but we are a long way from that position now.”
A decision is expected to come from AFL bosses on Tuesday afternoon.
