In response to a growing number of diagnosis of COVID-19 in his state, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Tuesday that, from midnight Wednesday, residents in 36 Melbourne suburbs across 10 postcodes would be returning to stage three restrictions until at least July 29.

Those living in the decreed areas will only be able to leave their homes to exercise, go to work, buy essential items including food, and access childcare and healthcare.

As part of the A-League’s return to play protocols, players and staff from the three Melbourne clubs, regardless of their lodgings location, had already been self-enforcing Stage Three restrictions in an effort to return to complete the season – training and preparation considered work under the guidelines.

However, steps by the New South Wales Government to bar travel into the state by residents of Melbourne’s hotspot locations – with penalties of up to six months jail or an $11,000 fine for those that flout the ruling – has cast a shadow over the ability of the three Melbourne clubs to take part in any fixtures in NSW.

Melbourne City has four individuals, three players - including captain Scott Jamieson - and one member of the strength and conditioning department, that reside in the postcodes that were locked down by the Victorian Government, with a club spokesperson confirming to FTBL that all four were moved into temporary accommodation on Wednesday evening before the restrictions came into place.

“I’ve had to move along with two other players and Ralph, our fitness coach," Jamieson said yesterday. 

“It’s a bit difficult at the moment for me and my partner because she’s eight months pregnant and we’ve got a lot of stuff ready at our house for the baby.

“I had to go to a hotel and that’s where I’ve been for the past two days, waiting on the NSW government and their decision regarding an exemption for AFL players and the A-League."

Western United, likewise, confirmed that a number of players and staff had been relocated to non-lockdown suburbs.

“We’ve probably been affected quite a bit,” Head Coach Mark Rudan said.

“We’ve got quite a few players that had to move on Wednesday night into a hotel, they’ve been there since. The number is around six or seven.

"We’ve had a good chat to them, the clubs looked after them. They’re allowed to come to work, which is great."

Melbourne Victory reportedly only has a single member of their A-League setup affected by the Andrews’ Government’s restrictions, with club Chairman Anthony Di Pietro telling SEN Afternoons on Thursday that that individual had been relocated to another area ahead of their introduction.

“As far as what’s happened in the last few days, we’ve had one player that was in the postcodes - so he’s obviously been relocated,” Di Pietro said.

“So, our team’s okay from that perspective.

“We’re running our training programs through quite a detailed COVID-19-response set of arrangements.

“It’s working well, Grant Brebner and the team are doing really well. We’re only a couple of weeks from the season. So, the preparations are all good.

“Unfortunately, two of our games have been named TBC for venues – against Western United and Central Coast.

“The hope was to have them at AAMI Park but that’s a changing situation every day and that may mean we have to play those games in NSW.”

It is understood that Melbourne-based sides are in communication with the FFA and NSW Government and health authorities surrounding their ability to enter the state to complete the season.

Victory’s fixtures against Western United and Central Coast Mariners are two of seven that were earmarked for a venue TBC on the A-League fixture when it was released on Wednesday.

Western United vs Melbourne City, City vs Sydney FC, Western United vs Western Sydney Wanderers and City vs Adelaide United are other games featuring Melbourne sides to carry the TBC label.

Victory are marked down to travel to NSW and play Wanderers, Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium on the new fixture, while Western United is planned to travel North to meet Sydney FC, Wanderers and Perth Glory at Bankwest and Newcastle Jets at McDonald Jones Stadium.