# AFL calls off season opener, NRL moves game out of Brisbane as Tropical Cyclone Alfred nears

The AFL has called off its season-opening clash between  and Geelong as well as Saturday night’s match between Gold Coast and Essendon as Tropical Cyclone Alfred continues to threaten the Queensland and northern NSW coast.

The NRL has instead moved the Dolphins and South Sydney match out of Brisbane, with the Friday night clash now to be played at CommBank Stadium in Sydney.

The Lions and Cats were scheduled to meet at the Gabba on Thursday night with the reigning premiers to launch the 2025 season with the unfurling of their premiership flag. The two sides will instead play at a future date still to be decided by the .

The Suns’ scheduled home fixture against the Bombers at People First Stadium has also been postponed after the AFL held discussions with the Queensland Government, the Bureau of Meteorology and Stadiums Queensland.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon announced the two matches would be postponed after an emergency meeting of league heavyweights in Sydney on Tuesday.

“As I said yesterday, 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,” 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.”

Bureau of Meteorology data showed on Tuesday that the  or Friday morning. Alfred was upgraded to a category two cyclone early on Tuesday.

The AFL’s opening round will now begin on Friday night when Sydney host Hawthorn at the SCG. Greater Western Sydney and Collingwood will meet at Engie Stadium on Sunday afternoon as the feature round is reduced to only two matches.

The NRL said the safety of players, fans and the community were the highest priority when considering the venue change.

The Dolphins and Rabbitohs will still meet at the scheduled time of 7pm AEST (8pm AEDT) on Friday night, with the reverse fixture in round 17 now to be played at Suncorp Stadium.



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