Rule changes not permanent for AFL. A three-judge panel of the U.S. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan confirmed last night round one will go ahead as planned despite the coronavirus crisis, part of a 17-round season (down from 23) with 16 … (Reporting by Ian Ransom; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)Authorities reimposed lockdowns on Thursday in more than 30 Melbourne suburbs, mainly in the north and west.Please give an overall site rating:MELBOURNE, July 3 (Reuters) - The outbreak of COVID-19 in Melbourne has forced 10 Australian Football League (AFL) teams to move out of their home base in southern Victoria state as part of a revised schedule to preserve the integrity of the competition.The teams in the top flight of Australian Rules will base themselves and play matches in other states that have reined in the infection for the forseeable future, the AFL said on Friday. We don’t want to sack staff. The AFL is in chaos this afternoon, as Essendon players head for testing, and the league makes changes to training rules. U.K. to Change Self-Isolation Rules to Prevent Covid Spread By . North Melbourne Football Club always always struggling.“Through some of this crisis and what’s coming with the coronavirus, I think you know, it might allow us to look at the game in a different way, and this might really shape our game going forward, you know, is the game going to be shorter, do we need to lay the 22 weeks,” he said.“We spoke with the club presidents… the legal advice is so long as you comply with the 500 mass gathering rule for public events and keep it under 100 in any individual room… then there was no barrier on the legal side.Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and experienced journalist Caroline Wilson have outlined the circumstances around the new-look AFL season, with McGuire believing the coronavirus crisis has forced the AFL into a dangerous territory.However it’s believed Carlton CEO Cain Liddle will be at the MCG.“Then it became a decision for the clubs and above all else the players, and we said it was paramount that the players made their own decision if they were informed, and they chose it to go ahead.Runners will be allowed on the ground after goals, as per the 2019 season, in order to share messages from coaches to players.They’ll also be housed on dedicated floors at their hotels.He said McLachlan and AFL commission chairman Richard Goyder had opened talks with Victorian premier Daniel Andrews about sourcing a line of credit to keep the league afloat.“I think the game, it’ll increase scoring a little bit, but I think clubs will have to be creative whether… does the game stop and when does it stop, and then the back end of the season how does it look, and rotating players and keeping fresh players up and about… it’s going to be a new look.”“This time last week if you had’ve said we would start Round One with no crowds, you would just be saying this is the worst day.
STAR Collingwood midfielder Steele Sidebottom faces a ban of up to four weeks for his multiple breaches of the AFL's COVID-19 protocols on Saturday.. AFL.com.au understands the AFL and the Magpies have discussed the potential sanction since Tuesday afternoon, with Lynden Dunn likely to receive just a one-game suspension for his involvement.. RULE BREACH Sidebottom, Dunn in COVID … Never have we faced anything like this.Wilson outlined the clubs most at risk, given a number are already in debt heading into the 2020 season.However they’ll now also be allowed twice a quarter for a maximum of 90 seconds, during live play.Here’s all the latest AFL updates from the developing coronavirus crisis.With government edicts in effect meaning only 100 people are allowed at gatherings, some big names won’t be in attendance for Richmond vs Carlton.“We can’t guarantee that this will go on forever… but I think at this stage, when we can have as much normality as possible… we want to ensure people can have as much normality as possible… for that sense that we have six months, six difficult months, but what we can take from it, what we can do to support each other, that’s what we should be doing.”Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt has revealed details of the crisis talks with the AFL yesterday, which led to CEO Gillon McLachlan’s extraordinary decision to continue as planned with footy this week.They’re also not allowed to be on the ground during the final three minutes of any quarter, except after goals - so it’s just those two-a-quarter runner uses that aren’t permitted.Ratten also suggested the changes could signal a new norm for the code.“We look at the St Kilda Football Club with their massive debt, Melbourne not great, Gold Coast and GWS obviously, Brisbane still have a huge debt albeit much improved last year. And six or seven, certainly five, I would say much worse,” Wilson explained.The most confounding part about waiting for tonight’s first bounce is that I’m still waiting for the crowd.And while the rooms are usually chaotic after a win, only staff from the host broadcaster, players and football department members will be there post-game tonight.“These clubs could quite considerably struggle. At the time, I attended a briefing at AFL House where proposed rule changes were discussed and explained. Injury, family ties could rule out seven Tigers for R6 All-Australian pair unlikely to head to Gold Coast as Richmond counts injury cost. 1:37 AM Businesses warning of COVID rule changes; 1:37 AM Palmer's WA border challenge goes to court; 11:58 PM Children saved from bus as floods hit NSW; 11:50 PM Car hits pedestrians in Berlin, 6 injured; 10:40 PM Hanna threatens floods in virus-hit Texas Play Video. We've already seen cases of community transmission from state to state and we need to make sure AFL is not a bridge for that.