All 10 Victorian-based AFL sides will leave the state later this week to enter hubs in either Western Australia, Queensland or NSW - possibly for the rest of the season.
Round five will go ahead as planned, but the AFL has been forced to change their fixtures for rounds six and seven due to the mandated mass exodus of teams from Victoria following a fresh COVID-19 outbreak.
The temporary relocation out of the state will see all 10 clubs undergo the various quarantine regimes while also continuing to adhere to the strict protocols the AFL has in place.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed on Friday her state would host six Victorian sides - St Kilda, North Melbourne, Essendon, Western Bulldogs, Richmond and Carlton.
Geelong and Collingwood will make a one-week pit stop in Sydney before flying to Perth for their WA hub.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joked that the state deserves to host a grand final. Source: AAP
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan suggested the plan is for Victorian teams to return home after living in exile during a stretch of 45 games in 32 days, but that could possibly change.
"We will reassess our options depending on the COVID-19 situation across the country," McLachlan told reporters. "We will see.
"In five weeks from now we'll know a lot more. Hopefully it (the outbreak) is (under control in Victoria) and they come back."
Four Victorian teams will be based on the Gold Coast and two on the Sunshine Coast, with the hastily arranged shift following Western Australian and South Australian teams' stint in biosecurity bubbles on the Gold Coast.
"Everyone has to shoulder the load and bear the pain ... we will work to make sure that by the end of the year it is as equitable as it can be," Mr McLachlan said.
AFL Chief Executive Gillon McLachlan hopes clubs will be able to return to their home state after five weeks. Source: AAP
"I'm confident we'll get that. I fundamentally believe the team that wins this year's flag will be the one who (best) accepts the change, embraces the challenge."
The Cats will 'host' Brisbane next Thursday night at the SCG, with Collingwood named as the home side for their showdown with Hawthorn at Giants Stadium the following night.
Geelong and Collingwood will then face off in Perth the following week.
Melbourne will 'host' Gold Coast at Giants Stadium on Saturday, 11 July, with Essendon and North Melbourne to face off at Metricon Stadium that night.
Richmond will play host to Sydney at the Gabba on Sunday, 12 July, with Carlton and the Bulldogs to lock horns at Metricon Stadium later that day.
"Essentially Queensland is going to be the home of the AFL, they should give us the grand final after this," Ms Palaszczuk told reporters on Friday.
"Four teams are going to be on the Gold Coast and two on the Sunshine Coast."
Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said his players were excited about heading into a hub, though they would be supported if they elected to stay in Melbourne.
"The difficult thing, I think for everyone who's going to a hub is just leaving their families behind," he said.
"I think we've got eight dads and the boys will make decisions on whether or not (they go).
"We'd love to take everyone with us, we'll definitely take all our players.
"We're hoping to be able to take partners and young children if that's what the choice is - but there might be one or two who may not be able to go and that's fine and so we'll work through that."
Players from seven clubs who live in Melbourne's COVID-19 hot spots have temporarily moved out of their homes to avoid being banned from entering NSW.
The Bulldogs had to relocate seven players and three staff members to a combination of staff member houses, hotels and Airbnbs.
There will not be a hub in South Australia, with SA Health Minister Stephen Wade ruling out the concept on SEN radio on Friday.
