Flight sharing with rivals? Match day travel? AFL clubs adapt to new restart rules

Imagine rivals Manchester United and Manchester City flying together to Liverpool on a match day then playing at Anfield while the Reds and West Ham wait outside before taking the same pitch for a second game.

That bizarre scenario is exactly what Australian Rules Football clubs are facing as they began full contact training Tuesday after the league announced a June 11th return to play.

North Melbourne Kangaroos head coach Rhyce Shaw said on Tuesday the game-day travel schedule would not be ideal preparation for a match, but said his club was willing to make sacrifices for the good of the competition.

The AFL was one of the last sport leagues in the world to shutdown during the pandemic and there will be rigid return-to-play protocols after the restart including rival clubs sharing flights together, match day travel and multiple teams playing on the same day at the same venue.

Having lost revenue from the shutdown, the AFL is determined to save costs and the new fixture list will allow for multiple clubs to travel together on match days.

The schedule will mean players, coaches and support staff collectively spend less time in hotels during the coronavirus pandemic.