Official - Crows v Cats abandoned, points split, rest to go ahead, all brownlow votes will count

[The_Wookie]

Please note the main Phil Walsh thread is here and this thread exists solely to keep this discussion out of that thread. I wish it were possible to go a couple of hours without it, but apparently people just cant wait. Please try to show some respect.

Jon Ralph ‏@RalphyHeraldSun 6m6 minutes ago
The AFL will await discussions with the Crows about what to do with Sunday's game, which surely must be postponed. There are in Crows hands

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2015-07-03/live-gillon-mclachlan-to-face-the-media-at-145pm-aest

ADELAIDE'S home game against Geelong on Sunday has been abandoned in the wake of the death of Crows coach Phil Walsh, but the rest of round 14 will go ahead.

The AFL has confirmed the Crows-Cats contest at Adelaide Oval will not be played following Walsh's tragic death on Friday morning.

The teams will share two points each from the abandoned match – the same as for a draw.

However, the remainder of the current round – which started with the Sydney Swans' 10-point win over Port Adelaide at the SCG on Thursday night – will be played as scheduled.

Patrick Keane ‏@AFL_PKeane now18 seconds ago

• Pre-Game Players, Officials, Umpires - black armbands. Min. silence, video tribute atgames. Club match day activities will not proceed.
• Breaks - Regular in-match club activities at 1/4, 1/2 or 3/4 time will not proceed. Auskick will proceed as usual.
• Post-Match - The winning theme song will not be played in venue post game. Scheduled post-match club activities will not proceed.

 

[Forward Press]

Personally, I would understand if all matches are called off and last night's match was annulled.

I would also understand if the Adelaide players wanted to go on and play to honour Phil.

I'd like to think that we would leave this up to them and whatever they want to do, we will follow.

 

[Quivorir]

The show must go on.

 

[port_adelaide_1870]

What ever the players want.

 

[jackdanielz3]

Maybe they will end up playing a shortened midweek game at some point 10 minutes per quarter

 

[waldino]

If the crows players don't want to play, call the match null and split the points. IF

 

[didaksrightfoot]

I think it should be completely up to the Crows, as an organisation and a playing group. (And even then, no player should be pressured to play if they aren't feeling ready).

 

[Cupid Stunt]

Quite a problem given the round has started.

Could the rest of the games be postponed for the week?

It's an unprecedented situation for the afl. After Phil Hughes passed away, the Sheffield games that round were cancelled or postponed from memory. Perhaps the afl can do similarly?

 

[funk44]

Let the family, club and players decide

 

[ManWithNoName]

Sadly, given the proximity to the round it's not too soon. They simply need to happen now so everyone knows what to do.

I say ask Tex Walker and the players. If they want to play, the game goes on. If they don't, null last night and cancel the round.

Even if the other 7 games went ahead I guarantee they'd be the worst games you'll ever see. They'll feel so hollow and irrelevant.

 

[undefined]

Surely it must be postponed, possibly to a midweek timeslot if the clubs have similar schedules.

 

[Lsta062]

They could postpone this game until after Round 23 (similar to the EPL) and delay finals for a week if the Adelaide players are not up to it this week. Therefore, neither miss out on any points from this match. That does mean that Adelaide and Geelong don't play this week, but I don't think opposition teams would complain about that

 

[NTRabbit]

The AFL is a billion dollar industry led by grown ups who are serious decision makers, they should absolutely not be publicly handing the decision over to the players.

 

[FUS_RO_DAH]

I think it should be completely up to the Crows, as an organisation and a playing group. (And even then, no player should be pressured to play if they aren't feeling ready).

Pretty much this. But it would be weird playing for or supporting Geelong if the match went ahead aswell. Would be emotionally pretty rough beating a team that's just had this tragedy fall on them.

 

[ManWithNoName]

The AFL is a billion dollar industry led by grown ups who are serious decision makers, they should absolutely not be publicly handing the decision over to the players.

So if the players don't want to play, and the AFL wants them to, what do you propose exactly?

 

[Marstermind]

Totally up to the Crows players. I'm certain Geelong would go along with whatever they wanted and the AFL should too.

The round won't be cancelled. Not that it's already begun and there's a match starting in 10hrs.

 

[ossie_21]

Football can come second, even if it could cost either team a finals spot it should probably be called off & the points split

 

[Lord Rod]

Tough call..either way

 

[dispute]

Could they just cancel round all together? Then the afl wouldn't have to worry about rescheduling

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Please note the main Phil Walsh thread is here and this thread exists solely to keep this discussion out of that thread. I wish it were possible to go a couple of hours without it, but apparently people just cant wait. Please try to show some respect.

People just can't wait, including the germ that tweeted that.

Agree, not even sure why thread is required. Who cares

 

[ManWithNoName]

They could postpone this game until after Round 23 (similar to the EPL) and delay finals for a week. Therefore, neither miss out on any points. That does mean that Adelaide and Geelong don't play this week, but I don't think opposition teams would complain about that

Would be grossly unfair if one/both of the Cats and Crows made the finals. Every other side would've had a week off before finals.

 

[Lost_Deputy]

Personally I think it should be out of the players hands. Postpone their game now and get people around them.

 

[NTRabbit]

So if the players don't want to play, and the AFL wants them to, what do you propose exactly?

Then they need to conduct it in private, so that the AFL alone wears the responsibility for whatever ends up happening.

 

[Adz]

The other games will go ahead, this game won't.
2 points each, neither team were going to play finals anyway.

 

[ManWithNoName]

Then they need to conduct it in private, so that the AFL alone wears the responsibility for whatever ends up happening.

Which is what will happen.