Coronavirus/COVID-19

[NBates]

All mass public gatherings of more than 500 people will be banned. Advice from the Chief Medical Officer

Q&A:

1. Anyone know how many ppl the Forum holds???
2. In your opinion, do you think Bevo would prefer a delay to the season start or to play without crowds? (yes, I know there might not be a season at all)
3. Don't you think AFL would prefer to go ahead without crowds to ensure their TV rights $$$?

 

[Del165892]

I'm all for cancelling the season if it means slowing the spread and not overloading hospitals/avoiding preventable deaths, but can anyone explain how the same thing could not be achieved by just having (admittedly weird as fu**) empty-stadium games?

Can you imagine how dystopian it would seem watching an AFL match played in an empty stadium? Gives me the creeps.

 

[Dogs_R_Us]

The Chinese didn’t follow this process and they have it under control. I think they have covered up lots of cases but their method is right. Do we want to beat this OR just delay it?

We need mass testing, quarantine and lots of new treatment centres. We need to start setting them up now. It’s not rocket science.


Unfortunately our medical system is chronically underfunded, due to constant tax cuts instead of reducing hospital wait times. We also have few labs and it would take 2-4 weeks to create more BUT they aren’t opening new ones.

Sorry, disagree. The Chinese have been dealing with this for at least a couple of months longer and say it has already peaked there (if they are to be believed). There is no question of beating it, without a vaccine, but our measures will go a long way towards controlling the spread. We don’t beat the flu either and many people die from it, without comment from anyone.

Mass testing serves no purpose, other than to take services away from people who really need treatment. If we are careful, considerate and hygienic it greatly reduces our vulnerability. If you want to self quarantine that’s up to you but I wouldn’t like us to go down the Chinese track of welding people’s front doors shut.

 

[Norm De Guerre]

Can you imagine how dystopian it would seem watching an AFL match played in an empty stadium? Gives me the creeps.

 

[ivan rassmussen]

The name corona virus rearranged is corn saviour. I think there’s something there for all of us.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

Can you imagine how dystopian it would seem watching an AFL match played in an empty stadium? Gives me the creeps.

Yeah it would certainly be a mind ****

 

[CaptainMurphy]

I'm not sure but it is inevitable that players/club officials will catch it and make a mess of the season anyway, regardless of crowds. Might as well just cancel everything now IMO but I guess there's no rush until games are due to start, besides stopping training.

You're assuming that clubs are immune to contagion.

So yeah it might catch on at the clubs and mess up the season anyway, but the amount of people present (players/staff) surely isn't enough to consider it a public health risk though right?

 

[mcgleereturns]

I'm all for cancelling the season if it means slowing the spread and not overloading hospitals/avoiding preventable deaths, but can anyone explain how the same thing could not be achieved by just having (admittedly weird as fu**) empty-stadium games?

Bont has more chance catching it from getting tackled by an infected player than from me coughing at the top of a half empty level 3 seat 300 m away from him. I don’t see the logic of no crowds protecting the players involved in a contact sport. Are we protecting the spectators or the players or both ( or the leagues liability insurance and/or TV income)?Only suspended or cancelled season does both but then we still catch it a thousand other ways unless we fully suspend living for a month until all current cases run their course and there’s no one left with the virus. By then the world is broke and in crisis anyway. It’s a difficult decision beyond my pay scale.


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[Jeff 1975]

The AFL HR department will have the final say

 

[dogwatch]

Bont has more chance catching it from getting tackled by an infected player than from me coughing at the top of a half empty level 3 seat 300 m away from him. I don’t see the logic of no crowds protecting the players involved in a contact sport. Are we protecting the spectators or the players or both ( or the leagues liability insurance and/or TV income)?Only suspended or cancelled season does both but then we still catch it a thousand other ways unless we fully suspend living for a month until all current cases run their course and there’s no one left with the virus. By then the world is broke and in crisis anyway. It’s a difficult decision beyond my pay scale.


