Cyclone Watch: How late is too late...

[Arr0w]

Move the game to round 3

 

[TheEscapeClub]

there's no reason to make the call now, and why switch the game if they can potentially play on Sunday or round 3

What time on Sunday? When do Geelong fly in?

 

[Bay53]

I don’t get the criticism of the AFL here for waiting. I am in Brisbane and the reality is no one quite knows what is going to happen. The government haven’t closed the schools, told everyone to work from home or stay indoors. There is a possibility this may not hit.

One would imagine tomorrow’s forecast may see the Lions game moved, the Suns game I think they won’t make a decision to much closer to the time. By Saturday the winds are expected to go and it will be the amount of rain that has fallen that will determine if it can go ahead.

Moving the game to Geelong would not be something Geelong would want. Very hard to sell the tickets at such short notice and many members will have made other plans.

 

[Bay53]

What time on Sunday? When do Geelong fly in?

If it is Sunday probably Sunday evening. Perhaps 6pm Qld time, 7pm Vic.

Geelong are planning to fly up Wednesday. Presumably if it got delayed they would come up Saturday.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

If Fox and Channel 7 agree that the game won't be played in full and they want to show a full game, or the insurers make it clear they aren't covering the event, only then it will be moved and not before.
Thursday night is just too advertiser-valuable to move games for little things like potential safety issues.

 

[Fluro Boots]

Hope the game goes ahead and the weather is absolutely wild, will make for very interesting viewing

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

It’s compromising the integrity of the competition

They need to play there and whatever happens, happens

Play it as it lies

Or there’ll be an asterisk on season 2025

If that was an issue there wouldn't be this half-arse Opening Round, Gather Round, or guaranteed MCG Grand Finals. Along with a whole swag of other things.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

What time on Sunday? When do Geelong fly in?

Tomorrow (Tuesday) last I saw. There's no guarantee a plane can take off or land after that in SEQ or NSW north coast.

 

[TheEscapeClub]

Tomorrow (Tuesday) last I saw. There's no guarantee a plane can take off or land after that in SEQ or NSW north coast.

So they fly up and sit in their hotel while it's potentially getting battered by a cyclone and everything is being flooded.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

Play it on Sunday as opposed to round 3.

GWS/Pies into Brisbane/Cats makes for a cracking Sunday double header for the opening weekend.

 

[Gavin Excell]

Hope the game goes ahead and the weather is absolutely wild, will make for very interesting viewing

Like that.Paul Peos classic in the hail at Waverley years ago

 

[maskmcgee]

So if a cyclone hits Brisbane over Thursday and Friday, when do Essendon fly up to play Gold Coast? Wouldn't be any planes on Thursday or Friday, can't fly up on the day of the game, so we'll need to fly up before the cyclone hits and stay through the cyclone?

 

[spudmaster]

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

So they fly up and sit in their hotel while it's potentially getting battered by a cyclone and everything is being flooded.

That seems to be the plan, unless the call is made in the morning.

It is also possible (unlikely, it would seem very strong winds won't start until later on Wednesday) Virgin cancel the flight, so they don't have aircraft stuck in Qld until Friday night/Saturday.


There is also a chance Essendon won't be able to fly up on the Friday and have to arrive on the day of the match against GC.

 

[Toump Ass]

Game's gone ****ing soft just play it who cares if it rains a bit.

 

[Bay53]

So they fly up and sit in their hotel while it's potentially getting battered by a cyclone and everything is being flooded.

It won’t be raining in their hotel room.

The prediction is for a severe weather event but there is no thought that this is Armageddon.

If Geelong arrive in Brisbane their lives are not at risk simply by being in the city.

 

[TheEscapeClub]

That seems to be the plan, unless the call is made in the morning.

It is also possible (unlikely, it would seem very strong winds won't start until later on Wednesday) Virgin cancel the flight, so they don't have aircraft stuck in Qld until Friday night/Saturday.


There is also a chance Essendon won't be able to fly up on the Friday and have to arrive on the day of the match against GC.

I still remember the pilot's strike in '89 and it took Geelong 3 flights and 25 hours to get to Perth, they duly got smacked by a team that were 9 wins and 70% behind them on the ladder in round 20.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

Game's gone ****ing soft just play it who cares if it rains a bit.

If it was just the rain, sure. But with cyclones there might be bits of stadium flying around all over the ground. A camera or other equipment could get hit.
and, yes, I suspect you were not being 100% serious

 

[TheEscapeClub]

It won’t be raining in their hotel room.

The prediction is for a severe weather event but there is no thought that this is Armageddon.

If Geelong arrive in Brisbane their lives are not at risk simply by being in the city.

No, but unless they're in accommodation with great indoor facilities then it will severely hamper their preparation. They'd probably just be better off flying in right before the game.

 

[Toump Ass]

There might be bits of stadium flying around all over the ground. A camera or other equipment could get hit.

Sounds ****ing great to be honest.

 

[Seattle Mariners]

I still remember the pilot's strike in '89 and it took Geelong 3 flights and 25 hours to get to Perth, they duly got smacked by a team that were 9 wins and 70% behind them on the ladder in round 20.

Wasn’t that the same round when Hawthorn (1st) lost to Brisbane (last) in probably the biggest upset in the history of the VFL/ AFL history?

 

[Mentallo]

Was up on the GC in April 2022 Suns v Blues, incredible QLD weather, went up again 4 weeks later on a golf trip and the joint was under water, when it rains up that way it rains.

Play the game in round 3.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Geelong play Brisbane twice.
Essendon play Gold Coast twice.

Flip the home games. Geelong vs Brisbane at GMHBA. Essendon vs Gold Coast at the MCG (if Marvel is not ready).

Surely a cyclone is a good enough reason to make the change. The call needs to be made ASAP before it's too late.

This is classic BigFooty “crack a walnut with a tactical nuclear strike” posting.

The obvious solution is move it to round 3.

 

[BringFevBack2021]

The integrity of the competition? How? What home ground advantage is there playing in a cyclone with 110mm rain and 130km/hr winds?

Brisbane play Geelong twice. Gold Coast play Essendon twice.

Flipping the home games because of a cyclone (a very valid reason) is the best case scenario they could hope for.

If that was an issue there wouldn't be this half-arse Opening Round, Gather Round, or guaranteed MCG Grand Finals. Along with a whole swag of other things.

How is 130km/h wind a valid reason to relocate games?

Ollie Hollands would play in it

 

[The Educator]

I don’t get the criticism of the AFL here for waiting....

You may have noticed a penchant of most footy fans for criticism of AFL actions?