Cyclone derails AFL's opening fixtures

UPDATE

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon has spoken on the decision to postpone both Queensland-based Opening Round games due to Tropical Cyclone Afred.

The competition's CEO thanked all of those affected by the decision for their understanding.

“As I said yesterday, the priority is that we do everything we can to ensure the health and safety of everyone in and around any potential cyclone zone or community impacted by the forecast heavy rains and storm surges.” AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said.

“It is a very uncertain situation that is unfolding, and our thoughts are with everyone in southeast Queensland and northern NSW that may be impacted. Ultimately, we hope this weather event doesn’t eventuate, but we know everyone needs to prepare accordingly and we don’t want our games to be a distraction to those preparations.

“We want to make the decision now to give clubs and fans certainty in an uncertain environment and allow anyone from Queensland who would normally be involved in this game through coaching, playing, attending or working at the venue time to be home with their families and available in the community if required.

“I want to thank our clubs for their support and patience, our broadcasters for being aligned with our view that the community and public safety must always come first, the venues and venue partners and our fans for their understanding.

“We also encourage all our supporters in the Queensland area to please follow all the directions from the Queensland Government in preparing for Cyclone Alfred.

“I also want to acknowledge our AFL staff in Queensland, at our office in Yeronga, and our game development officers around the state, all whom we are presently working to assist as needed.”

EARLIER

The first games of the 2025 AFL season between Brisbane and Geelong and Saturday's Gold Coast v Essendon clash have been postponed due to Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

Both matches will be played later in the season with the AFL yet to confirm the scheduling details.

It means there will be just two matches played in the Opening Round with Sydney hosting Hawthorn at the SCG while Collingwood travel to GWS.

"Out of an abundance of caution and after ongoing communication with the Queensland Government, the Bureau of Meteorology and Stadiums Queensland, the AFL made the decision now to ensure the health and safety of clubs, players, officials and – importantly - the wider southeastern Queensland and northern NSW community remains the priority," the AFL said in a statement.

"The AFL will announce the alternate schedule for these matches as soon as possible as we continue to work with clubs and venues on possible scenarios.

"The rescheduled matches won’t be played during Opening Round."

Earlier, Queensland premier David Crisafulli spoke to the acute dangers of the situation.

"I've spoken with the NRL as well as the AFL. We're giving them information and, like all Queenslanders, we want them to make the call and we're giving them the most up-to-date information and I'm mindful that there are moving parts," Crisafulli said.

"We've got two AFL games and an NRL game. They're important events for everybody. We give the information and we're asking them to make the call and communicate that directly with their fans and we'll continue to provide information.

"I spoke with the CEO of the Dolphins and the CEO of the Lions again today and we'll do it again as more information comes to hand.

"We're treating them (AFL and NRL matches) as we are with residents. I have every faith. My conversations with the NRL and the AFL tell me two things. One is they're very, very passionate about their sport but the other thing is they're equally passionate about their fans and the area they live and that's a balance they'll make and I've got every faith they'll make the right call."

Geelong coach Chris Scott said earlier in the morning on SEN's Whateley that he had concerns about his club “flying into the eye of a cyclone”.

Brisbane’s reigning premiership coach Chris Fagan also relayed his worries about playing a game of football in these circumstances.

"I'm a people first person," Fagan said.

"It's not a tropical thunderstorm, it's a cyclone. I have never been in one, so I don't know what to expect. But I've seen the carnage they've caused at different periods in Australian history.

"I'm not too keen on the idea of things going ahead if it's going to be like that. It can't, can it?

"The sooner the decision’s made the better."