Brisbane Lions players pulled off bus by 11th hour COVID-19 travel order

The Brisbane Lions have been pulled off their hotel trip to the airport after an 11th hour call to keep them stranded in Melbourne.

According to reports, the Lions were scheduled to fly back to Brisbane at 11am (AEDT) on Sunday morning, but have been grounded under orders from the AFL.

Players were reportedly on the bus beginning of their journey back home when the advice came through for the players to remain in Victoria while the league waits for information from the Queensland Government surrounding the COVID-19 restrictions being considered following a positive test for the virus in the Brisbane community.

The Lions were on Saturday night locked down in travel limbo following the Victorian health department’s extraordinary warning on Friday night in response to the new virus case in Queensland.

Lions captain Dayne Zorko confirmed reports on Saturday when he told Fox Footy the team will likely have to stay at least one more night in Victoria, but are hoping to be cleared to fly back to Brisbane soon.

With Brisbane on the brink of increased COVID-19 restrictions, there is speculation the Lions may be forced to remain in Victoria to allow the AFL 2021 season fixture to continue.

The AFL reportedly remains confident the Lions’ blockbuster Thursday night clash with Collingwood will go ahead at the Gabba.

Fox Footy’s Tom Morris reported Saturday Collingwood officials don’t know if they will travel to Brisbane as scheduled.

The Herald Sun reported Sunday, Lions players are concerned they may be forced to remain in Victoria for an indefinite period of time if Queensland is forced to implement serious COVID-19 restrictions.

The Lions’ blockbuster with the Cats on Friday night in Geelong was thrown into disarray after the Victorian Government introduced new regulations in response to the mystery coronavirus case in Brisbane when a young man tested positive test for the highly contagious UK strain.

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Less than one hour before the first bounce at GMHBA Stadium, Victoria’s Department of Health and Human Services announced new regulations relating to the latest positive test.

Players and fans in Geelong Friday night.Source:Getty Images

A big screen inside the stadium ordered any spectator who had been in Brisbane or the Moreton Bay Area since March 12 to leave the stadium immediately, isolate and get tested within the next 72 hours.

The Brisbane Lions players only arrived from Queensland on Thursday.

However, the round two clash in Geelong went ahead because Brisbane’s players were granted a late-minute “orange zone permit” exemptions from the state government due to the enhanced biosecurity protocols they are abiding by.

However, questions surrounding the exemptions were raised in a Herald Sun report, which revealed the league could not guarantee the Lions players had tested in negative in recent weeks.

The AFL’s relaxed protocols do not include regular COVID-19 testing.

Zorko said: “We’re probably going to have to stay here tonight, hopefully fly out tomorrow once we all get tested.

“The testers are here now. We’ll get this done pretty quickly and then head to Melbourne and fly out tomorrow.”

When asked about the prospect of being forced to stay in Melbourne, Zorko said: “It wouldn’t be great. A lot of the boys have kids and they’re going to be away from them potentially. The clothes situation and training gear, we wouldn’t have brought enough clothes, so it wouldn’t be ideal I would have thought.”

If the Lions return to Brisbane and are locked out of Victoria, the AFL season fixture will be in tatters.

The message on the big screen said it all.Source:Getty Images

Chris Fagan, senior coach of the Lions.Source:News Corp Australia

On Friday night, GMHBA Stadium’s loudspeakers repeatedly told Brisbane fans who had flown in from Queensland since March 12 to leave the venue and immediately undertake a COVID-19 test.

Channel 7 revealed that commentators Luke Hodge and Wayne Carey were among those required to exit GMHBA Stadium.

Hodge was told to leave the commentary box by Channel 7 staff after the announcement was made and Carey was also told to leave the venue.

Channel 7 Melbourne managing director Lewis Martin told The Herald Sun both commentators will be tested on Saturday.

Abbey Holmes was called up from the boundary-rider position to replace Hodge in the commentary box.

Speaking to reporters after the one-point loss, Brisbane coach Chris Fagan conceded he thought there was a chance the match would be called off.

“I’m glad it wasn’t (called off) because it was one of the better games of Aussie rules football that you’ll ever see,” Fagan said.

“We haven’t received any information from the AFL. As far as I know, we’re flying back tomorrow, but that could change. We’ll just be ready to do whatever we have to.

“We’ll just take our advice from the AFL and the Queensland government and do as we’re told.”

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