Preview OFFICIAL PREVIEW AFL ROUND 17 - Brisbane Lions v Essendon Sunday July 10th 1.20pm @ the GABBA

[scott_the_man]

Our strength in this game is going to be our small forwards. We haven't lost any of them thankfully. The Essendon defence is going to be in trouble when the ball hits the deck and we will exploit that no doubt. Our defence is absolutely decimated but if they can hold their own we will win.

 

[M Malice]

Because they are asymptomatic doesn't mean they can't infect others around them. If my healthy young son is asymptomatic and doesn't do a RAT test before he visits his 92 year old Nanna, he could possibly infect her if he has covid which would probably be fatal.
The more people who are covid + out in the world who dont isolate, the greater the chance this thing continues to infect other people until it finally gets to a stage where it cannot be managed....that's when it makes ALL our lives different in a bad way.

I understand that ML, why don't they routinely test asymptomatic staff entering highly vulnerable settings like hospitals? Why don't they routinely test asymptomatic teaches every day before they go to work?

Taking into account the above why should asymptomatic AFL players/staff be routinely tested?

I visit my aunt at a dementia ward in an aged care facility regularly, you are tested before entry.... I am totally on board with that, it is an extremely high risk setting, AFL work places are not.

 

[bato]

Let’s hope the forwards matched up on themselves this week at training.

 

[spotthedog1]

I understand that ML, why don't they routinely test asymptomatic staff entering highly vulnerable settings like hospitals? Why don't they routinely test asymptomatic teaches every day before they go to work?

Taking into account the above why should asymptomatic AFL players/staff be routinely tested?

I visit my aunt at a dementia ward in an aged care facility regularly, you are tested before entry.... I am totally on board with that, it is an extremely high risk setting, AFL work places are not.

Hospitals are obeying their individual state law.

The AFL are obeying numerous state laws, as well as their own regulations, arrived at under agreements with the AFLPA and various governments.

Without these regulations, highly likely Freo and WC would not be in the comp this year.

Plus, to change midseason would compromise competition integrity. Cant apply one set of rules to West Coast and another to everyone else.

 

[mpal6]

I understand that ML, why don't they routinely test asymptomatic staff entering highly vulnerable settings like hospitals? Why don't they routinely test asymptomatic teaches every day before they go to work?

Taking into account the above why should asymptomatic AFL players/staff be routinely tested?

I visit my aunt at a dementia ward in an aged care facility regularly, you are tested before entry.... I am totally on board with that, it is an extremely high risk setting, AFL work places are not.

If you extrapolate the outlier scenario, that's a risk AFL can't take in my opinion.

Imagine (just for arguments sake) our 9 outs are asymptomatic and we let all players to take the field against Bombers. Game may finish fine but Bombers could have a real covid crisis next week and have trouble even fielding a team.

 

[M Malice]

Hospitals are obeying their individual state law.

The AFL are obeying numerous state laws, as well as their own regulations, arrived at under agreements with the AFLPA and various governments.

Without these regulations, highly likely Freo and WC would not be in the comp this year.

Plus, to change midseason would compromise competition integrity. Cant apply one set of rules to West Coast and another to everyone else.

I understand that, it just makes no sense to me whatsoever when the most vulnerable settings you could possibly find do not do it.

If you extrapolate the outlier scenario, that's a risk AFL can't take in my opinion.

Imagine (just for arguments sake) our 9 outs are asymptomatic and we let all players to take the field against Bombers. Game may finish fine but Bombers could have a real covid crisis next week and have trouble even fielding a team.

Hospitals/schools seem fine with taking that risk.... ie. infecting multiple doctors/nurses/teachers and then possibly having a catastrophic shortage of said staff, not to mention the pupils and patients health..... that is a lot more concerning than the abandonment of a game of AFL or even a season.

 

[Mighty Lions]

I understand that ML, why don't they routinely test asymptomatic staff entering highly vulnerable settings like hospitals? Why don't they routinely test asymptomatic teaches every day before they go to work?

Taking into account the above why should asymptomatic AFL players/staff be routinely tested?

I visit my aunt at a dementia ward in an aged care facility regularly, you are tested before entry.... I am totally on board with that, it is an extremely high risk setting, AFL work places are not.

I do not know the answer to that. Our fearless leaders are not ones that give me confidence in the way our country is run at the moment.

Maybe because hospitals are struggling big time with staff. Lack of staff in a hospital, big big problems.

Lack of staff in an AFL team, not such a big problem and manageable....maybe....again, i dont know.

 

[BRAB]

Can we have Witherden back for a week? We still pay his salary

 

[Nunez]

Can we have Witherden back for a week? We still pay his salary

Nah man, we want to win.

 

[M Malice]

I do not know the answer to that. Our fearless leaders are not ones that give me confidence in the way our country is run at the moment.

Maybe because hospitals are struggling big time with staff. Lack of staff in a hospital, big big problems.

