Geelong Cats will play rounds 14 to 17 in Queensland with champion player Gary Ablett a possibility to fly to the state next week.
The AFL has scheduled a flight for some players, officials and media partners to the Gold Coast on September 1 to join its transition hub at Mercure Hotel.
This could include Ablett, who left the Cats’ previous hub in Perth in July to join his family, as son Levi fights a rare and degenerative disease.
But in a press conference on Thursday Cats coach Chris Scott confirmed the AFL had been working with the Queensland Government to get Gary Ablett to the state earlier.
“I’m not really across the detail but I’m told I should be optimistic,” Scott said.
“There’s a lot of work being done behind the scenes.
“There are obviously issues that are well beyond our control and the AFL’s control and rest more with the government.
“But my understanding is that if it is possible, it will happen so that sounds pretty good to me.”
The Cats and Richmond Tigers are working on a plan to quarantine Ablett and Tigers midfielder Shane Edwards together in a private residence so they can train together.
With the Cats and the Tigers to clash in round 17, both clubs wanted to field their best team and have the satisfaction of beating their opposition at full strength, Scott said.
“It’s been that sort of season hasn’t it? In the normal turn of events you’d think that was very strange but this year you’d barely bat an eyelid.
“There’s been a certain level of collegiality with the clubs around the AFL this season and I think that’s a good thing.”
Last October Ablett announced that 2020 would be his last year.
If Ablett were to leave next week and commence a 14-day quarantine, he could potentially play in the Cats’ last two games.
After playing the Crows at Adelaide Oval on Sunday, Geelong Cats travel to Queensland for rounds 14 to 17
The Cats will face Sydney in the final round at a place and time yet to be announced by the AFL.
