The AFL has postponed two season-opening fixtures in Queensland as golf and other sports scrap events amid cyclone warnings.
The AFL season was scheduled to start on Thursday night with Brisbane hosting Geelong at the Gabba.
That game, and Gold Coast’s scheduled home match against Essendon on Saturday afternoon, will be played later in the season on dates yet determined.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon announced the postponements after an emergency meeting of the code’s powerbrokers in Sydney on Tuesday.
Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan believes the AFL’s season-opener should be postponed. (Murray Wenzel / Anna Harrington)
“It is a very uncertain situation that is unfolding,” Dillon said in a statement.
“Our thoughts are with everyone in southeast Queensland and northern NSW that may be impacted.
“Ultimately, we hope this weather event doesn’t eventuate but we know everyone needs to prepare accordingly and we don’t want our games to be a distraction to those preparations.”
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan earlier urged the AFL to make the “logical” decision.
“It’s just a game of football. The safety of family and friends and staff and fans is the priority, that is why common sense has to prevail,” Fagan told reporters.
“It’s a cyclone … I have seen the carnage they have cause at different periods of Australian history, so 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?”
Geelong coach Chris Scott had also demanded a decision from the AFL ahead of some Cats players due to fly to Queensland later Tuesday.
“It sort of reminds me of the COVID situation,” Scott told reporters.
“It’s a bit unpalatable talking about when you prefer to play a game of footy when people are sandbagging their houses.”
The NRL is yet to make a decision on its Friday fixture between the Dolphins and South Sydney at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
But Australian golf officials have cancelled the WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast amid the grim forecasts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred hitting Queensland and northern NSW.