Lack of staff in an AFL team, not such a big problem and manageable....maybe....again, i dont know.

100% agree... they haven't for decades for me.

 

[BigCat2]

I understand that ML, why don't they routinely test asymptomatic staff entering highly vulnerable settings like hospitals? Why don't they routinely test asymptomatic teaches every day before they go to work?

Taking into account the above why should asymptomatic AFL players/staff be routinely tested?

I visit my aunt at a dementia ward in an aged care facility regularly, you are tested before entry.... I am totally on board with that, it is an extremely high risk setting, AFL work places are not.

I am a specialist physician working in a hospital with large numbers of covid patients admitted, so perhaps I can offer some perspective.

There are hundreds, sometimes thousands of staff members, associated visiting staff and contractors that work in and around hospitals. It is not feasible for everyone to test themselves all the time. All staff inside hospitals have to wear masks at all times. Not just standard masks - but different levels of surgical masks and P2/N95 masks depending on level of exposure/risk. Yet despite this staff members are coming down sick with covid or other respiratory illnesses. While it is impossible to tell the actual figures, the majority of infections are contracted outside the hospital, rather than at work itself. Also all staff need to be fully vaccinated - those who did not had to resign last November.

All of this is of course to protect the vulnerable in hospitals, also reduce staff exposure, as hospitals cannot run if significant percentage of staff is unavailable to work. Despite all the above, many hospitals are doing it tough, often being very stretched staff availability already.

AFL clubs of course do not compare. These are smaller organisations that generally have healthier, younger employees - and in the case of players, amongst the healthiest and fittest in society. The risk of severe illness and death is much lower at an AFL club than a hospital of course.

Why the stringent protocols for AFL clubs and players then? The difference is that AFL is a commercial product, one that is heavily reliant on TV broadcasting dollars, merchandise and match day spending to survive. Without the drastic measures in 2020, the whole league would have gone bankrupt. In 2020 players lived in bubbles for months - not because we were worried they would die if they contracted - but if they contracted there was a good chance the league would have shut down for God knows how long.

It is now 2022 and majority of population already vaccinated, and indeed much of society already infected at some point, for some more than once. However the risk to the league is still very real- if you had uncontained outbreaks, you would frequently have clubs trotting out squads like early season West Coast, or indeed some games cancelled.

Players likely will recover fine post covid. However the league relies on them staying healthy and available, so the show can roll on. Therefore all measures to reduce risk must be considered, and players and staff will be held to tighter restrictions to rest of society. The players will realise this too - without the league and games being played, they don't get paid. Having said that, one can also sympathise with the frustrations that come with this.

 

[luthor]

Can we have Witherden back for a week? We still pay his salary

Seriously, in these times, what would be wrong with taking a player on "loan" for up to 2 games if all parties are agreeable?

 

[Nunez]

I'm sorry BRAB don't cry.

 

[martinson]

Army of researchers = a few blokes paid minimum wage to follow Twitter feeds, in my experience. there are errors all the time if you know where to look eg less popular sports

Yes I'm talking racing where you can pay for good in depth research. . With sports the markets are usually just self evident and so they set up whatever the feeling is . So in some sports nobody knows anything really and more open to corruption if I should use that word. The one advantage they do have is that they see straight away where the money's going.

These corporates aren't really bookmakers any more. Just glorified accounting operations.

 

[CarterS]

Seriously, in these times, what would be wrong with taking a player on "loan" for up to 2 games if all parties are agreeable?

Heard worse ideas

 

[BRAB]

I'm sorry BRAB don't cry.

I'm not crying I just want Witherden back

 

[Nunez]

I'm not crying I just want Witherden back

It's time to move on BRAB.

 

[CarterS]

Yes I'm talking racing where you can pay for good in depth research. . With sports the markets are usually just self evident and so they set up whatever the feeling is . So in some sports nobody knows anything really and more open to corruption if I should use that word. The one advantage they do have is that they see straight away where the money's going.

These corporates aren't really bookmakers any more. Just glorified accounting operations.

Yes... And they'll ban/restrict you at the drop of a hat.

 

[martinson]

It's time to move on BRAB.

At least we'd have someone to take the kick ins

 

[irel]

Seriously, in these times, what would be wrong with taking a player on "loan" for up to 2 games if all parties are agreeable?

Ronaldo is keen to leave Man U, surely we can have a lend of him for few games.

 

[Nunez]

At least we'd have someone to take the kick ins

Carter Michael to take kick ins and kick the pill 70 metres off one step every time.

 

[martinson]

Yes... And they'll ban/restrict you at the drop of a hat. Friend works for a corporate and all he says he does is ban/restrict accounts all day. I can't get on to win more than $50 on most of them, not because I've gotten rich punting but because I've backed a couple of smart bets (not errors).

They've put all the smart big punters out of business and their business model relies on getting as many small clueless clients as they can whilst maintaining addicted compulsive gamblers.

