Poor air quality forces Demons to postpone training and puts other AFL clubs on high alert
The Demons have postponed their Wednesday training session and Collingwood has moved its activities inside as all Victorian AFL clubs remain on high alert due to the hazardous air pollution associated with the national bushfire crisi.
Smoke from fires burning in the state’s East Gippsland region blanketed Melbourne and Geelong on Tuesday and led the Environmental Protection Authority to issue an alert for hazardous air quality in some areas.
With many clubs set to hold their main training sessions of the week on Wednesday, the EPA has forecast hazardous air quality conditions to continue.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has also forecast hot, smoky conditions with a late change on Wednesday to drop temperatures and ease pollution concerns.
The Dees confirmed on Wednesday that the morning's session on Gosch's Paddock had been postponed due to air quality, but may hit the track in the afternoon. Collingwood later confirmed its players would training indoors and offsite.
It comes after North Melbourne was forced to move a training session indoors on Tuesday.
The air quality in the Melbourne CBD was rated as hazardous during the early hours of the Tuesday before it was upgraded to very poor around the time many club pre-season programs get underway.
However, most clubs avoided having to make a call on training in the potentially dangerous conditions, with Tuesday a popular choice around the league for scheduled gym sessions.
Eight of 10 Victorian clubs contacted held gym sessions indoors as planned.
Richmond’s players took part in a light 30-minute session on Punt Road oval in the morning, while the Kangaroos brought a training session on the oval at their Arden St headquarters indoors.
The AFL wrote to all 18 clubs last week to ensure they are aware of the relevant medical guidelines around exercise and poor air quality.
On Tuesday afternoon, a Carlton official confirmed a training session planned for Wednesday at Princes Park would be brought indoors due to poor air quality, with others likely to follow suit.
— AAP