AFL clubs begin to leave Victoria for interstate hubs
Collingwood are the first club to leave Victoria and fly out to their interstate hubs, with all sides to leave the state on Sunday and Monday.
The Pies left for NSW on Sunday morning without star player Jordan De Goey, who has to return two negative coronavirus tests before he can re-join the Magpies' footy program.
Darcy Cameron farewells his dog before the Pies leave for their hub. Credit:Instagram
De Goey has to be tested because he attended a police station on Saturday when he was charged with indecent assault, relating to an alleged incident in 2015.
Geelong will fly out of Victoria for NSW at 8.30pm on Sunday night, while Melbourne will leave for Sydney after their game this afternoon.
The Western Bulldogs will leave for the Gold Coast at 1pm on Monday.
Dogs captain Easton Wood told ABC Grandstand radio that it was a huge relief that he would be able to bring his family with him to the hub.
Pies defender Jack Crisp ready to leave for Collingwood's hub. Credit:Twitter
Victorian clubs were to mostly set to leave on Monday and Tuesday, however on Sunday the AFL told them to leave the state as soon as possible given the rise of positive cases in Victoria.
St Kilda, North Melbourne, Essendon, the Bulldogs, Richmond and Carlton will remain in Queensland for the next block of fixtures. Hawthorn and Melbourne will be based in NSW, while Collingwood and Geelong will play one match each in Sydney before heading to Perth to play one another while in quarantine.
The Cats and Magpies will remain in Perth for three weeks, both playing the two Perth teams in rounds eight and nine.