AFL looks to kick off season as cyclone watch continues

Alfred could intensify into a category-two system, with winds at the centre of the cyclone currently at 95km/h and gusts of up to 130km/h.

The cyclone could also bring up to 600 millimetres of rain per day.

No call has been made yet on the Lions-Cats match, with AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon saying the game could be called off as late as Thursday morning.

Alfred is expected to slow down and move towards the Queensland coast on Tuesday, but where it makes landfall on Thursday or Friday is still uncertain.

Dillon said at Monday's season launch media conference in Sydney that contingency plans are in place if the game has to be moved.

Both teams have byes in round three.

"It (the forecast) has already slightly changed in the last 12 or 24 hours," Dillon said.

"We're three days out from the game ... the game is scheduled for Thursday night.

"For every game we have contingencies, and there are options with byes and the like.

"At the moment, the game is scheduled for Thursday night and the Lions are working towards that, as are Geelong and as are the AFL.

"The deadline (for a decision) will be when we know actually what's going to happen."

Dillon said the league is liaising with local authorities about the weather.

He said he had also spoken with Lions boss Greg Swann on Sunday night and again on Monday morning.

"Our opening game is a big game, but it's not the main game," Dillon said.

"The main game at this stage is for us to be in contact with the Queensland government and the bureau of meteorology.

"The main game is actually that the people of southeast Queensland and northern NSW are safe, and that's the focus now."

With Alfred also set to impact the NSW Mid North Coast, GWS chief Dave Matthews admitted the cyclone has also cast a shadow on the Giants' Sunday fixture against Collingwood at Engie Stadium.

"We're keeping an eye on the weather, which is a bit of a concern for us," Matthews said.

However, he could not extend commiserations to the Lions about the possibility of a postponed fixture, still burning after the Giants' semi-final defeat to the eventual premiers last season.

"I've got no sympathy for them at all," Matthews said.

"I hope their season gets cancelled, if that's a possibility."

The NRL is also yet to make a decision on the Friday fixture between the Dolphins and South Sydney at Suncorp Stadium.

But the Dolphins remain confident the match will go ahead as planned, with the Rabbitohs considering bringing their flight north forward from Thursday to Wednesday.

The Queensland surf lifesaving championships, from Friday to Sunday at North Kirra on the Gold Coast, have been cancelled.

The annual Mooloolaba triathlon, scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, is another southeast Queensland sporting event where organisers are keeping a close eye on the weather forecast.