West Australian sports teams have been left scrambling following the announcement that the state's planned reopening on February 5 will not go ahead.
There are six Perth sporting organisations across three codes currently stranded in the eastern states, all of which had return dates locked in.
The Perth Glory have two teams on the road, while the Perth Wildcats, West Coast Eagles, Fremantle Dockers and Perth Lynx are also facing an indefinite return date.
The Perth Scorchers were always going to end their Big Bash campaign away from home, but now face an uncertain return date to Perth post-season.
"I keep saying that there is light at the end of the tunnel, it's not a train coming the other way," Perth Glory CEO Tony Pignata told ABC Radio Perth.
"But I tell you what, it feels like a big train is coming now."
The club left WA about a week ago, after spending Christmas in quarantine.
Mr Pignata said he had been assured by WA Police they would be able to return beyond February 5 as early as yesterday.
'Sledgehammer' blow: Glory CEO
The Glory chief executive said he watched Mr McGowan's late night media conference with about 90 players and staff from both A-League men's and women's teams
He said the announcement was like being "hit with a sledgehammer".
"I can appreciate the reasoning behind [the decision] … but we need to ensure we look after families over east who want to get back," he said.
"Some of the regulations where you now have to isolate at home and everyone who is at home has to isolate around for 14 days, that's untenable."
He also highlighted the dire state of the club's finances after a challenging time throughout the pandemic.
"We're looking at millions and millions of dollars of losses and whether we can continue," Pignata said.
Wildcats left with no clear end date
Like the Glory, the Perth Wildcats have been on the road for several weeks, after departing WA on December 27.
Wildcats coast Scott Morrison took to Twitter to express his frustration at the border delay and the uncertainty over when the team could return home.
The Wildcats had agreed to an extended road trip on the understanding the border would come down on February 5.
"It was a sacrifice but at least one that had a clear end date," Wildcats CEO Troy Georgiu said.
"Now we aren't sure when they will be able to return home, and as a club our priority is now to offer as much support as possible to the team and their families.
"We are extremely grateful for the sacrifices they are making for this club and we're proud of the resilience they continue to show."
The Wildcats were due to play their first home game back on February 6, and remain confident they will play 14 home games this season.
AFLW, AFL take stock
On top of the Glory and Wildcats, both AFLW sides from Fremantle and West Coast are in Victoria, where they had expected to spend three weeks before returning for home games.
It is unclear what the border change means for that competition or for the AFL season, which begins in March, with the first Perth match scheduled for March 20.
Nic Naitanui joined those reacting on social media, suggesting Western Australia was acting like "its own country".
If that season begins on time, that game, between West Coast and Gold Coast, it will be the first event of any kind at Perth Stadium since December 20.
The Fremantle Dockers said they were taking stock of the border decision.
"We will immediately turn our attention to working with the AFL and WA Police to ascertain what the remainder of our women's season and the commencement of the men's season will look like," Fremantle CEO Simon Garlick told the club's website.
"For the past two years, every challenge that COVID-19 has presented our club and our industry has been accepted and met, and this one will be no different.
"We will keep working as hard as we can to get the best result possible for the club and appreciate your patience and understanding as always."
Freo's Darcy Tucker 'upset' but backs government
Dockers midfielder Darcy Tucker said the decision was hard to deal with for players who lived away from their families.
"As a Victorian it's pretty tough and I was a bit upset," he said.
"A lot of us boys were planning to head back there. Not just Victorians but South Australians and every interstate player.
"I was booked to go on the 31st (of January) for a six-day break. So yeah, it's upsetting not to be able to see my family.
"But I back the WA government in and their goal is to protect the community, and we're all for that as well."
