Swans, Giants on the move as hybrid crowd limit looms in Melbourne

Both NSW AFL teams are on the move to Victoria in the wake of NSW’s escalating COVID-19 situation.

Sources confirmed both the Swans and the Giants are bound for Victoria on Tuesday night amid fears the Victorian government will tighten its borders with NSW.

The MCG is on standby to host Sunday’s Greater Western Sydney-Hawthorn game should it need to be rescheduled.

The uncertainty over the Giants-Hawks game comes as the AFL waits for confirmation on crowd limits in Melbourne for round 15, with the Victorian health department yet to provide certainty on how many fans will be allowed into both the MCG and Marvel Stadium this weekend.

A capped crowd at the MCG earlier this year.Credit:Eddie Jim

Hopes of a decision coming on Tuesday are flagging, likely leaving the league and fans waiting until Wednesday for a final call despite Richmond taking on St Kilda at the ’G on Friday night.

The AFL had been keen for up to 50,000 fans to attend games this weekend however well-placed sources indicated on Tuesday afternoon that this was unlikely.

Rather than a set percentage crowd cap, it appears likely crowd limits will be a hybrid, with stadiums limited both to a percentage as well as a broad spectator cap.

Sources indicated somewhere between 15,000 to 30,000 was most likely for the latter figure.

That would potentially allow a greater percentage of Marvel to be filled than the ’G, and also have implications for the A-League grand final.

The Giants are due to take on the Hawks on Sunday at Giants Stadium, and while the AFL and Giants are still hopeful of that match proceeding as planned given Homebush is not one of the Sydney coronavirus hotspots, the MCG, which does not have a game scheduled on Sunday, is in considerations to host the game should it be moved from Sydney.

The Swans’ game against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval is also up in the air.

Meanwhile the NBL told The Age on Tuesday afternoon that its intention is to play out the remainder of its grand final series between Melbourne United and Perth Wildcats at John Cain Arena as scheduled. Melbourne leads the best of five series 2-0 and can clinch the title with a win over the injury-hit Wildcats on Friday night, if needed games four and five are scheduled for Sunday and Wednesday respectively.

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