AFL boss Gillon McLachlan makes powerful promise to fans after years of COVID havoc

AFL fans can “take it to the bank” that COVID-19 disruptions to this season will be kept to a minimum.

The league’s chief executive Gillon McLachlan says they are determined to return the season as close to normality as possible in year three of the pandemic.

While they will continue to operate with a rolling fixture and are finalising top-up player rules for clubs, McLachlan is spruiking big crowds.

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Victorian venues will operate at 100 per cent capacity when the season starts on March 17 and fans will not have to wear masks when they attend games in the state.

McLachlan says it is “back to business” and he is hoping for a round-one attendance record.

“COVID’s not over ... but we are in year three of this pandemic, we are living with it,” he said.

“That’s our mindset, that we are living with this disease and we are moving forward in that mindset - we actually have to live with it and get our lives back.

“We know there are going to be challenges that look different in the middle of winter than they are do right now.

“But ... it’s play on. We’re going to be playing every game, every week as scheduled.”

The fixture will continue to be finalised in six-week blocks.

“You can take to the bank that the fixture and the schedule as outlined, unless there’s something extreme, we’re going to be rolling on,” McLachlan said.

McLachlan and Sports Minister Martin Pakula were at Marvel Stadium to promote the venue’s $225 million redevelopment, which is now underway and will continue through to next year.

An early and obvious feature of the redevelopment will be two new video scoreboards for round one next month.

“They’re going to be the largest scoreboards in the world, if not the