Western Australian lockdown impacts leading sport leagues

Western Australia’s five-day COVID-19 lockdown is impacting match schedules for sports organisations across multiple codes.

Following its first instance of community COVID-19 transmission in several months, Western Australia’s Perth, Peel and South West Regions entered lockdown on Sunday night, with the lockdown set to be lifted tomorrow (Friday) evening subject to medical advice.

With outdoor gatherings halted, tonight’s Big Bash League (BBL) play-off Perth Scorchers and Brisbane Heat has been relocated from Optus Stadium, with the Scorchers forced to relinquish their home ground advantage.

The match was due to be played at the WACA, but has been moved to Manuka Oval in Canberra.

Cricket Australia’s Head of Big Bash Leagues, Alistair Dobson, praised the Scorchers for their “ongoing flexibility”, commenting “this has been an unprecedented season

“The ongoing flexibility and cooperation has been vital in getting us to this point of the finals series.”

The five-day lockdown has also disrupted the 2021 AFLW season, which commenced last week.

Organisers have postponed games scheduled to be played in Western Australia, including two fixtures from this coming weekend.

Fremantle and West Coast had both been due to host home games in Round 2, but the matches will be pushed back, despite being scheduled to take place after Western Australia’s lockdown lifts.

The AFLW fixture beyond round two has not yet been released.

Speaking about the rescheduling, AFL Head of Women’s Football, Nicole Livingstone advised “we will continue to remain as adaptable as possible as the season progresses in a constantly changing environment and we will listen to and work closely with each stakeholder to ensure the best possible outcome for everyone in the game.”

The NBL’s Perth Wildcats are preparing for a lengthy period away from their home at RAC Arena, with two of their home games postponed due to the lockdown.

In a bid to avoid being impacted by border closures, the Wildcats flew to Sydney on Monday, taking advantage of the open border between NSW and Western Australia.

Instead of their previously scheduled Friday night home game, the Wildcats will take on Melbourne United in Bendigo this Sunday.

As of today, Perth Glory’s home game on 13th February has not been impacted, but the A-League is expected to announce changes to its fixtures should Western Australia continue to report instances of community transmission.

While the Perth, Peel and South West Regions will be coming out of lockdown at 6pm tomorrow night, the Perth and Peel regions will still have some restrictions in place, until 12.01am on Sunday 14th February.

Click here for details of ongoing restrictions.

Image: The NBL’s Perth Wildcats will be playing their next two home games away from the RAC Arena.