Brisbane and Geelong will not be forced to play in a cyclone. (Getty Images: AFL/Russell Freeman)
The AFL has announced the season's opening match between the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats will be postponed, as Tropical Cyclone Alfred is expected to make landfall that evening.Â
The Opening Round clash at the Gabba, a replay of last year's thrilling preliminary final, was set to begin at 6:50pm in Brisbane on Thursday.
But TC Alfred, which currently is off the south-east Queensland coast, is forecast to make landfall in Brisbane's northern suburbs late Thursday or early Friday morning.
The AFL has also elected to postpone Saturday's match between the Gold Coast Suns and Essendon at Cararra Stadium.
"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 south-east 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.
Earlier on Tuesday, Lions coach Chris Fagan called for the postponement of the fixture.
"The sooner the decision is made, the better," Fagan told reporters on Tuesday.
"It's just a game of football. The safety of family and friends and staff and fans is the priority, that is why common sense has to prevail.
"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?"
AAP/ABC