{"id":45760,"date":"2021-03-17T00:46:05","date_gmt":"2021-03-17T01:46:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=45760"},"modified":"2021-03-17T04:00:11","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T04:00:11","slug":"question-afl-boss-cant-answer-on-looming-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=45760","title":{"rendered":"Question AFL boss can't answer on looming season"},"content":{"rendered":"

AFL<\/a> boss Gillon McLachlan<\/a> has welcomed a 'return to normality' on the eve of the season start, but refused to confirm an increase in crowd capacity in weeks to come.<\/p>\n

"I know so many supporters, members, and people involved in our game are getting back to normality," he said at the 2021 season launch at the MCG.<\/p>\n

\"Captains<\/p>\n

Currently, the MCG is capped at 50,000 (roughly 50 per cent of capacity) for Thursday night's game between defending premiers Richmond and Carlton<\/a>.<\/p>\n

"My kids have footy training this week, then tomorrow night I'll be here and we'll have that siren, and that roar, and we'll have a pie and a beer and hang out," McLachlan said.<\/p>\n

"I'm just excited to get the rhythm of our community back.<\/p>\n

"Our community is smart and they knows what's safe. The basic rule is 'stay in your seat' – you can go to the bathroom, you can go and get something to eat and do all that."<\/p>\n

\"How<\/p>\n

He said that people could stand up and cheer and enjoy the release that live sport provides, but that they had to stay in one spot.<\/p>\n

"Let's be clear. Go to the football, stand up and celebrate and yell when you can. But understand the overlay we're in. Minimise your moving around," McLachlan said.<\/p>\n

McLachlan will hold meetings with experts after this weekend's games to analyse fan behaviour, in regards to whether the capacity at games can expand as the season progresses.<\/p>\n

"I'm optimistic that the behaviour of our supporters will be right and if community transmission stays where it is, then numbers can come up," he said.<\/p>\n

He said he was hopeful, but couldn't guarantee an increase for the second round of the league.<\/p>\n

"I'm optimistic but it's not our decision," he said.<\/p>\n

\"Pressure<\/p>\n

McLachlan also stopped short of guaranteeing a full house for the annual ANZAC Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood.<\/p>\n

"I would really really love a full house, absolutely."<\/p>\n

He also dismissed any potential return for half-time AusKick games in the near future.<\/p>\n

"Not for a while, whether that's possible through the year I don't know," he said.<\/p>\n

"It's about balance … The priority is the health and safety of our community."<\/p>\n

For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has welcomed a 'return to normality' on the eve of the season start, but refused to confirm an increase in crowd […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45760"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=45760"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45760\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45762,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45760\/revisions\/45762"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=45760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=45760"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=45760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}