Covid 19 and footy - season (suspended) now resumed

[Boddo]

WA schools to open April 29. SA schools to be open for term 2. NT 0 new cases again today.

Talk of restrictions being slowly lifted in WA,SA & NT.

Like I’ve said repeatedly I expect the AFL to start in June. Every bit of data and media points to it.

[Ralph Dawg]

There are several schools of thought on Covid.
1) We must do everything we can to prevent every possible death. If that means indefinite lock down until (if) a cure / vaccine is found then that's what we have to do. People who fit in this category would be those who perceive they have job and / or financial security and believe governments have a bottomless pit of money to support the community in an indefinite lock down.
2) Let it rip through the community. Economy is number 1, it's generally older or chronically ill people who die from this, and herd immunity will develop (remember, this is not even proven yet). Hospitals will be overwhelmed for a period of time, but that's not their problem.
3) We have done the right thing up to now. Our infections and deaths have been controlled and community transmission is low. Time has been bought for the health system to prepare for Covid (2000 ICU beds to 4000, can get up to 7000 quickly if required). Gradual relaxation of restrictions, done on health data and priority (eg evidence shows transmission in schools has been low, school very important, so let's start there?), accepting we may get a spike in infections and deaths, but out hospitals can still cope. Unlikely to get back to "normal" until vaccine or cure found or virus just dies out.

For me 3 is the middle ground. 1 will cause severe economic damage and 2 health damage. The government clearly is going down pathway 3. If that means we get AFL (and NRL) albeit with no crowds, excellent.

[barry]

I don't think anyone seriously agrees with your 1 or 2. Lol.

[Mel_C]

I don't think anyone seriously agrees with your 1 or 2. Lol.

Barry you'd be surprised. I've heard a number of people wanting option 2. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

[Boddo]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/victorian-venues-part-of-hub-planning-20200417-p54kwi.html

Victoria a possibility to be part of the hubs

Just on the being away from family thing. Welcome to the world of the FIFO worker. These players live in such a bubble

[Ralph Dawg]

I don't think anyone seriously agrees with your 1 or 2. Lol.

I have friends who are suffering very badly economically and feel like we are sacrificing their livelihood for the elderly and infirm. They have expressed the view we just let it rip and if we are so worried about the vulnerable, lock them away. The Swedes have pretty much taken that approach and the Brits and Dutch started down that very path. I do concede though, the overall desire for option 2 would be very low. Option 1 however, is quite a popular view within public health (I'm a health worker, involved in Covid preparedness) and potentially could gain in popularity post easing of restrictions.

Picture this. Government relaxes restrictions and we start to get say 20 deaths a week. Do you not think their families, health professionals and those less economically but more humanistic in mind would start agitating for restrictions to return? What happens if a few kids or pregnant women die post easing if restrictions?

[Boddo]

One positive for me with Covid-19 in regards to footy is I’ve actually started to miss AFL. I never thought this would happen.

As I’ve stated several times my local club is my number one Aussie rules footy fix. But without the media bs and maybe it’s that with a compromised season I can except how compromised the AFL is.

I miss going to watch my local side a lot but I’ve actually started to miss Sydney on tv a fair bit.

It’s a strange but good feeling.

[Velour&Ruffles]

It’s why I was so frustrated with the AFL, it was a capitalist company ran as a dictatorship masquerading as a not for profit organisation.

That is quite possibly the best description of the AFL I have ever read.

[bloodspirit]

More to the point, I think we are in danger of totally derailing this thread in a football forum. There is another thread for chatting about this non-footy stuff.

[Boddo]

AFL needs 'national conversation' before restart, crowds 'unlikely, says Gill

[liz]

More to the point, I think we are in danger of totally derailing this thread in a football forum. There is another thread for chatting about this non-footy stuff.

Indeed. While we've let this thread meander rather loosely around the football connection in recent days, the foray into ideological and party politics of dealing with Covid 19 doesn't belong in a football forum. That move has prompted a transfer of all non-football related (or predominantly non-football related posts) for the last few days (ie over the weekend and since) to the already existing thread in Open Chat. It's pretty easy to find, but just in case anyone is struggling, it's here RWO - RedAndWhiteOnline.com

Please stick to the Open Chat thread for all further discussion of the politics, science etc of the pandemic.

[Boddo]

Virgin Australia Goes Into Voluntary Administration | 10 daily

Partner of the AFL which will effect the bottom line.

Virgin takes flight with new five-year deal

[barry]

The rules are fine. The heavy handed distruction of interesting discussion is unnecessary. Just let it be. There isn't much footy to talk about.

[Boddo]

I have a good question. SA health authorities have said they want to eradicate the virus in SA. If possible if this happened they would have all restrictions on public gatherings lifted. If the AFL grand final could be held at Adelaide oval with crowds would the AFL be prepared to do it? 50,000+ crows at Adelaide beats the hell out of a barren MCG.

I say no as it highlights the absurdity of the MCG contract. What do the rest of you think?

Coronavirus: South Australia records no new cases for second day, could eradicate virus within a month

[liz]

The rules are fine. The heavy handed distruction of interesting discussion is unnecessary. Just let it be. There isn't much footy to talk about.

There has been no distruction (sic) of any discussion. It has just been moved to the forum dedicated to discussing non-football topics. The access to, and functionality of, that forum are identical to the football forum.

We have many members of RWO who prefer to talk and read about football topics only. We have many members of RWO who also wish to discuss broader societal issues. RWO, in its totality, caters to both groups. Is it too much to ask to respect the different preferences of members, and to use the appropriate forums to discuss football and non-football matters?