Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes has declared that if a side from WA or SA was to win the 2020 AFL premiership that it would be one of the greatest achievements of all-time.
With the AFL season set to resume on June 11, West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide will all base themselves in the Gold Coast due to government restrictions in WA and SA.
West Coast and Fremantle will have the luxury of completing their entire mini pre-season in Perth, before flying over prior to the start of the season, but Adelaide and Port Adelaide will be required to fly immediately due to quarantine laws in SA.
While Cornes agreed that basing themselves in the Gold Coast is the "smart" move, he said the interstate sides are still at a major disadvantage when the season begins.
"The two advantages you have as an interstate side are playing at your home ground and getting other teams to travel across the country to play you," he told Wide World of Sports.
"You take those two advantages out and it doesn't leave much left as an interstate club.
"I don't think Fremantle or Adelaide are a chance to win the premiership, but if West Coast or Port Adelaide did it would be one of the best achievements we've ever seen in footy, but it's going to be tough.
"I think its a smart move. It forces other teams to fly there and play against you and you can set up your own home situation there.
"I think it's the smart move to do, the weather will be good, the conditions will be good and I've got no criticism of the six teams who are going to set themselves up in Queensland."
With teams to resume training on May 18 and full-contact training on May 25, it leaves a short runway for players to get themselves prepared for the June 11 restart, and Cornes suggested that clubs will err on the side of caution with players recovering from injuries.
"Ideally they'd probably like a little bit longer, but we don't live in an ideal world," Cornes said.
"It's going to be only four to five fierce sessions for each club, so it's going to come down to how each club manages their players.
"Any players that they think are an injury risk, I don't expect will return in Round 1 and its over to the clubs to manage their lists as best they can."
The Port Adelaide games record holder also praised the AFL's handling of the COVID-19 crisis, and the leadership of AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.
"I think the AFL have done an unbelievable job really managing what has been the most challenging time we've ever seen," he said.
"It's been an absolute nightmare for them trying to deal with each different state government.
"Each leadership has different rules, some have been stricter than others, we know Western Australia and South Australia aren't allowing teams to fly in and fly out."
Cornes' comments came as West Coast Eagles football boss Craig Vozzo confirmed that the club would consult with the AFL to get a run of home fixtures towards the end of the year after spending time in the Gold Coast hub.
In a big win for the Eagles players they will be able to take members of their immediate families with them into accommodation at the Royal Pines resort.
"We're building our schedule as we speak," Vozzo said.
"The accommodation facility looks really impressive. It gives us a good opportunity to set up a good base.
"We've had first-class discussions with both Brisbane and Gold Coast.
"We are proud that our players and staff are making a sacrifice for the greater good.
"Our priority is health and well-being and we are confident the players will be able to use the facilities at Royal Pines, rather than a quarantine lockdown situation."
from WWOS http://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/kane-cornes-why-west-coast-premiership-win-would-be-historic-result/6fabfb30-7b2a-404f-aeab-b6d5c060d232
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