West Coast’s fixture against Collingwood CONFIRMED as a day earlier in AFL change

Staff writersThe West Australian
VideoAFL: Collingwood could soon have vice captain Jeremy Howe back on deck, with stand-in coach Robert Harvey confirming his return to training.

West Coast’s round 20 fixture against Collingwood has officially been moved to Saturday afternoon as the Eagles come to terms with a potential quarantine on return.

COVID-19 outbreaks in Victoria and New South Wales continue to wreak havoc on the AFL’s scheduling with another week of uncertainty and scrambling to complete the regular season on time.

SEE THE REVISED ROUND 20 FIXTURE BELOW

Instead of facing the Pies at the MCG on Sunday, the clash has been brought forward to 2.15pm bounce down on Saturday.

The Eagles are scheduled to face Melbourne the following week in round 21 at Optus Stadium and the shift from a Sunday to Saturday game allows for a seven-day quarantine in WA, in time to be allowed to take on the Dees.

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West Coast will depart Melbourne immediately after the Saturday MCG match, and have WA Government permission to train and play when they return.

This weekend’s clash will remain at an empty MCG as the Eagles (7th) look to solidify their spot in the top eight.

Fremantle’s round 20 match is locked in, taking on Richmond this Sunday afternoon at Optus Stadium before remaining in WA for another home fixture against Brisbane.

The AFL has also established two sterile corridors for Round 20, between Victoria and Queensland and down to Tasmania.

There will be two games played in Tasmania this weekend, with Hawthorn-Brisbane and Geelong-North taking place in front of capped crowds.

Players from North Melbourne, Geelong and Hawthorn will arrive in Tasmania via charter flight on the day and fly out that night.

Two games still remain without venues, but AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld says he expects decisions to be made shortly.

“We are pleased to be able to confirm details for seven of the nine matches for Round 20,” he said.

“We will continue to make changes that best manage the current environment, progresses our season and protects the health and safety of those in our game and the wider community.

“We hope to confirm the location of the Gold Coast SUNS vs. Melbourne and GWS GIANTS vs. Port Adelaide matches in the coming days and thank everyone involved in the game for their patience and understanding as the fixture remains a week-to-week proposition.”

ROUND 20 FIXTURES

FRIDAY

St Kilda v Carlton (Marvel Stadium) 5.50pm

SATURDAY

Western Bulldogs v Adelaide (Ballarat) – 10.20am

North Melbourne v Geelong (Blundstone Arena) – 11.15am

Gold Coast v Melbourne (TBA) – 1.10pm

Collingwood v West Coast (MCG) – 2.15pm

Essendon v Sydney (Gabba) – 5.40pm

SUNDAY

Hawthorn v Brisbane (Adelaide Oval) – UTAS Stadium - 12.10pm

GWS v Port Adelaide (TBA) – 1.10pm

Fremantle v Richmond (Optus Stadium) - 3.10pm

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