Covid 19 and footy - season (suspended) now resumed

[707]

Hubs not needed. At this stage three different sets of restrictions around the country, in order of severity -

WA teams will need to relocate east until the WA govt allows FIFO for games without quarantine.

SA govt allows Crows and Port to FIFO to eastern states without quarantine on return but at this stage won't allow other teams into SA.

Qld, NSW and Vic govt allows their teams and visting teams to FIFO.

So AFL does say 4-5 weeks of program that kicks of with local derbies so no one leaves their state, by the end of 4-5 weeks of games it's mid July and you'd hope NSW and Vic will have got things at such a low level teams can FIFO everywhere and the program will then have SA & WA teams playing mostly home games.

Lets see if the AFL program favours the Vic clubs by getting their early matches to be against interstate teams thereby saving Vic sides the interstate travel late in the season! Just watch Pies, Hawks and Wretchmond get games against WC & Freo in the first section of the draw to avoid a possible late season Perth trip.

[Boddo]

Lets see if the AFL program favours the Vic clubs by getting their early matches to be against interstate teams thereby saving Vic sides the interstate travel late in the season! Just watch Pies, Hawks and Wretchmond get games against WC & Freo in the first section of the draw to avoid a possible late season Perth trip.

Very good chance this will happen in a normal season let alone this season.

It’s entertainment manipulated to make the most dollars. AFL’s dream will be just like every year since the AFL’s Royal Commission into why Victorian clubs weren't winning their God Given Right to Flags at the end of 2006. Manipulate the draw to the point that there’s a very good chance of a Victorian side v a non Vic side. With the Victorian clubs fairytale front and centre.

It’s a pantomime. Every year the media will paint the evil outsiders trying to take the cup out of the home of football. Used to be us now they have another evil empire in GWS. This year it’ll be WCE with the notorious premier McGowan and the Vic clubs fighting the good fight. Next it’ll be GWS then Brisbane then Gold Coast.

Happens every year like clockwork.

It’s not sport it’s contrived entertainment. I’ll enjoy it. I’ll Enjoy watching Sydney but I know what the outcome is n it’s been basically the same every year for just under 15 years. I’ll enjoy it just like I enjoy watching GoT.

[Blood Fever]

Very good chance this will happen in a normal season let alone this season.

It’s entertainment manipulated to make the most dollars. AFL’s dream will be just like every year since the AFL’s Royal Commission into why Victorian clubs weren't winning their God Given Right to Flags at the end of 2006. Manipulate the draw to the point that there’s a very good chance of a Victorian side v a non Vic side. With the Victorian clubs fairytale front and centre.

It’s a pantomime. Every year the media will paint the evil outsiders trying to take the cup out of the home of football. Used to be us now they have another evil empire in GWS. This year it’ll be WCE with the notorious premier McGowan and the Vic clubs fighting the good fight. Next it’ll be GWS then Brisbane then Gold Coast.

Happens every year like clockwork.

It’s not sport it’s contrived entertainment. I’ll enjoy it. I’ll Enjoy watching Sydney but I know what the outcome is n it’s been basically the same every year for just under 15 years. I’ll enjoy it just like I enjoy watching GoT.

Or Veep!

[Boddo]

Or Veep!

Tried it but didn’t like it. It’s more me as I’ve never enjoyed shows about government politics. I know a few people that love it it though.

[Boddo]

Must admit watching the AFL Foxtel shows last night it was quite amusing listening to the total disregard to the Vic bias that was front and centre last week, robbo thinking everyone watching would be salivating at the prospect of say a Hawthorn v Essendon wildcard weekend. Outside those two supporter bases most wouldnt give a shiver about this.

Talk about out of touch in regards to rivalries. Every man n his dog outside the Melbourne cbd knows an Adelaide v Port final or wildcard game would be the biggest ticket atm.

Now you get them in a final and you might see a half time fight to match the 80’s brawls. It would be epic imo.

[Markwebbos]

There’s a high chance, IMHO, that the lifting of restrictions will not be a smooth, linear process. It’s expected that there will be COVID outbreaks due to the relaxing of restrictions.

