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ictorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, has announced COVID-19 restrictions will ease in Victoria, but AFL fans should stay home on Grand Final day with a ban on home visitors still in place. 

Andrews said Victorians are not allowed to gather with other households to celebrate or make an ‘event’ out of the 2020 AFL Grand Final.

“Grand Final, fantastic day, important day, don’t go to your mate’s place,” Andrews said.

“Now, the Grand Final is very different this year, very different for obvious reasons, and while I know that many people would normally spend time with family and friends to celebrate that day, whether their team is in the Grand Final or not, it is a big part of who we are.

“But your household and only the members of your household, that is how Grand Final Day has to be.

“You cannot have friends over.

“Into your home.

“You cannot pretend that it is over because we all desperately want it to be.

“As important as it is, in a cultural sense, in a very passionate way, for every single football fan across our state, it is not worth risking all that we have done, all that we have built, all that we can do in just a few days’ time by having gatherings that are unsafe,” he said.

While Victorians celebrated the news on social media that Victoria’s strict COVID-19 restrictions had eased, AFL fans, including former Blues player, Brendan Fevola, did not take the news lightly.

“No Grand Final party or BBQs with friends,” Fevola said on Twitter.

“I’m officially done.

“Might have to get hammered for Brownlow tonight (Sunday),” he said.

Richmond fan and Melbourne local, Isabelle Lefebure, told Ministry of Sport: “every year we have that public holiday to get together with friends and family and enjoy the weather and the game, now we can’t even do that.”

“Richmond is still a great team, we’ve done well the past three years, but it’s a shame we won’t have the excitement of getting to buy the tickets and sit in this year.

“I’m sure the Geelong fans are just as disappointed, both teams will need to play in Brisbane and be out of their element.

“The excitement of the Grand Final is still there, if we win we win, but it will definitely be different this year compared to previous years,” Lefebure said.

Former Victorian Premier, Jeff Kennett, also said on Twitter: “Premier (Andrews) still talking down to Victorian’s.”

“We are in this situation because he and his colleagues failed.

“We lost the football season and the Grand Final because he failed.

“Now he will not allow any celebrations.

“What a sadness for those who have a team in the GF,” Kennett said.

With the one visitor per household rule not looking to be lifted any time soon; the Grand Final may not be the only event affected, with the Melbourne Cup scheduled to take place in just a few weeks’ time.

Along with the announcement of easing restrictions, the four reasons to leave home will no longer be enforced, and the 5km radius rule will become 25km.

Gatherings of up to 10 people outdoors will now also be permitted, retail stores, tennis courts, and golf courses will also be re-opening.