The AFL has confirmed there will be no crowds in round one of the 2020 AFL season.

Only a few hours after the NBL released a statement regarding the remainder of the NBL Finals series is to be played without fans in attendance, the AFL has also confirmed fans will not be able to attend games in round 1.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has stated the NAB AFL Women’s and Toyota AFL Premiership season will continue as planned however no fans will be permitted to attend matches for the foreseeable future.

The AFL is also preparing to reschedule all matches beyond round one, as it knows it will almost certainly have to indefinitely shut down its competition to deal with the Coronavirus outbreak.

In regards to delaying games/rescheduling, the AFL effectively has 4 weeks of wiggle room for the 2020 season. The 2 bye rounds (the one each club gets midway through the season and the one post round 23) as well as the two weeks after the Grand Final (September 26), before the MCG needs to be handed back to cricket authorities for a T20 World Cup tournament.

Perhaps Optus Stadium could be the first stadium in line if season delays take longer and the AFL Grand Final pushes into MCG cricket season.

One thing that is also interesting to consider is that despite the season going ahead – WA, SA, NSW and QLD teams will have to likely travel interstate every fortnight – perhaps placing these teams at a higher risk of infection from the Coronavirus.

Read Gillon McLachlan full statement at afl.com.au/news/384856.

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