One of the benefits of hubs is that any further restrictions won’t affect them, and the players are quarantined so in theory will stay infection free. This way it’s highly likely (a) one or more players will test positive (b) states will have to tighten restrictions down the track, both of which will derail the AFL season.

[Boddo]

There’s a high chance, IMHO, that the lifting of restrictions will not be a smooth, linear process. It’s expected that there will be COVID outbreaks due to the relaxing of restrictions.

One of the benefits of hubs is that any further restrictions won’t affect them, and the players are quarantined so in theory will stay infection free. This way it’s highly likely (a) one or more players will test positive (b) states will have to tighten restrictions down the track, both of which will derail the AFL season.

Agree this could happen. As shown in WA today.

https://m.facebook.com/abcperth/videos/3342906869054332/

[Boddo]

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theage.com.au/sport/afl/north-melbourne-ask-afl-for-four-hobart-games-in-revised-fixture-20200512-p54s4j.html

[Boddo]

https://www.google.com.au/amp/s/amp.theage.com.au/sport/afl/local-footy-leagues-told-not-to-return-to-training-20200511-p54rxz.html

This is the start of something very interesting and what I’ve alluded to over the last few weeks.

It’s nothing to do with protocols and everything to do with seeing local leagues as competition.

When more restrictions are lifted in the western/central seaboard governments will allow crowds just like the NT. The AFL know deep down they’ll lose a lot of supporters to this as it’s a simple choice. Sit at home like we’ve done for a few months or go watch some footy with some mates which in turn lowers tv watchers.

All will be layed out to bare how deep down the AFL see lower leagues as just feeder competitions for the draft and nothing else.

“Give us your young......now go home and watch on tv”

[Boddo]

New AFL TV deal announcement looming: Caroline Wilson

Well done to the AFL in trying times

[Melbourne_Blood]

Can someone check on barry and Boddo, this is a bit unsettling


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[Mel_C]

I thought this thread would be very active today with the announcement that footy is back June 11.

Training starts next Monday and full contact training May 25. Doesn't leave much time until matches start. I think players will be rusty for a couple of games...like the pre season.

I received my member's beanie yesterday so I'm ready ????.

[Meg]

I thought this thread would be very active today with the announcement that footy is back June 11.

Training starts next Monday and full contact training May 25. Doesn't leave much time until matches start. I think players will be rusty for a couple of games...like the pre season.

I received my member's beanie yesterday so I'm ready [emoji4].

I’m a bit concerned that short training period, and particularly full contact period, might lead to more injuries. I would not think that individual training, however disciplined, conditions a player’s body for the rigours of match play. I hope I’m wrong, hate to see a long injury list early in the ‘season’.

[707]

Anyone know what the 20 odd players not selected to play will be doing? Is it likely we'll arrange scratch matches against GWS or have the AFL outlawed that?

Is we don't play scratchies, any player called into the team may not have played for months.

Waiting to see if there's any bias towards Vic teams. Given there's big no crowds to accommodate, I'd like to see the MCG tennants play away from there more often. A great opportunity to get the non Vic clubs more MCG games.

This is an opportunity for the Pies, Injectors, Tiges to head on down to Geelong because they're never sent there due to insufficient seating for the "BIG" club's supporters. I'll be pissed if we are sent yet again to Kardinia Park, just as we are every year!

[mcs]

I thought this thread would be very active today with the announcement that footy is back June 11.

Training starts next Monday and full contact training May 25. Doesn't leave much time until matches start. I think players will be rusty for a couple of games...like the pre season.

I received my member's beanie yesterday so I'm ready ????.

I really can't get enthused at the moment - but I'm sure I will closer to the time. It will be nice to have something to watch, even if it feels all a bit weird because of no crowds and the like.

It won't be anywhere near normal my levels of enthusiasm until we can be at the ground, cheering along again - or perhaps we have a suprisingly good year (or few rounds or whatever happens).

Agree with Meg that there is a serious risk of increased injury with the short lead time. But I guess its all part of a broader compromised solution just to get some footy happening again. Small steps hey!