Thousands of Australian Rules football fans were told to self-isolate and get tested for coronavirus after an infected spectator attended a match in Melbourne and the city raced to avoid another lockdown, according to AFP.

Australia's second biggest city is scrambling to contain a growing Covid outbreak, with 15 cases identified so far, including one who attended the clash between Collingwood and Port Adelaide which drew a crowd of more than 23,000 to the famed Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday.

The AFL said thousands of fans who sat near the positive case were now required to self-isolate until they received a negative test, while health officials were reviewing CCTV to determine if others had also been impacted.