ADELAIDE and Port Adelaide could have the option of returning to South Australia between games during their Gold Coast hub experience thanks to a new government ruling.
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People travelling from Queensland will no longer have to self-isolate for 14 days when entering SA from midnight tonight, opening the door for a potential major win for the Crows and Power.
Adelaide will fly to the Gold Coast as planned on Saturday ahead of its clash with the Suns a day later and will remain there until at least the end of round four.
However, the Crows are keeping their options open with their round five game against Fremantle, with the hope of relocating it from Metricon Stadium to Adelaide Oval.
The news comes as West Coast coach Adam Simpson demanded the AFL provide him and his team clarity on when they can return home from the Gold Coast.
As it stands, all three clubs, as well as Fremantle, are fixtured to play all of their matches in Queensland up to round five.
Port Adelaide players and staff flew out of South Australia on Friday in preparation for Sunday's clash with Fremantle.
The government announcement came shortly before they left but Power coach Ken Hinkley deflected questions about how the development could alter his side's Gold Coast stay to football boss Chris Davies.
"For us, it's pretty simple – we're going up there with some certainty in our minds that we're going up there for three games, and we're going up there to play well in those three games," Hinkley said.
"We're not going to get distracted by anything other than preparing to play footy and all the other stuff will take care of itself, as it has done all the way through this pandemic.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide were able to delay their trip to Queensland when the SA Government gave the green light for them to play a home Showdown last Saturday night at Adelaide Oval, in front of more than 2000 fans.
Hinkley confirmed the Power would make just one change for the clash against the Dockers, with former co-captain Ollie Wines, who was best afield in the club's weekend scratch match after recovering from a shoulder injury, replacing Ryan Burton (knee).
Meanwhile, Simpson and the Eagles are becoming increasingly frustrated with the lack of clarity on whether they will have to remain on the Gold Coast for more matches beyond round five.
The AFL will release the next block of matches at some stage before round four but the current two-week quarantine period on returning to Western Australia has the 2018 premiership coach concerned.
"Our position is if we can't quarantine in houses when we get back and have to stay in a hotel for another two weeks, then we have to get home after Richmond (in round five)," Simpson said.
"That's our position and we're pretty strong on that. If we have to play another two or three games here then have to go back to Perth and sit in a hotel for another two weeks (that is not ideal).
"We're not here to complain but we have to look after our staff and our players … there needs to a line in the sand at some stage.
"We just haven't been informed at the moment about return dates and there are other things at play and we're waiting on some announcements but we need to draw a line in the sand."
West Coast was a shock loser to Gold Coast last week and Simpson said it would be "really difficult" if the club's staff and players had to play matches in Queensland beyond round five.
"That's the challenge," Simpson said in regards to the situation being a distraction.
"We've got to keep (the players) informed. There are questions being asked every day but we're trying to rise above that and do the right thing, and we need to play better, so don't get me wrong.
"We're here to play football but to get organised off field – that takes a bit of energy."
