The Queensland government has categorically denied reports that fans will be allowed to return to the football when the coronavirus-interrupted 2020 AFL season reboots this weekend.
Although veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson told Channel 9’s Footy Classified Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had given the green light for fans to come back, the state’s leader has poured cold water on the idea and insisted Queensland’s borders would also remain closed to tourists.
On Monday, AFL insiders were certain large crowds would be allowed to attend the Brisbane Lions v Fremantle Dockers and Gold Coast Suns v St Kilda Saints matches on Saturday.
The Premier’s office told Daily Mail Australia there have been no changes to their restrictions on public gatherings
‘I can tell you all there will be crowds at the Gabba and at Metricon Stadium this weekend,’ Ms Wilson said.
‘Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Premier of Queensland, has announced that they will allow 25 percent of every football stadium to be filled.
‘Where the Gabba’s concerned, that’s around 10,000 or 11,000.
‘The Gabba is not really ready to bring in that many people in this weekend. So on Saturday afternoon for the Fremantle game, they are going to bring in 1000 people.’
On Tuesday morning however, the idea was quashed.
The Premier’s office told Daily Mail Australia there have been no changes to their restrictions on public gatherings.
Although veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson told Channel 9’s Footy Classified Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk had given the green light for fans to come back, the state’s leader has poured cold water on the idea
There have been 1,062 total confirmed cases of coronavirus in Queensland including six deaths.
But at the moment there are only three active cases.
Despite the low figures Palaszczuk’s government has refused to allow tourists from other parts of Australia into the Sunshine state.
Ms Palaszczuk previously stated that Queensland would keep their borders closed until the worst hit states – New South Wales and Victoria – went 28 days without any new infections.
But the state’s chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young said the government will review their restrictions on interstate recreational travel after the national cabinet meets on Friday.
External view of The Gabba on April 07, 2020 in Brisbane. Sport and events held at the stadium were postponed and cancelled under coronavirus restrictions
‘That is when the Premier will be able to make a decision about what is happening with borders,’ Dr Young said.
‘Remember borders are a two-way exchange. We would need to open our borders but the other states would also need to open their borders.
‘At this point in Australia all borders, except for Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, are closed.’
However, if the rate of infection continues to remain low across eastern states, it is expected Queensland’s borders could reopen to tourists in July.
‘These are early days and we have much more work to do before we can be confident there has been no further transmission,’ Dr Young said.
In other states, clubs and businesses have begun to push for crowds to return to the stands.
‘My understanding is Port Adelaide were hopeful of getting some corporates in, a big group of corporates in, for Saturday’s Showdown,’ Ms Wilson said.
‘I reckon we’ll have supporters coming back to the footy at GMHBA (Stadium) and Marvel (Stadium) and the MCG within three to four weeks … I don’t think we’re talking 25 percent in three to four weeks, but this is moving so quickly you can’t rule anything out.
Brisbane Lions fans celebrate winning the round 13 AFL match against the Geelong Cats at The Gabba on June 23, 2013
NRL clubs have been given permission by the New South Wales government to allow corporate members to return in groups of 50 – the same rules which apply at other venues in the state.
‘We’re very pleased the Government have corrected the anomaly, because this was allowed in pubs, clubs and racecourses but not sports stadiums,’ ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys told AAP.
But ambitious calls to let rugby league fans roll through the turnstiles by July 1, were brushed aside by the Gladys Berejiklian government.
‘We are not ready to make that decision,’ New South Wales Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.
‘We’ve had no formal proposition by the NRL on how they would manage crowds.’
The scoreboard shows the largest crowd in Brisbane Lions history during their 2019 AFL Second Qualifying Final match against the Richmond Tigers at The Gabba on September 07, 2019