Hawthorn Football Club has been informed by the AFL that its Sir Doug Nicholls Round clash against Gold Coast this weekend will now be played at the SCG at 7.40pm on Saturday night.

The match was originally fixtured to be played in Darwin, however due to the Northern Territory’s border restrictions as a result of Victoria’s evolving COVID-19 situation, alternate plans have been arranged.

CEO Justin Reeves says the club is grateful for the cooperation and commitment of all parties involved in ensuring this match can go ahead.

“While we were really excited to head to Darwin to celebrate Sir Doug Nicholls Round, we fully understand that decisions like this need to be made in order to keep football fans and the wider community safe.

“We’re incredibly grateful that our fans and members will still have the opportunity to watch the Hawks in action this weekend. We would like to thank the many parties involved for their communication and commitment to ensuring the game can go ahead with as little disruption as possible.

“I’d also like to say thank you to players, coaches, staff and their families, who have been understanding and flexible as circumstances have changed.

“Hawthorn will continue to follow the advice of government and health authorities regarding the current COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria, with community safety remaining our number one priority.”

The Hawks will board a plane bound for Sydney tonight in preparation for their Round 11 clash.

More details, including ticketing information, will be provided as they emerge.