{"id":578320,"date":"2026-04-01T10:18:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:18:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/578320\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T10:18:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T10:18:14","slug":"afl-to-get-creative-to-help-fans-amid-fuel-crisis-but-league-adamant-covid-style-hubs-not-discussed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/578320\/","title":{"rendered":"AFL to get creative to help fans amid fuel crisis, but league \u2018adamant\u2019 COVID-style hubs \u2018not discussed\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

The AFL<\/a> insists there are no plans for for COVID-style hubs in the near future as Australia navigates an unprecedented fuel shortage crisis due to the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

With diesel prices souring above $3 per litre in parts of the country \u2014 and unleaded not far behind \u2014 there has been speculation that, in a worst-case scenario, the AFL would have to move all 18 clubs to one city for a period of the season, just as they did during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: AFL considers fuel subsidies amid attendance concerns<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cThere might be corridor conversations all around the country about the potential of hubs and the fear of what everyone went through in 2020 and 2021. The AFL is adamant they are not discussing hubs, it has not been discussed at any executive level,\u201d 7NEWS Melbourne\u2019s Mitch Cleary told The Agenda Setters.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cBut what they are looking at is ways they can subsidise and help fans get to and from games as early as Gather Round.<\/p>\n

\u201cEverything\u2019s on the table when it comes to, (for example), memberships coming with fuel discounts, or ways they can help fans with carpools and buses to get to and from games \u2014 everything is on the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what the AFL is working with the clubs on, rather than any sort of hub discussion right here, right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

The AFL is desperate to keep crowds up at the footy, but it may not necessarily be possible for all fans, particularly for people outside South Australia wanting to travel to Gather Round next week.<\/p>\n

Head here to watch The Agenda Setters on 7plus Sport<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI think if you were 50-50 on whether you had bought your tickets or not, you\u2019d be questioning it,\u201d Cleary told The Rush Hour on Triple M<\/a> earlier on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of these tickets came out in October\/November last year, so fans have bought up, they\u2019ll have committed to go, and they\u2019ll do their best to try and find a way.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I reckon a lot of fans who have left it to this last fortnight before Gather Round will be considering what they can do.<\/p>\n

\u201cI haven\u2019t heard anything definitive just yet, but club are considering ways and how they can help fans and subsidise some of their travels to games, because it is a major issue in the country.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GatherGather Round has been a major success for the AFL since its inception three years ago. Credit: AAP<\/p>\n

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed addressed the country from Canberra at 7pm on Wednesday to provide some clarity on the government\u2019s response to the fuel crisis, which stems from the war in the Middle East.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe reality is the economic shocks caused by this war will be with us for months,\u201d the Prime Minister said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOver coming weeks, if you can switch to catching the train or bus or tram to work, do so. That builds our reserves, and it saves fuel for people who have no choice but to drive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Speaking directly after Albanese\u2019s address, 7NEWS political editor Mark Riley said it was \u201cessentially a national group hug of reassurance from the government\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cNormally when a Prime Minister asks the nation to sit down and listen up, they have detail, they have something important to say. There was very little detail in that,\u201d Riley said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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2 min read<\/p>\n

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2 min read<\/p>\n

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