The AFL insists there are no plans for for COVID-style hubs in the near future as Australia navigates an unprecedented fuel shortage crisis due to the war in the Middle East.
With diesel prices souring above $3 per litre in parts of the country — and unleaded not far behind — there has been speculation that, in a worst-case scenario, the AFL would have to move all 18 clubs to one city for a period of the season, just as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL considers fuel subsidies amid attendance concerns
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“There might be corridor conversations all around the country about the potential of hubs and the fear of what everyone went through in 2020 and 2021. The AFL is adamant they are not discussing hubs, it has not been discussed at any executive level,” 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary told The Agenda Setters.
“But what they are looking at is ways they can subsidise and help fans get to and from games as early as Gather Round.
“Everything’s on the table when it comes to, (for example), memberships coming with fuel discounts, or ways they can help fans with carpools and buses to get to and from games — everything is on the table.
“That is what the AFL is working with the clubs on, rather than any sort of hub discussion right here, right now.”
The AFL is desperate to keep crowds up at the footy, but it may not necessarily be possible for all fans, particularly for people outside South Australia wanting to travel to Gather Round next week.
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“I think if you were 50-50 on whether you had bought your tickets or not, you’d be questioning it,” Cleary told The Rush Hour on Triple M earlier on Wednesday.
“A lot of these tickets came out in October/November last year, so fans have bought up, they’ll have committed to go, and they’ll do their best to try and find a way.
“But I reckon a lot of fans who have left it to this last fortnight before Gather Round will be considering what they can do.
“I haven’t heard anything definitive just yet, but club are considering ways and how they can help fans and subsidise some of their travels to games, because it is a major issue in the country.”
Gather Round has been a major success for the AFL since its inception three years ago. Credit: AAP
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed addressed the country from Canberra at 7pm on Wednesday to provide some clarity on the government’s response to the fuel crisis, which stems from the war in the Middle East.
“The reality is the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months,” the Prime Minister said.
“Over coming weeks, if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so. That builds our reserves, and it saves fuel for people who have no choice but to drive.”
Speaking directly after Albanese’s address, 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley said it was “essentially a national group hug of reassurance from the government”.
“Normally when a Prime Minister asks the nation to sit down and listen up, they have detail, they have something important to say. There was very little detail in that,” Riley said.
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