TWO round 11 matches have been transferred to Sydney venues and the Western Bulldogs-Melbourne, top-of-ladder blockbuster will stay scheduled in the Friday night slot at Marvel Stadium, pending negative COVID-19 tests from Demons players.

The changes were announced by AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan on Thursday afternoon after the Victorian government again placed the state into a seven-day lockdown after a surge in coronavirus infections.

Sunday's Richmond-Adelaide match, initially scheduled for the MCG, has been moved to Giants Stadium on the same day, beginning 2.10pm. This is to allow ease of access for Crows players back to South Australia, after that state cracked down on border controls with Victoria.

Saturday night's Gold Coast-Hawthorn game, to have been played in Alice Springs as a key feature of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, has been transferred to the SCG with a 7.40pm start time.

The Port Adelaide-Fremantle Sunday twilight fixture at Adelaide Oval has been pushed back 40 minutes to a 4.50pm local time beginning, to allow more time for the umpires to prepare, as that set of officials will have controlled the previous night's West Coast-Essendon match in Perth.

No crowds will be allowed to attend the three Melbourne matches in round 11 – Dogs v Demons, Collingwood versus Geelong at the MCG on Saturday, and St Kilda versus North Melbourne on Saturday twilight at Marvel Stadium.

Acting Victorian premier James Merlino announced a seven-day lockdown for the entire state to begin from 11.59pm AEST Thursday evening.

Updated round 11 fixture

Friday, May 28
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 7.50pm AEST

Saturday, May 29
Collingwood v Geelong, MCG, 1.45pm AEST
Brisbane v GWS, Gabba, 2.10pm AEST
St Kilda v North Melbourne, Marvel Stadium, 4.35pm AEST
Gold Coast v Hawthorn, SCG, 7.40pm AEST
West Coast v Essendon, 5.40pm AWST

Sunday, May 30
Richmond v Adelaide, Giants Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
Sydney v Carlton, SCG, 3.20pm
Port Adelaide v Fremantle, Adelaide Oval, 4.50pm ACST