The AFL is reportedly considering stripping Alice Springs of the Melbourne versus GWS Giants game over a council decision.
Both the Herald Sun and The Age report the league has informed Alice Springs Town Council it would consider moving the match from Traeger Park after the council’s decision to ban community teams from playing there on Sundays in the Central Australian Football League.
The council currently permits teams from Alice Springs to play at Traeger Park on Saturdays, but does not allow regional community teams to play in a separate communities competition at the venue on Sunday.
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With the CAFL fixture now spread out across seven rounds in 12 weeks at multiple venues, the AFL is hopeful the council will permit the competition to take place at the venue.
Should this occur, the Demons and Giants match in Round 16 would go ahead as scheduled.
The AFL confirmed it was reviewing the match in an email to the council, The Age reports.
“The AFL will look to review all facets of the game impacted, from grassroots through to the elite, with consideration given to the most suitable location to host what is one of three AFL matches to be played in the Northern Territory in 2023,” the statement read.
An AFL match has been played at Traeger Park every year bar one since 2014.
Melbourne defeated Port Adelaide in the fixture last year.
The Herald Sun said both Melbourne and GWS were certain the game would go ahead as recently as Thursday.
