Covid 19 and footy - season (suspended) now resumed

[Legs Akimbo]

No way there is a vaccine in 18 mths. There isn't even one for 2003 SARS, which is similar.

Agreed. Somr variants of common cold arw corona virus ans now cure after many decades of research. Best case is a seasonal vaccine. Who knows when...

[707]

Tasmania closing two hospitals and self isolating 5000 people, SA self isolating 750 Qantas and airport staff due to airport cluster. WA premier being very strong going forward on border closures.

There's three states off the training/playing hub options list.

Governments, despite the economic pain aren't going to relax restrictions until they've almost eliminated the virus as it too easliy gets away again.

NRL's May 28 is laughable unless they are playing hands off at 1.5 metres minimum! I notice the Qld Premier knocked the idea on the head today. AFL planning for a possible July restart looks so much more sensible and responsible.

[barry]

As a society, we should be encouraging organisations to work out ways to get back to normal as soon as possible, without raising the risks too high.

Medically, I cant see any reason why AFL players cant play, if other "essential" services can do their job.
"Essential" service is really defined as a group of people who are prepared to take a certain level of higher risk of catching the disease, to be able to work as normal. Maybe a rebranding to get rid of the "essential" tag to "R1" or something might happen. The government has got itself in a knot with the essential tag.

The other aspect is the political, where some believe that if the AFL players can play, everyone else will get jealous of their perceived freedom, and start their own non-social-distancing stuff.
That message needs to be managed.

I think most people are entering the "trough of disillusionment" stage of this, and having something to watch on TV would be a good social conditioning exercise.

[Mr Magoo]

For me the tough part in restarting the competition is that it kind of assumes that once it starts, no one will get COVID, but what happens if a player then does test positive for COVID in say week 3 of a restarted competition.

If the current rules apply as to close contact cases self isolating that is likely to mean that all of the players teammates plus anybody he played against that week are likely to also be stood down.

Its easy enough in a large corporation that is continuing to currently trade to self isolate the relevant people (most of whom have no where near the sort of close contact that occurs on a football field or at training) but once a team gets hit , forget it - that team is out of action for a minimum of two weeks.

[barry]

For me the tough part in restarting the competition is that it kind of assumes that once it starts, no one will get COVID, but what happens if a player then does test positive for COVID in say week 3 of a restarted competition.

If the current rules apply as to close contact cases self isolating that is likely to mean that all of the players teammates plus anybody he played against that week are likely to also be stood down.

Its easy enough in a large corporation that is continuing to currently trade to self isolate the relevant people (most of whom have no where near the sort of close contact that occurs on a football field or at training) but once a team gets hit , forget it - that team is out of action for a minimum of two weeks.

Same model as "essential" services have now. You basically have your temperature taken at work entry, and go home and isolate if you have any symptoms. And then a testing process takes place. I dont think they do the quarantine of other essential work colleagues youve been in contact with.

They would have to have a policy like this, because someone is going to get it.

[barracuda]

As a society, we should be encouraging organisations to work out ways to get back to normal as soon as possible, without raising the risks too high.

Medically, I cant see any reason why AFL players cant play, if other "essential" services can do their job.
"Essential" service is really defined as a group of people who are prepared to take a certain level of higher risk of catching the disease, to be able to work as normal. Maybe a rebranding to get rid of the "essential" tag to "R1" or something might happen. The government has got itself in a knot with the essential tag.

The other aspect is the political, where some believe that if the AFL players can play, everyone else will get jealous of their perceived freedom, and start their own non-social-distancing stuff.
That message needs to be managed.

I think most people are entering the "trough of disillusionment" stage of this, and having something to watch on TV would be a good social conditioning exercise.

I agree

[Mr Magoo]

Same model as "essential" services have now. You basically have your temperature taken at work entry, and go home and isolate if you have any symptoms. And then a testing process takes place. I dont think they do the quarantine of other essential work colleagues youve been in contact with.

They would have to have a policy like this, because someone is going to get it.

Yes but what happens when the player then tests positive after being sent home ?

I work in the construction industry which is currently still operating and I can assure you if a person tests positive , they and anyone they have been in close contact with in the previous week leading up to the positive test are quarantined. Close contact being defined as having spent more than 2 hours within 1.5 metres of the person in that time.