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The measure would be aimed primarily at slowing the spread of the virus, so the answer is "both" but it would be mainly for the spectators simply because there are more of them and they are sitting in close proximity to each other for 3 hours.

In theory if all players and officials (and broadcast staff) are healthy the games could go ahead in a closed stadium without spectators and atmosphere. However it's not without some risk so who knows if they'd go ahead with that as plan B?

Having all games broadcast would certainly give us something to do while we're all socially distancing ourselves from other members of our species (homo footballinensis). Otherwise - if they don't broadcast any live sport for the next six months - we can expect a baby boom from about Christmas to June next year.

 

[NBates]

What's happening with round six of the NAB AFL Women's Competition?
- The Geelong-North Melbourne clash will go ahead as planned on Friday night with fans permitted to attend
- Matches on Saturday and Sunday will go ahead, but NO SUPPORTERS will be permitted to attend

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

What's happening with round six of the NAB AFL Women's Competition?
- The Geelong-North Melbourne clash will go ahead as planned on Friday night with fans permitted to attend
- Matches on Saturday and Sunday will go ahead, but NO SUPPORTERS will be permitted to attend

I think that’s what you call ‘hedging your bets’. Either ban the fans or don’t. A bit of both is completely illogical.

 

[dogwatch]

While we are all rightly considering the health impacts and the potential death toll of this pandemic, governments and businesses must be incredibly concerned about the economic impacts.

In Australia alone I anticipate thousands of businesses will shut down for keeps. Debt default could ripple through the economy causing a domino effect of bankruptcy. Supply chains will break down which will lead to some levels of hardship among the population at the mild end of the spectrum, or a breakdown in public order at the more severe end of the spectrum. (We've already seen footage of an ignorant mob burning down a medical facility in Iran because it was rumoured they were treating COVID-19 cases.)

So it is with the AFL. Yes, they have a primary obligation to comply with government directives and take responsible health measures to protect members of the football public and the football industry. However the potential economic impact is massive. Who wears the costs if the season is called off? It's a multi-billion dollar business. Can TV stations withhold payment? Will memberships and ticket purchases be refunded in full? Will all clubs register a massive loss this year? Will sponsors walk away, or trigger possible clauses in their contracts that require the sponsored club to be participating in AFL games?

Nearly every business in the country will be dealing with these sorts of problems. Tourism, travel, sport and entertainment are going to be some of the hardest hit industries.

We are most certainly in uncharted territory. Not just for the AFL but for a modern industrialised economy.

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

Bont has more chance catching it from getting tackled by an infected player than from me coughing at the top of a half empty level 3 seat 300 m away from him. I don’t see the logic of no crowds protecting the players involved in a contact sport. Are we protecting the spectators or the players or both ( or the leagues liability insurance and/or TV income)?Only suspended or cancelled season does both but then we still catch it a thousand other ways unless we fully suspend living for a month until all current cases run their course and there’s no one left with the virus. By then the world is broke and in crisis anyway. It’s a difficult decision beyond my pay scale.


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What a weird comment. It’s obviously not specifically to protect the players. It’s the wider community that they’re trying to protect. Other than sporting events and concerts there aren’t too many environments where 50,000 people will cram together for hours at a time. It makes sense to shut down non-essential gatherings. Sadly that includes the footy.

 

[NBates]

NRL playing without crowds from round 2.....AFL press conference in about 10mins or so

 

[Sentinel]

NRL playing without crowds from round 2.....AFL press conference in about 10mins or so

They should be starting from tonight

 

[bresker]

While we are all rightly considering the health impacts and the potential death toll of this pandemic, governments and businesses must be incredibly concerned about the economic impacts.

In Australia alone I anticipate thousands of businesses will shut down for keeps. Debt default could ripple through the economy causing a domino effect of bankruptcy. Supply chains will break down which will lead to some levels of hardship among the population at the mild end of the spectrum, or a breakdown in public order at the more severe end of the spectrum. (We've already seen footage of an ignorant mob burning down a medical facility in Iran because it was rumoured they were treating COVID-19 cases.)

