AFL cramming 4 rounds into 19 days. Why?

[Mitchell Madness]

Queensland, SA and WA have shown no signs of COVID19 picking up. All 3 states are in a better position than Victoria was when 10 teams remained there. If the Victorian teams need to come home for a break for family reasons, have a 2-3 week bye, and have the 3rd lot of hubs in South Australia closer to home. Its a half hour flight.

4 games in 19 days.... recipe for disaster. In the past we've always whinged about the number of 6 day breaks, and on the rare occasion 5 day breaks. This scenario is 4-5 day breaks, back to back to back to back. Basketball would be fine. A contact sport though?

QLD, S.A. and WA aren't testing like vic and to a lesser extent nsw are.

SA did 200 yesterday and had 2 positive cases. Vic did 200k for 230 new cases. Am.ost exactly the same percentage wise.

The only thing that may save SA and WA is their population density, but right now their testing is non-existent

 

[Mitchell Madness]

All for a virus that only kills 0.26% of the population

Problem isn't the death rate. The problem is that countries can't cope with a hospital influx. Hospitals get overrun and it has a flow on affect to other areas of healthcare

 

[freddy mercury]

If you're paying 3 million a week I'm sure you'd want it over sooner rather than later.

 

[wal]

QLD, S.A. and WA aren't testing like vic and to a lesser extent nsw are.

SA did 200 yesterday and had 2 positive cases. Vic did 200k for 230 new cases. Am.ost exactly the same percentage wise.

The only thing that may save SA and WA is their population density, but right now their testing is non-existent

Why would you keep mass random testing when there is no evidence of any cases in the community?
WA did 10 thousand tests last 3 days for zero positive.

 

[JayJ20]

Queensland, SA and WA have shown no signs of COVID19 picking up. All 3 states are in a better position than Victoria was when 10 teams remained there. If the Victorian teams need to come home for a break for family reasons, have a 2-3 week bye, and have the 3rd lot of hubs in South Australia closer to home. Its a half hour flight.

4 games in 19 days.... recipe for disaster. In the past we've always whinged about the number of 6 day breaks, and on the rare occasion 5 day breaks. This scenario is 4-5 day breaks, back to back to back to back. Basketball would be fine. A contact sport though?

We may have already had an SA hub if SA allowed for VIC teams to stay there. They didn't.

 

[mr bagcroft]

What a absolute joke the AFL is. How embarassing.
Should have cancelled the season months ago.
Desperation to try and make a season fly in these times is just embarassing. egotistical and illogical.

 

[lumpinee]

If you're paying 3 million a week I'm sure you'd want it over sooner rather than later.

cant have it colliding with the "Royal Flemington' 4 day carnival,no no
we gotta clean the publics pockets of theyre hard earned,even in these times of 'contrived turmoil'
horse racing over a week end october, november is priority #1 folks.
Even as far back as May it was clear that no matter what, the world could be on deaths door,but the 4 day carnival will prevail
ROFL again evrytime i switch on media

 

[lumpinee]

What a absolute joke the AFL is. How embarassing.
Should have cancelled the season months ago.
Desperation to try and make a season fly in these times is just embarassing. egotistical and illogical.

its being used as a softener,a small privelege traded for obedience

 

[Gavin Excell]

its being used as a softener,a small privelege traded for obedience

Moron alert

 

[Farang83150]

What a absolute joke the AFL is. How embarassing.
Should have cancelled the season months ago.
Desperation to try and make a season fly in these times is just embarassing. egotistical and illogical.

Do you think the fact that the afl's pushing through and trying to get the season done is going to be any help to your already cash strapped club?

 

[JayJ20]

What a absolute joke the AFL is. How embarassing.
Should have cancelled the season months ago.
Desperation to try and make a season fly in these times is just embarassing. egotistical and illogical.

I'd ask your team how they feel about having the season cancelled.

 

[NoobPie]

absolute joke
Desperation embarassing. egotistical and illogical.

Describes your post

 

[Billy ray]

Players want to play and not train

 

[freddy mercury]

What a absolute joke the AFL is. How embarassing.
Should have cancelled the season months ago.
Desperation to try and make a season fly in these times is just embarassing. egotistical and illogical.

Cmon mate up until last week you guys were making room in your trophy cabinet for another cup, to place right next to the one you've got.

 

[00Stinger]

Trying to get the season done in case lockdown goes ahead again or players start bailing out of the hubs

It is a smart decision

 

[RonnieRaven]

Why does the AFL do anything? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Exactly people put threads up for vicbias and covid All the time the answer is always money.
Afl is a business it’s not Aussie rules football we grew up loving.

 

[Billy ray]

if the AFL want some $$$, they better do a better job at selling tickets for games up here in Qld, particularly if there are going to be even more games

 

[projectv]

If it gets the season finished by October, then it's a great idea.

 

[juss]

Its almost as if the goal of this season is about revenue and broadcaster contractual obligations rather than a legitimate season.

Does anyone need more evidence? This is equivalent to toilet paper panic buying, the AFL is scared and wants to get as many games in as possible before they might not be able to.

 

[W.C. Fry]

Trying to get ahead in the schedule for when the next curve ball is thrown.

If QLD goes to s**t they will be left with one last option. To stop the comp for 2 weeks and quarantine in WA and or SA.

It probably will go to s**t. Like rats off a sinking ship over east ATM.

 

[projectv]

Its almost as if the goal of this season is about revenue and broadcaster contractual obligations rather than a legitimate season.

Does anyone need more evidence? This is equivalent to toilet paper panic buying, the AFL is scared and wants to get as many games in as possible before they might not be able to.

If the pandemic keeps going until next year, which is likely, it makes sense for the AFL to try and blast through the season as fast as they possibly can, then sit back and see how it's going by March.

Of course it's about revenue. Without that revenue we wouldn't have the comp.

 

[Athlonxp]

The AFL also would want to get as many games completed as they can fit in before either/or the following occurs
Another COVID outbreak (like QLD for example or somewhere else)
Exodus of players with families/small children/sick relatives the more the hubs go on (this is definitely a real possibility the longer the hubs go on - depending on how teams perform in the hubs too)

I know that family members will be able to come to the hub in QLD this time but not everyone might be able to take the offer up for various reasons too. Especially if some players wives need to be home for work or need their existing support networks at home to help with the kids or any medical issues that the kids have too (I remember my daughter was very sick in her first couple of years which necessitated hospital/specialist visits and the support of family members too)

I think the exodus or non participation of VIC players as time goes on will also make it far easier for the teams in contention closer to the end of the H/A season. You might see some of the bottom 8 field more debutants/young players if older players stay home for whatever reason.

Still a great deal to play out I think

 

[Sentinel]

Queensland, SA and WA have shown no signs of COVID19 picking up.

Bet you would have said the same thing about NSW a week or so ago. This thing moves quickly, it doesn't take much for things to fall apart.

Wise to get through the games as quickly as possible, both to avoid the chance of impact from any 2nd wave and to allow the bulk of players to not be stuck interstate indefinitely with differing circumstances at home.

 

[Gunf]

It is very simple the AFl are trying to stay ahead of potential new surges in covid whilst not making the season go until November.

You really think players want to be away from home for anymore than 2 months.... No they would rather condense the fixture get it over with so they can be with family and friends back home.

 

[lumpinee]

Moron alert

lol,keep curling up to your sport theyre now gonna feed you 24/7 whilst locking you down,mr obedient,ppl like you make the best sheep
easily pleased unfortunately