AFL Season Opener at Risk as Cyclone Looms: ‘We’ll Keep a Close Eye on Developments’

The commencement of the AFL season is now uncertain due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which poses a severe threat to Queensland.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, this weather system is moving southwards towards Queensland, with expectations to pass directly over Brisbane sometime during this week.

The AFL is set to kick off on Thursday evening at the Gabba in Brisbane, featuring a match between the Lions and Geelong.

An AFL spokesperson stated, “We will keep a close eye on developments over the next few days and will align with government directives.”

The match scheduled for Saturday on the Gold Coast, where the Suns are set to face Essendon, also faces potential disruption due to the cyclone.

Meanwhile, the NRL is set for the Dolphins to host the Rabbitohs in Brisbane on Friday night, but there has been no confirmation yet on whether that match will be affected.

The AFL aims to commence its Opening Round in Sydney on Monday.

If the match on Thursday needs to be rescheduled, it may result in the season kicking off with Sydney hosting Hawthorn on Friday evening instead.

Additionally, the fourth match of the Opening Round will take place on Sunday in Sydney, featuring the Giants facing Collingwood.

The AFL introduced the Opening Round last year in an attempt to capture audiences in Queensland and New South Wales while the NRL began its season in Las Vegas.

This year, the AFL’s scheduling has mirrored last year’s, arriving a week late, with NRL matches in Brisbane and Sydney continuing to dominate the first round.