Fremantle's AFL clash with Carlton at Optus Stadium is in grave doubt after a second person in Western Australia tested positive to COVID-19.
A woman in her 30s was confirmed as WA's latest positive case on Monday after attending the same Perth gym early last week as a physiotherapist who had flown back from Sydney with the virus.
A Melbourne hub for AFL teams is shaping as a strong possibility as the COVID-19 outbreak in NSW continues to wreak havoc around the country.
With Sydney locked down, NSW recorded 18 new cases of community transmission on Monday, while restrictions will be introduced in Queensland after two new locally-acquired cases were detected overnight.
Darwin is currently in lockdown after four new cases were detected in the Northern Territory on Sunday.
The WA government imposed its own restrictions on Sunday after a woman who flew into the state tested positive, resulting in West Coast's AFL match against Western Bulldogs at Optus Stadium being a lockout.
The confirmation of a second new case on Monday saw the Dockers halt ticket sales to Saturday's clash at Optus Stadium, with the match now a strong chance to be played in Melbourne.
Adelaide, too, are bracing for the prospect of a late fixture change, despite South Australia avoiding any new locally-acquired cases.
The South Australian government will introduce a range of social restrictions for at least one week from midnight on Monday as a precaution.
The Crows are due to host Brisbane at Adelaide Oval in the Saturday twilight slot, but South Australia's border is now closed to Queensland.
The SA health department has indicated it is likely to grant the Lions an exemption to play in Adelaide on a fly-in, fly-out scenario on game day.
At this stage, fans can attend the match.
Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks says he doesn't know what is in store for his team this week.
"What I do know is it's becoming a little bit harder to find venues to play football in and actually travel around the country," Nicks said.
"We'll be flexible, as we have been, and we'll play wherever we can.
"We'll keep our fingers crossed that we are able to play but we'll have to see what happens."
Sydney and GWS moved their football operations to Melbourne last Tuesday and appear set for an extended stay, given the crisis in NSW.
The Swans are scheduled to take on West Coast at Geelong's GMHBA Stadium on Sunday and the Eagles could be forced to stay in Victoria beyond that.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan recently told the AFL Players' Association that hubs would be a last resort, and that they would last a maximum of three weeks if it did eventuate.
If a hub is set up in Melbourne, it's likely to be in the format of a football frenzy - much like last year when games were spread out across the week.
The short turnaround between games in 2020 was offset by 16-minute quarters.
Quarters have reverted to the full length of 20 minutes this year, and Carlton star Sam Walsh feels players will be able to handle short turnarounds between games and full-length quarters if it's only for a few weeks.
"If it was over the span of three weeks you'd feel like you could probably do it," Walsh said.
"There's a lot of depth on each list for any team in the AFL. So, we've just got to adjust on the move."
