By STEVE LARKIN, MURRAY WENZEL AND ANNA HARRINGTON FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS
The AFL has postponed two season-opening fixtures in Queensland – as golf and other sports have frantically scrapped events amid intense weather warnings stemming from Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
On Thursday night, the AFL season was scheduled to start with reigning premiers Brisbane hosting Geelong at the Gabba.
That clash, and Gold Coast’s scheduled home match against Essendon on Saturday afternoon, will be played later in the season on dates yet to be determined.
AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon announced the postponements after an emergency meeting of the code’s powerbrokers in Sydney on Tuesday.
‘It is a very uncertain situation that is unfolding,’ Dillon said in a statement.
‘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.’
It comes after Brisbane coach Chris Fagan urged the AFL to make a ‘logical’ decision.
In a significant blow to the AFL ahead of their 2025 season starting on Thursday, two games have been postponed due to wild forecast conditions from Tropical Cyclone Alfred in Queensland (pictured, CEO Andrew Dillon)
It comes after Brisbane Lions coach Chris Fagan stressed a safety first approach was key from the AFL
The AFL season was scheduled to start on Thursday night with Brisbane hosting Geelong at the Gabba (pictured, Lions star Lachie Neale)
‘It’s just a game of football. The safety of everyone is the priority, that is why common sense has to prevail,’ Fagan told reporters.
‘It’s a cyclone….I have seen the carnage they have caused at different periods of Australian history, so 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?’
Geelong coach Chris Scott earlier demanded a decision from the AFL ahead of some Cats players due to fly to Queensland later on Tuesday.
‘It sort of reminds me of the COVID situation,’ Scott told reporters.
‘It’s a bit unpalatable talking about when you prefer to play a game of footy when people are sandbagging their houses.’
When it comes to other footy codes, the NRL is yet to make a decision on its Friday fixture between the Dolphins and South Sydney at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
Australian golf officials have since cancelled the WPGA Championship on the Gold Coast amid the grim forecasts of Tropical Cyclone Alfred hitting Queensland and northern NSW.
The tournament, a co-sanctioned event with the Ladies European Tour, had been scheduled to start on Thursday at Sanctuary Cove on the northern Gold Coast.
More than four million people across Queensland’s population centre and into northern NSW have been warned to brace for possible daily rainfall totals of 200 to 400 millimetres, life-threatening flash flooding and wind gusts up to 120km/h
Queensland residents have left shelves empty ahead of Tropical Cyclone Alfred (pictured, a Woolworths at Bribie Island)
But with Cyclone Alfred forecast to hit land on Friday, the tournament has been called off in a decision golf hierarchy described as ‘supremely disappointing’.
‘With the predicted high rainfall, extreme winds and expected flooding, the decision has been made to ensure the safety of players, staff, fans and all stakeholders,’ the WPGA said in a statement.
Australia’s LPGA Tour player Grace Kim was to have been the star attraction of the tournament.
In addition, an associated Gold Coast Festival of Golf has also been cancelled.
Touch football postponed its national championships in Coffs Harbour in northern NSW.
Surfing Australia did likewise with the Australian boardriders grand final on the Gold Coast. Both events were scheduled for this weekend.
In soccer, Melbourne City expect Sunday’s A-League Women game against Brisbane Roar at Brisbane’s Perry Park to be postponed until next Tuesday or Wednesday.
And the Roar’s A-League Men’s squad will fly to South Australia on Wednesday – earlier than planned – to ensure Saturday’s away game against Adelaide United isn’t impacted.
Queensland’s surf lifesaving championships scheduled from Friday to Sunday at North Kirra on the Gold Coast have been cancelled
Brisbane Roar’s A-League Men’s squad will fly to South Australia on Wednesday, earlier than planned, to ensure Saturday’s away game against Adelaide United isn’t impacted (pictured, midfielder Ben Halloran)
Queensland’s surf lifesaving championships scheduled from Friday to Sunday at North Kirra on the Gold Coast have been cancelled.
And the annual Mooloolaba triathlon in southeast Queensland scheduled for Saturday and Sunday is also under threat.
Tropical Cyclone Alfred is currently out to sea 600km east of Brisbane but is predicted to move towards the mainland, with initial wind gusts and heavy rain expected from late Wednesday.
NSW authorities have issued a cyclone watch in the state for the first time since 1990, joining Queensland in bracing for destructive winds, intense rain and flash flooding.