If you assume this was applied to footy , it would be highly doubtful that with the players training together pretty much every day that any of a players team mates would escape this rule.

[barry]

Yes but what happens when the player then tests positive after being sent home ?

I work in the construction industry which is currently still operating and I can assure you if a person tests positive , they and anyone they have been in close contact with in the previous week leading up to the positive test are quarantined. Close contact being defined as having spent more than 2 hours within 1.5 metres of the person in that time.

If you assume this was applied to footy , it would be highly doubtful that with the players training together pretty much every day that any of a players team mates would escape this rule.

Its it obvious? If that rule was applied it wouldnt work.
But I dont think people in the medical fields have that extra quarantine step.

Anyway, as I said before, they have to risk higher infection rates to open up anyway. Accept those, and then you can work out a more relaxed criteria for isolation.

[Ralph Dawg]

Our numbers are looking good because of the measured we have taken. How we will go when restrictions are eased is anyone's guess. I agree that jt is prudent organisations start working towards starting up again but will need to be flexible as the government will clamp down if numbers start to increase again. There is still a good chance we will not get a meaningful season out of 2020.

One just has to look at Singapore as a cautionary example. Lauded for their initial response, their numbers are now increasing again and they have had to lock things down even tighter than originally.

[barry]

There is a lot of misinformation around, but what if it had shown a trend that corona only had a death rate of 0.1% for very fit people between the ages of 18 to 35.
Could you play AFL then (in an isolation bubble) ?

(Thats hypothetical by the way)

In an isolation bubble it doesnt really matter what the rest of Australia or the world is doing.

[Boddo]

Here’s a hypothetical that I doubt would ever happen but here goes.

WA or SA cases reduce to the point of zero. State opens up everything except it’s borders. Does the AFL release players in that state to play WAFL or SANFL?

[mcs]

Our numbers are looking good because of the measured we have taken. How we will go when restrictions are eased is anyone's guess. I agree that jt is prudent organisations start working towards starting up again but will need to be flexible as the government will clamp down if numbers start to increase again. There is still a good chance we will not get a meaningful season out of 2020.

One just has to look at Singapore as a cautionary example. Lauded for their initial response, their numbers are now increasing again and they have had to lock things down even tighter than originally.

We may well get further football this year, but I reckon there is buckley's chance any games will have a crowd, unless it runs very late into the season. Having big crowds at venues will be the last step taken I reckon.

[Melbourne_Blood]

We may well get further football this year, but I reckon there is buckley's chance any games will have a crowd, unless it runs very late into the season. Having big crowds at venues will be the last step taken I reckon.

It has been suggested somehwere in the media that suburban grounds light be utilised for games ( I think if clashes with cricket occur later in the year).

Assuming they do , I wonder if they’d consider allowing crowds at the smaller capacity venues first, as a stepping stone toward having the larger capacity ovals have crowds ?

Went to a preseason game at Moorabbin in Feb, it would be great for a proper season game!


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[707]

It has been suggested somehwere in the media that suburban grounds light be utilised for games ( I think if clashes with cricket occur later in the year).

Assuming they do , I wonder if they’d consider allowing crowds at the smaller capacity venues first, as a stepping stone toward having the larger capacity ovals have crowds ?

Went to a preseason game at Moorabbin in Feb, it would be great for a proper season game!

Suburban grounds don't have the broadcast infrastructure or camera locations of suitable height to present a quality TV viewing experience. Think how ordinary to watch a lot of preseason games are. Goal line technology not at suburban grounds either.

Channel 7 and Fox will want quality for their money, games will only be at recognised venues IMO

[barry]

It has been suggested somehwere in the media that suburban grounds light be utilised for games ( I think if clashes with cricket occur later in the year).

Assuming they do , I wonder if they’d consider allowing crowds at the smaller capacity venues first, as a stepping stone toward having the larger capacity ovals have crowds ?

Went to a preseason game at Moorabbin in Feb, it would be great for a proper season game!

There is at least one non-cricket ground in each state to extend the season:
QLD: Carrara.
NSW: Spotless (assuming big bash doesnt start until december or later)
Victoria: Marvel, and maybe Princess Park if needed.
WA: Cricket / AFL can split between Optus and Waca.
SA: This is the only one I cant think of an alternative. May need to upgrade a suburban ground.