So it is with the AFL. Yes, they have a primary obligation to comply with government directives and take responsible health measures to protect members of the football public and the football industry. However the potential economic impact is massive. Who wears the costs if the season is called off? It's a multi-billion dollar business. Can TV stations withhold payment? Will memberships and ticket purchases be refunded in full? Will all clubs register a massive loss this year? Will sponsors walk away, or trigger possible clauses in their contracts that require the sponsored club to be participating in AFL games?

Nearly every business in the country will be dealing with these sorts of problems. Tourism, travel, sport and entertainment are going to be some of the hardest hit industries.

We are most certainly in uncharted territory. Not just for the AFL but for a modern industrialised economy.

And it's not just Australia, it's the whole world. The world economy runs on the equivalent of no-limit credit cards. Unfortunately coronovirus has cashed out the max.

This is a very interesting but terrifying read : - https://www.amazon.com.au/Chinas-Great-Wall-Debt-Massive/dp/1328846016

Peter Dutton has come down with CoVid

 

[charcoalchicken]

Can you imagine how dystopian it would seem watching an AFL match played in an empty stadium? Gives me the creeps.

They have been doing it with the soccer in europe for about a week, every main code there la liga, epl, bundesliga, serie a, players, coaches have been infected since, all shut down champions league shut down, none of these leagues will finish out the season.

 

[NBates]

AFL not deciding until next week.....

Shut the gates: AFL to hold Round 1 without crowds

Shut the gates: AFL to hold Round 1 without crowds

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Mantis Toboggan]

AFL not deciding until next week.....

I don’t think it should be their decision anyway. It’s the government’s job to legislate on matters like this in my opinion.

 

[CaptainMurphy]

Bont has more chance catching it from getting tackled by an infected player than from me coughing at the top of a half empty level 3 seat 300 m away from him. I don’t see the logic of no crowds protecting the players involved in a contact sport. Are we protecting the spectators or the players or both ( or the leagues liability insurance and/or TV income)?Only suspended or cancelled season does both but then we still catch it a thousand other ways unless we fully suspend living for a month until all current cases run their course and there’s no one left with the virus. By then the world is broke and in crisis anyway. It’s a difficult decision beyond my pay scale.


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The empty stadium idea isn't to protect the players, it's to protect the public. Banning large gatherings is designed to slow the spread of the virus.

 

[Sentinel]

And it's not just Australia, it's the whole world. The world economy runs on the equivalent of no-limit credit cards. Unfortunately coronovirus has cashed out the max.

This is a very interesting but terrifying read : - https://www.amazon.com.au/Chinas-Great-Wall-Debt-Massive/dp/1328846016

Peter Dutton has come down with CoVid

Given Scomo was in a cabinet meeting with him a couple of days ago I wonder if he'll reconsider his need to go to the NRL this weekend.

 

[Snarls Barkley]

Haven't read through the thread.

I think the season will be postponed. As soon as one player gets it their whole club will have to be quarantined as will their opponents of the past week/s. Then their fixtures for the next few weeks will be pushed back. Can't see how it goes smoothly and without any hickups.

 

[charcoalchicken]

Haven't read through the thread.

I think the season will be postponed. As soon as one player gets it their whole club will have to be quarantined as will their opponents of the past week/s. Then their fixtures for the next few weeks will be pushed back. Can't see how it goes smoothly and without any hickups.

All you need to do is look at how it's played out with the soccer in europe or the nba in the us

The season is most likely screwed

 

[dogwatch]

Given Scomo was in a cabinet meeting with him a couple of days ago I wonder if he'll reconsider his need to go to the NRL this weekend.

Yes it is curious that the government edict is to apply from Monday and not immediately since we have such a small window of time to slow the pandemic's spread in Australia.

How convenient for him ... after his comments earlier this week