Covid 19 and footy - season (suspended) now resumed

[707]

We've dramatically increased the number of tests in SA over the past week and encouragingly have recorded three straight days of no new infections. I think the aim is now eradication within SA which didn't seem possible a couple of weeks ago.

If it continues like this then Adelaide would be an ideal hub, IF the AFL needed to go the hub way. Our Premier said closed borders are likely to be the last restriction lifted as obviously we don't want new infections arriving from interstate.

Will the AFL be flying quarantined on Virgin? A lot to play out with that.

[Boddo]

We've dramatically increased the number of tests in SA over the past week and encouragingly have recorded three straight days of no new infections. I think the aim is now eradication within SA which didn't seem possible a couple of weeks ago.

If it continues like this then Adelaide would be an ideal hub, IF the AFL needed to go the hub way. Our Premier said closed borders are likely to be the last restriction lifted as obviously we don't want new infections arriving from interstate.

Will the AFL be flying quarantined on Virgin? A lot to play out with that.

You’ll have to ask Brett Sutton as he thinks he’s calling the shots for other states.

On a serious note I watched that live show on Foxtel for the first time last night n it sounds like hubs will revolve around 4 sides not six, which did surprise me. And not one mention of the NT, SA or WA hubs. Sounds like the media in Victoria have already started on the push for Victorian hubs.

To be announced next Monday. So in under a week we’ll all know.

BTW it was a very disappointing show that sounded more like local Victorian radio than a national show on a national broadcaster.

Like I’ve said previously if SA did become virus free. I’d play the GF at Adelaide oval.

[Blood Fever]

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?

Game, set and match.

[SeanM]

You’ll have to ask Brett Sutton as he thinks he’s calling the shots for other states.

On a serious note I watched that live show on Foxtel for the first time last night n it sounds like hubs will revolve around 4 sides not six, which did surprise me. And not one mention of the NT, SA or WA hubs. Sounds like the media in Victoria have already started on the push for Victorian hubs.

To be announced next Monday. So in under a week we’ll all know.

BTW it was a very disappointing show that sounded more like local Victorian radio than a national show on a national broadcaster.

Like I’ve said previously if SA did become virus free. I’d play the GF at Adelaide oval.

I did not watch the tv show. But initially a hub of the four SA/WA teams could make sense as those states have had few new infections. Then maybe fly the two QLD teams into NSW to form a hub. Then split the ten Vic teams into two hubs.

Then a month later if Brett Sutton allows it, start looking to fly interstate teams into Victorian hubs. Or if that is not possible, fly Victorian teams to interstate based hubs.

[Boddo]

I did not watch the tv show. But initially a hub of the four SA/WA teams could make sense as those states have had few new infections. Then maybe fly the two QLD teams into NSW to form a hub. Then split the ten Vic teams into two hubs.

Then a month later if Brett Sutton allows it, start looking to fly interstate teams into Victorian hubs. Or if that is not possible, fly Victorian teams to interstate based hubs.

If SA becomes virus free like has been suggested by their health officials why not have the league centred around that state & the NT. It allows crowds. It has the stadia that could accomodate tv broadcasts in Adelaide oval, Norwood oval, Alice springs and Darwin. It would allow crowds. It would have atmosphere. It’s basically streets ahead of a soulless MCG, Docklands & Kardinia Park.

Channel 7 does broadcasts in each state each weekend normally so broadcasting shouldn’t be an issue. If commentators are not prepared to leave home for a few months the game could be called from the studio with a local boundary rider.

Why does it have to be Vic centric?

[707]

If SA becomes virus free like has been suggested by their health officials why not have the league centred around that state & the NT. It allows crowds. It has the stadia that could accomodate tv broadcasts in Adelaide oval, Norwood oval, Alice springs and Darwin. It would allow crowds. It would have atmosphere. It’s basically streets ahead of a soulless MCG, Docklands & Kardinia Park.

Channel 7 does broadcasts in each state each weekend normally so broadcasting shouldn’t be an issue. If commentators are not prepared to leave home for a few months the game could be called from the studio with a local boundary rider.

Why does it have to be Vic centric?

Because the AFL is Vic centric!

SA & to a lesser extent WA are well ahead of the other states that are still battling hot spots but can you really expect Collingwood and Richmond to play somewhere other than the MCG?

[SeanM]

I assume it would be because there are 10 teams in Victoria so less disruptive to fly a interstate team in for a month to play 5 games against Victorian teams. Then fly home for a break to spend time with family. Then fly in and play the other 5 teams.

Though I have no idea how they intend it to work. Whether they prefer to fly a interstate side in for one game. Or they want them to spend a few weeks there.

Also I suppose at this stage, it is hard to forecast precisely which states will be hit hardest by the virus in a few months. And make hub location decisions based on that. For example Victoria might be surprisingly doing good. And SA might have a Tasmanian style unexpected outbreak.

[Boddo]

I assume it would be because there are 10 teams in Victoria so less disruptive to fly a interstate team in for a month to play 5 games against Victorian teams. Then fly home for a break to spend time with family. Then fly in and play the other 5 teams.