Anyone who actually studies the form or looks like they have half a clue gets banned.

 

[M Malice]

I am a specialist physician working in a hospital with large numbers of covid patients admitted, so perhaps I can offer some perspective.

There are hundreds, sometimes thousands of staff members, associated visiting staff and contractors that work in and around hospitals. It is not feasible for everyone to test themselves all the time. All staff inside hospitals have to wear masks at all times. Not just standard masks - but different levels of surgical masks and P2/N95 masks depending on level of exposure/risk. Yet despite this staff members are coming down sick with covid or other respiratory illnesses. While it is impossible to tell the actual figures, the majority of infections are contracted outside the hospital, rather than at work itself. Also all staff need to be fully vaccinated - those who did not had to resign last November.

All of this is of course to protect the vulnerable in hospitals, also reduce staff exposure, as hospitals cannot run if significant percentage of staff is unavailable to work. Despite all the above, many hospitals are doing it tough, often being very stretched staff availability already.

AFL clubs of course do not compare. These are smaller organisations that generally have healthier, younger employees - and in the case of players, amongst the healthiest and fittest in society. The risk of severe illness and death is much lower at an AFL club than a hospital of course.

Why the stringent protocols for AFL clubs and players then? The difference is that AFL is a commercial product, one that is heavily reliant on TV broadcasting dollars, merchandise and match day spending to survive. Without the drastic measures in 2020, the whole league would have gone bankrupt. In 2020 players lived in bubbles for months - not because we were worried they would die if they contracted - but if they contracted there was a good chance the league would have shut down for God knows how long.

It is now 2022 and majority of population already vaccinated, and indeed much of society already infected at some point, for some more than once. However the risk to the league is still very real- if you had uncontained outbreaks, you would frequently have clubs trotting out squads like early season West Coast, or indeed some games cancelled.

Players likely will recover fine post covid. However the league relies on them staying healthy and available, so the show can roll on. Therefore all measures to reduce risk must be considered, and players and staff will be held to tighter restrictions to rest of society. The players will realise this too - without the league and games being played, they don't get paid. Having said that, one can also sympathise with the frustrations that come with this.

Thanks for the detailed response BC2 I really appreciate the insight.

No way to know for sure but it would be reasonably safe to assume that a lot of these positive tests for AFL players have been asymptomatic, they probably could have played even with Covid and not even known it.... it would be happening a lot in the lower levels of sport all over the country, I have not heard of any lower level competitions having to be cancelled because of mass sickness/Covid.

 

[mpal6]

Hospitals/schools seem fine with taking that risk.... ie. infecting multiple doctors/nurses/teachers and then possibly having a catastrophic shortage of said staff, not to mention the pupils and patients health..... that is a lot more concerning than the abandonment of a game of AFL or even a season.

Well, AFL can't. They have a contract to meet in terms of TV rights and they can't survive without finishing the show as planned, within schedule. I think the comp won't survive if they don't keep the show going. Gillon was panicking on 2020 when everything was shut down and they were trying everything to keep the season going, to meet that TV/media rights obligations.

I'm not comparing it to hospital situations but just stating why AFL can't take a chance on this one.

 

[On the quiet]

He is contracted next year so he wont be going anywhere at this stage unless another club shows some interest in doing a trade. He had a look last year and got no interest. I can tell you that he is not "out of favour" with our coach's. Every player on our list has deficits and they are always something to work on and improve. Matheson is no different.

Because they are asymptomatic doesn't mean they can't infect others around them. If my healthy young son is asymptomatic and doesn't do a RAT test before he visits his 92 year old Nanna, he could possibly infect her if he has covid which would probably be fatal.
The more people who are covid + out in the world who dont isolate, the greater the chance this thing continues to infect other people until it finally gets to a stage where it cannot be managed....that's when it makes ALL our lives different in a bad way.

A little bit of context, latest QLD Health figures highlighted on ABC QLD news last night,
Approx 40,000 confirmed active QLD COVID cases and 13 deaths yesterday.
Influenza (flu) approx 2,200 cases and 4 deaths. So it appears this strain of influenza is fatal.

Currently an AFL player who has the current strain of influenza (or still infectious) can play AFL but an asymptomatic COVID player cannot (yes can still be infectious). AFL players like any member of the community can catch COVID or influenza from any social contact, eg taking photographs or getting too close to fans after a game.

The point about your sons elderly nanna is a valid point, and family units should do all that is reasonable to reduce the risk to at risk family members. God knows the former Cth Govt has put us into record debt to protect vulnerable cohorts such as the elderly, IMO because Cth and state governments could not coordinate an effective response that protected at risk groups. I don't know if the virus has even been managed effectively without harsh lock downs causing tremendous mental health issues, splitting families, decimating small businesses and impacting significantly on the education of our youth.

I am dirty with myself for posting about it again, but strongly believe the AFL needs to revisit its 7 day COVID isolation policy next year.