Tropical Cyclone Alfred off the QLD coast is putting the AFL’s opening round in doubt.

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting hundreds of millimetres of rain and winds of up to 130km/h across southern Queensland and northern NSW on Thursday – the same day Brisbane take on Geelong at the Gabba in the evening.

AFL boss Andrew Dillon said on Monday morning:

“Every game we have contingencies and we have options, but at the moment the game is scheduled for Thursday night,” he said in Sydney at the launch of Opening Round.

“The Lions are working towards that, as are Geelong and as are the AFL and Channel Seven.”

“The deadline will be when we know actually what is going to happen. At the moment, there are forecasts and those forecasts have changed. When we’re absolutely 100 per cent confident about what’s going to happen, we’ll make a call then,” he said.

“Weather patters are unpredictable. The health and safety of our players and fans will be the number one priority in every decision we make.”

Residents in northern NSW and southern Queensland have been told to prepare and secure food and water.