AFL season restart to see 2,000 fans at Adelaide Oval on Saturday

With the AFL season set to restart on Thursday, the easing of Coronavirus restriction around Australia looks set to see fans attend some of the fixtures.

While fans in other states appear likely to have to wait until at least another week to attend games, the South Australian Government has announced that more than 2,000 spectators will be allowed to attend Saturday night’s clash between Port Adelaide and the Adelaide Crows at the Adelaide Oval.

With the League to play its first games since March this weekend, AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan told fans this morning to hope for "announcements" by the week's end.

With the Adelaide Oval to host 2,000 spectators and another 240 in private boxes on Saturday, clubs in Queensland and NSW are pushing for similar arrangements.

Details around which club members or fans will be allowed into the Adelaide Oval are still being finalised but the decision makes South Australia the first state to allow spectators at AFL matches since the Coronavirus shutdown.

Today also saw the Queensland Government rejected a claim that it had already approved the Gabba and Metricon Stadium to be at 25% capacity for games as soon as this weekend.

While Gold Coast Chairman Tony Cochrane confirmed the club was pushing for a “test crowd” of up to 1,000 people at Saturday’s clash with West Coast, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state’s Chief Health Officer was yet to approve any proposals and that spectators would not be allowed at AFL games in the state this week.

Premier Palaszczuk stated “it won’t be this weekend, but we have plans in currently with our chief health officer

“We want to see crowds supporting their local football matches but also future netball games (and) sport across the board.

“We have to be measured and responsible and that’s why the plans are currently with the Chief Health Officer and once she ticks off those plans she’ll get back to those organisations and we’ll be

The NRL has been granted permission for small groups of no more than 50 in corporate boxes to attend games in Sydney this weekend, at a ratio of one person every four square metres to abide by social distancing restrictions.

GWS have raised the prospect of hosting corporate supporters at their round two match against North Melbourne at Giants Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday.

Image: AFL action at the Adelaide Oval.