AFL Autopsy Opening Round: Gold Coast vs Essendon, GAME POSTPONED due to Cyclone Alfred - 4/3

[Jobe Watson]

Hope we play some sort of competitive intraclub on Friday to get us ready. Don't want to be going into Round 1 off the back of a more than 2 week break from playing football.

 

[Beerfish]

Luckily as an Essendon supporter I'm used to getting the shit end of the stick so while for some this is a disaster, for me it's Wednesday.

 

[jannissary]

disappointed but ultimately not surprised. there's a reason that games in QLD aren't too frequent this early in the season. it's still wet season!

 

[Milanista28]

 

[cAsEy_18]

View attachment 2240918

Makes the most sense the more you think about it.

Although Dan26 won’t be happy.

 

[jannissary]

View attachment 2240918

do we not have a bye at the same time as them in h the first few rounds?

 

[JT_the_Man]

Curious to see how much different the predicted 23s for this game are in round 25.

 

[Gabe251]

Doesn't this seem totally unfair if either team are playing finals?

 

[Don Won]

Doesn't this seem totally unfair if either team are playing finals?

It’s probably the best option to enable us to make finals - then loose the following week. This option will Immediately become the people’s choice.

 

[cAsEy_18]

Doesn't this seem totally unfair if either team are playing finals?

If you’ve got an overall “fair” alternative, I’m sure the AFL will be open to it haha.

The other options that have been floated include missing out on a midseason bye, or playing a midweek game and a couple of 5 day breaks. All disadvantages.

I actually don’t mind this one. They could simply schedule the 2 games involving Essendon and Gold Coast in round 23 for the Friday night. Then Essendon and Gold Coast could have a 6 day break and play up there on the Thursday night. Weekend off for everyone. If either team do make the finals, make it the Saturday arvo/night game, whereby the team would have a 9 day break.
Best they can do I think.

 

[Call Me Cake]

I still think we could play Monday then swap our game V Hawks with Melbourne V Giants on Sunday. Both are MCG matches and GWS have no fans. Would literally change nothing.

View attachment 2240918

A game after Round 24 would mean we have 3 byes by mid-year.

1 bye before the season (starting the season more rested than others in Round 1) and then 2 byes spread out.

So effectively it means starting the season with more energy instead of starting the finals with more energy. Depends on your preference I guess.

Considering it was gonna be a wet game I'm half-fine with the game being cancelled, we suck balls in the rain.

 

[Cold Sober]

Just make their next game the first ever true 8 point game.

 

[Gabe251]

Just move the matches so they have the byes the same weekend, then plonk the game there.

 

[nipst@r]

Serious question. Why didn't they just swap ess vs gc games? We play at marvel this weekend and then up at Gold Coast in July. Just seems idiotic.

I get the decision to not play in qld this weekend but so many easy solutions. afl explained that.

Oh well guess it gives someone a job and creates discussion having to now perform fixture gymnastics.

Why a simple solution when we can complicate it.

 

[nipst@r]

Current administration is out of depth. Has a afl ceo ever finished up early? It would have made more money, you don't think the only game in melb this weekend, the First vic game for the year would have got more than 30,000. We got 29,000 gcs vs ess at matvel last year. Nrl a much poorer sport is schooling the afl currently. Bring up gil

 

[Kyptastic]

Serious question. Why didn't they just swap ess vs gc games? We play at marvel this weekend and then up at Gold Coast in July. Just seems idiotic.

Just as hard to fly out of Queensland now. Plus, the Gold Coast players and support staff don't want to leave their families behind in a cyclone.

 

[Call Me Cake]

Just move the matches so they have the byes the same weekend, then plonk the game there.

This. We have "TBC" later down the line, the idea of the fixture not being set in stone has become the norm now.

On a side note, we get to play the Hawks with a fresher set of legs whereas before both would've gone into Round 1 with a game played.

Whether that is advantageous to us depends on who you ask (and how banged up Hawthorn are against Sydney).

 

[Calthorpe14]

Current administration is out of depth. Has a afl ceo ever finished up early? It would have made more money, you don't think the only game in melb this weekend, the First vic game for the year would have got more than 30,000. We got 29,000 gcs vs ess at matvel last year. Nrl a much poorer sport is schooling the afl currently. Bring up gil

If it was this simple, do you think they wouldn’t have taken that option rather than trying to shoehorn a game into another part of the season?

 

[nipst@r]

If it was this simple, do you think they wouldn’t have taken that option rather than trying to shoehorn a game into another part of the season?

nah i don't think so. You mean the admin that paid millions to a recruitment firm and spent a year to appoint the successor and 2ic doesn't draw things out and overcomplicate decisions. The afl could just then explain why it wasn't a option. Radio silence ain't a good look.

 

[nipst@r]

Just as hard to fly out of Queensland now. Plus, the Gold Coast players and support staff don't want to leave their families behind in a cyclone.

They have had a few days was easy to fly out yesterday. Been on the radar since Sunday to contingency plan. If gold coast refuse to stay woth families despite offering some extra seats and avcomodation the. State that. Also it's actually safer for players/staff/families to not be in qld.

 

[jmoo wan]

hey dank420_ - have you mentioned anything about an extra game in the bye week before finals being a really good result for the tv rights yet?

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

nah i don't think so. You mean the admin that paid millions to a recruitment firm and spent a year to appoint the successor and 2ic doesn't draw things out and overcomplicate decisions. The afl could just then explain why it wasn't an option. Radio silence ain't a good look.

They did explain it. They said QLD players would not be happy leaving their families to face cyclone alone. And they may not be able to fly back. “Oh see ya luv, good luck to you and the kids with once a century storm”.

 

[Calthorpe14]

nah i don't think so. You mean the admin that paid millions to a recruitment firm and spent a year to appoint the successor and 2ic doesn't draw things out and overcomplicate decisions. The afl could just then explain why it wasn't a option. Radio silence ain't a good look.

What’s paying a recruitment firm got to do with it? They’re 2 separate issues.

Do you actually think the AFL want to have only 2 games and have to reshuffle it to later in the year?

 

[nipst@r]

They did explain it. They said QLD players would not be happy leaving their families to face cyclone alone. And they may not be able to fly back. “Oh see ya luv, good luck to you and the kids with once a century storm”.

23 players and 6 staff. 10 air bnbs? 40 airfares. Why couldn't they fly with families and bare minimum. Players and staff. If gold coast refuse offer different story. I love the logic option 1, get your family and players out of there, option 2. nah I'll stay and i play afl so can protect my family from a cyclone. I get not leaving your immediate family and kids but not leaving or getting them out of there when you had the option and where that concerned I'll never understand.

What’s paying a recruitment firm got to do with it? They’re 2 separate issues.

Do you actually think the AFL want to have only 2 games and have to reshuffle it to later in the year? Why would they choose the hardest option?

the question was more around choosing the more difficult options. And simply pointing out they choose difficult options all the time.

 

[Calthorpe14]

23 players and 6 staff. 10 air bnbs? 40 airfares. Why couldn't they fly with families and bare minimum. Players and staff. If gold coast refuse offer different story. I love the logic option 1, get your family and players out of there, option 2. nah leave I'll stay and play afl so can protect my family from a cyclone. I get not leaving your immediate family and kids but not leaving or getting them out of there wif you had the option and where that concerned I'll never understand.

Think you’re grossly underestimating how many people are needed to travel with a team. Physio? Doctors? Trainers? Equipment Managers at a minimum. They’re huge travelling parties that are a minimum that they need to travel with.

We’d have all loved for it to be at Marvel, or at worst watching the game on TV, but the right call was made.