Though I have no idea how they intend it to work. Whether they prefer to fly a interstate side in for one game. Or they want them to spend a few weeks there.

If a state becomes virus free there will not be a fly in for one game. It’ll be a 14 day quarantine. So it’ll have to be 2 weeks just to be allowed to play one game.

Common sense says for the broadcast, which we keep getting told is so so so important, a game with a crowd would be 100 times more preferable than an empty soulless mcg.

As for being away from families. Welcome to the world of the armed forces & FIFO workers.

And the thing is the players are not hold up in some isolation village, they get to live a normal life. Virus free means cafes, bars, going to the beach for a swim, cinemas etc a normal life. I’m pretty sure the state of SA can accommodate this.

[Boddo]

Because the AFL is Vic centric!

SA & to a lesser extent WA are well ahead of the other states that are still battling hot spots but can you really expect Collingwood and Richmond to play somewhere other than the MCG?

If it’s the other way round and say Victoria was in the situation SA is in my preference would be Victoria as the centre for games. I’m not saying all this as a vic bashing thing.

Well if Richmond & Collingwood can’t leave the MCG I’d say well thanx it’s a 16 team competition or we can add Norwood & Tasmania. Thanx for the memories.

The tail shouldn’t wag the dog.

[Boddo]

Also I suppose at this stage, it is hard to forecast precisely which states will be hit hardest by the virus in a few months. And make hub location decisions based on that. For example Victoria might be surprisingly doing good. And SA might have a Tasmanian style unexpected outbreak.

Try telling this to the SA health authorities who have said

“ South Australia may be able to eradicate the new coronavirus within a month”

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

So I’d say it’s not that hard to forecast for the Health Authorities of SA.

[dimelb]

Tend to agree with this......adults being treated like naughty children. It's a tad demeaning.......

Is that you Jeremy Duncan?

[barry]

If SA becomes virus free like has been suggested by their health officials why not have the league centred around that state & the NT. It allows crowds. It has the stadia that could accomodate tv broadcasts in Adelaide oval, Norwood oval, Alice springs and Darwin. It would allow crowds. It would have atmosphere. It’s basically streets ahead of a soulless MCG, Docklands & Kardinia Park.

Channel 7 does broadcasts in each state each weekend normally so broadcasting shouldn’t be an issue. If commentators are not prepared to leave home for a few months the game could be called from the studio with a local boundary rider.

Why does it have to be Vic centric?

Makes sense doesnt it. SA is virus free. Test all players and staff. Fly in all players and staff. Isolate. Quarantine for 2 weeks. All clear to play.

[Boddo]

Makes sense doesnt it. SA is virus free. Test all players and staff. Fly in all players and staff. Isolate. Quarantine for 2 weeks. All clear to play.

6,644 Coronavirus Cases in Australia - COVID LIVE

SA has had a reduction in active cases of almost 100 in a week.
WA down by 92 from 188 to 96.
NT 22 down to 16
ACT 23 active cases down to 9 in a week.

It’s obvious which states/territories should be in the front running for hubs. The figures speak for themselves.

[Boddo]

Human coronavirus vaccine trials to start this week in the UK - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Very important long term for the AFL. A vaccine means a return to normal air travel. Allowing the 2021 season to be business as usual.

Without it your looking at isolation hubs for 2021 because imo NSW, Victoria & Queensland will never be free of the virus without a vaccine. So the federal government will eventually have to open up the economy as there is no bottomless pit of money for regular stimulus packages. So outbreaks of covid-19 will occur regularly most years with lockdowns/restrictions a regular occurrence in Vic, NSW& Qld without a vaccine.

IMO SA, ACT, NT are a totally different story as they have a good chance of eradication due to low density of living. So unless the AFL decide to become central Australia centric league instead of vic centric league a vaccine is the only way back to their business model like before the virus hit.

[barry]

Human coronavirus vaccine trials to start this week in the UK - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Very important long term for the AFL. A vaccine means a return to normal air travel. Allowing the 2021 season to be business as usual.

Without it your looking at isolation hubs for 2021 because imo NSW, Victoria & Queensland will never be free of the virus without a vaccine. So the federal government will eventually have to open up the economy as there is no bottomless pit of money for regular stimulus packages. So outbreaks of covid-19 will occur regularly most years with lockdowns/restrictions a regular occurrence in Vic, NSW& Qld without a vaccine.

IMO SA, ACT, NT are a totally different story as they have a good chance of eradication due to low density of living. So unless the AFL decide to become central Australia centric league instead of vic centric league a vaccine is the only way back to their business model like before the virus hit.

At the present moment, the NRL is running rings around the incompetent victorian AFL administration. A plan to start, new broadcast agreements to get immediate cash injections.

I watched footy classified last night (recorded from monday) and they were talking about NSW allowing NRL teams to train in May (Victoria wont), and how the AFL would have to force the swans and giants to not train to make it "fair". FFS, NSW cope so many unfair victorian biases in AFL, I think letting them train early is one small step to correcting that. I hope the swans and giants openly defy any rules from victoria like this.