The AFL wishes to advise of an update regarding Round 12 of the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.
Due to ongoing state border restrictions in response to the current Victorian Covid circuit breaker lockdown there will no matches in Victoria in Round 12.
The AFL continues to work with all State and Territory Governments to best manage the relevant border restrictions ensuring the health and safety of the community is paramount.
Round 12 changes as follows:
The Alice Springs match between Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions, previously scheduled for Friday June 4 at TIO Traeger Park in Alice Springs, will be moved to GIANTS Stadium in NSW at the same date and time as scheduled, Friday June 4 at 7:50pm AEST.
Carlton, Richmond and Western Bulldogs will all spend the week training in NSW.
Richmond will then fly to Western Australia on Friday, while the Western Bulldogs fly to Perth on Saturday.
Essendon will remain in Western Australia for the week and, as previously communicated, the ‘Dreamtime’ match between Essendon and Richmond will now be held at Optus Stadium on Saturday June 5 at 7:40pm AEST (5:40pm AWST).
St Kilda’s match vs Sydney Swans, previously scheduled for Marvel Stadium on Saturday June 5 at 1:45pm, will now be played at the SCG on the same day and time with the Sydney Swans and St Kilda swapping home game rights to the Round 21 return match.
Arrangements for the Adelaide Crows vs Collingwood match currently fixtured for Saturday June 5 at Adelaide Oval, 4:35pm AEST (4:05pm ACST) are currently being worked through with final details of that match to be communicated as soon as possible.
Carlton will remain in NSW and play the West Coast Eagles at the SCG on Sunday June 6 at 3:20pm AEST. This match was previously scheduled for the MCG.
Western Bulldogs will be hosted by Fremantle at Optus Stadium on Sunday June 6 as scheduled, 6:40pm AEST (4:40pm AWST).
As fixtured, six clubs have a BYE in Round 12 – Hawthorn, Geelong Cats, Gold Cost SUNS, GWS Giants, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide.
AFL Executive General Manager Clubs and Broadcasting Travis Auld said the first priority of everyone in football is the safety and wellbeing of the community and said the league will continue to make the relevant changes to ensure that remains the priority.
“The update to the Round 12 fixture has been designed to best accommodate the current border restrictions in place in regard to Victoria while also keeping an eye on the coming weeks of the fixture,” Mr Auld said.
“The reality of the current situation in the community means the fixture will become a week by week proposition for the short-term.
“Although we won’t have matches in Victoria this weekend, we are hopeful to get the footy back in Melbourne for Round 13 and the Queen’s Birthday match at the MCG, a proposition we will continue to monitor and work with the Victorian State Government on how that plays out.
“The last few days has been a challenge for everyone, but as always, our clubs, players, umpires, venues and broadcast partners have been open-minded and accommodating on the next steps needed to keep the season going.
“We will continue to work with each State Government on finding the appropriate solutions and behalf of the AFL I would like to thank each of them across the country for their guidance and clarity.
“We know this last week has been a blow for footy fans in Victoria, but it is only a small sacrifice in the grand scheme of keeping the community as safe as possible. Footy is a game, but we aren’t the main game when it comes to the pandemic.
“For fans in the Territory, we will continue to work the Government and the clubs to find a way to bring those two matches to Darwin and Alice Springs later in the season.”
The AFL would like to thank the clubs, the players, the AFLPA, the umpires and all the fans for their continued patience and understanding as we all continue to navigate through the pandemic.
The Dreamtime match at Optus Stadium commenced on-sale today at 5:00PM AEST through Ticketmaster.
Tickets for the three matches in Sydney will go on-sale tomorrow and AFL Clubs will be in touch directly with their members on further communications regarding relocated home matches, with tickets for all other matches already on-sale.
The AFL will continue to monitor the situation nationally before making, if required, any further changes to upcoming rounds.
Round 12
Friday, June 4
Melbourne v Brisbane at Giants Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, June 5
Sydney v St Kilda at the SCG, 1.45pm AEST
Adelaide v Collingwood - TBC
Essendon v Richmond at Optus Stadium, 5.40pm AWST
Sunday, June 6
Carlton v West Coast at the SCG, 3.20pm AEST
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium 4.40pm AWST
Bye: Geelong, Gold Coast, GWS, Hawthorn, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide
