June restart plausible, says AFL boss McLachlan
AFL chief Gillon McLachlan says there is "more optimism and confidence" that the league will return to play, and games could plausibly resume some time in June.Quarantine hubs are the AFL's preferred option to get through the season, but a decision by Queensland has opened up the possibility for players to fly in and fly outMcLachlan has briefed club presidents and chief executives following theHe reportedly told the clubs that the AFL's quarantine hub model had the approval of each of the states' chief health officers.
However the league chief later acknowledged that there was now a possibility that the hubs would not prove necessary. "Queensland have come out last night and said that elite sport effectively can fly in, fly out [to play]," he told afl.com.au. "Fly in, fly out certainly has some advantages over the hub, but there is upside to the hub models [as well]. "I don't want to run ahead of states and others, I want to work with the relevant health officers and the states before we land the model, but we certainly feel there's more flexibility [over options] ... in the last [few] days."A three-stage return to play is envisaged by National Cabinet and the health officers. The first stage — in place at the moment — limits training to just two players at a time, using social distancing.
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