One-Eyed Richmond Forum
Football => Richmond Rant => Topic started by: mightytiges on October 28, 2019, 02:41:45 PM
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What is everyone's wishlist to play twice in 2020?
IIRC we will play twice next year:
2-3 of GWS, Geel, Coll, Bris, WCE.
1-2 of Ess, Dogs, Haw, Port, Adel, Norf.
0-1 of Syd, Freo, StK, Carl, Melb, GC.
No doubt we'll get Norf @ docklands once again ::)
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Reckon we will play Blues & Bombers twice. Geel & Bris once
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What is everyone's wishlist to play twice in 2020?
IIRC we will play twice next year:
2-3 of GWS, Geel, Coll, Bris, WCE.
1-2 of Ess, Dogs, Haw, Port, Adel, Norf.
0-1 of Syd, Freo, StK, Carl, Melb, GC.
No doubt we'll get Norf @ docklands once again ::)
Thinking it will be GWS Collingwood Brisbane Essendon and Carlton twice
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Would love a game at the Gabba over having to go to the GC
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Would love a game at the Gabba over having to go to the GC
Yep, been saying that for a while, Rd 4 2017 was our last H&A visit
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Richmond vs Richmond in next years grand final. At least itll be a close contest.
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Time to fold Gold Coast & bring in our reserves side...same thing anyway... :shh
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Round 1, 2020
Richmond vs Carlton @ MCG
W.Bulldogs vs Collingwood @ Marvel
Essendon vs Fremantle @ Marvel
Adelaide vs Sydney @ Adelaide Oval
GWS vs Geelong @ Giants Stadium
Gold Coast vs Port Adelaide @ Metricon
North Melbourne vs St Kilda @ Marvel
Hawthorn vs Brisbane @ MCG
West Coast vs Melbourne @ Optus Stadium
Round 6
Friday, April 24
Melbourne vs Richmond @ MCG
afl.com.au
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3aw just said we are playing GWS twice next year.
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3aw just said we are playing GWS twice next year.
So once in the pre-season and twice in the home and away.
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Round 1, 2020
West Coast vs Melbourne @ Optus Stadium
Haha!
:shh
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Yep Gracie, twice H/A. 3 times all up if you count preseason.
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3aw just said we are playing GWS twice next year.
Good omen. I think the only times we've played them twice were our flag years.
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Caro on 3aw said we'll be playing Brisbane at the Gabba next year.
There is also word that we've got away games against Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
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Bumblers lost the Good Friday gig. #powerhouse :shh
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Caro on 3aw said we'll be playing Brisbane at the Gabba next year.
There is also word that we've got away games against Collingwood and Port Adelaide.
round 2 apparently against the pies
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So the same as the past 4 years... :shh
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2 games at Etihad vrs 4 this year is a good thing
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i see they have tried to stuff us by not giving us a long strech of games at the g
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Looks great to me
I wonder if BF has imploded yet :rollin
Just give us the cup now
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14 games at the G, 13 this year
thanks for licking my arse Chris Scott
Its all over boys time to celebrate
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I'm on my dodgy phone..
Could someone kindly post the fixture in this thread thanks?
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https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-fixture-2020-full-draw-games-times-venues-for-afl-season-afl-fixture-2020-release-date-announcement/news-story/6fb855a74dddeb2747ce351599c22d47
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https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Richmond/Images/2020%20Fixture%20Release%20AFL%20-%20A4%20Fixture.pdf
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I'm counting a good 18 wins there.
Nice to finally be playing some of those teams at the G for a change - namely Dogs, Roos, Swans and Crows.
Annoyed we play PA @Marvel but it could be worse...
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Return games against Carlton, Collingwood, Adelaide, GWS, West Coast
Play Kangaroos & Bulldogs at MCG not Etihad
Geelong at MCG
Etihad games against Saints. Port Adelaide
Interstate games against West Coast, Brisbane, GWS, Gold Coast, Adelaide, Fremantle
Good draw for us. No one can beat is anyone so doesn't matter really.
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2 trips to Perth :thumbsdown
and WHY do we get 3 out of our last 6 matches interstate?
Collingwood has 2/3 home games at Marvel against Marvel-Host Clubs ... interesting ... :thumbsup
AND WHY DO WE HAVE 6 INTERSTATE MATCHES AND COLLINGWOOD HAVE 5?
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I'm counting a good 18 wins there.
Nice to finally be playing some of those teams at the G for a change - namely Dogs, Roos, Swans and Crows.
Annoyed we play PA @Marvel but it could be worse...
We must play 1 home marvel match WHICH I don't understand why that is?
Rather that against an interstate team than a Marvel-Home Tenant.
Love that Gold Coast trip second half of the year when they are cooked!
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Reading the melts on social media is great fun.
MCG home ground blah blah blah.
The way I see it, there is literally 1 advantage to having the 'G as your home ground. Should you make the GF, you're guaranteed to play on you home ground. That's it.
So what do West Coast do with their ground upgrade? They try and replicate the configuration of the 'G. A year later they win the flag.
What do Geel do? Keep the playing surface as is. Surprise, surprise, when they have to play big matches in the finals their gameplan falls to pieces.
Don't forget, we have no home ground advantage against 4 other clubs (that's not including Essendon who have 4 home games a year on the 'G.) That's the equal most in the competition.
Keep yelling at clouds though....
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We must play 1 home marvel match WHICH I don't understand why that is?
Because there must be a certain amount of games at Comic Book Stadium every season, even though the AFL owns the stadium they have contractual agreements in place.
To achieve this ALL MCG tenant clubs must play at least 1 home game at Comic Book Stadium
Is it right? No but it is what it is
We are now fortunate it is now only 1 a season rather what it used to be before we became the biggest club in the Comp and that as at least 2-3
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We must play 1 home marvel match WHICH I don't understand why that is?
Because there must be a certain amount of games at Comic Book Stadium every season, even though the AFL owns the stadium they have contractual agreements in place.
To achieve this ALL MCG tenant clubs must play at least 1 home game at Comic Book Stadium
Is it right? No but it is what it is
We are now fortunate it is now only 1 a season rather what it used to be before we became the biggest club in the Comp and that as at least 2-3
I’m not sure all that is correct.
When the AFL didn’t own the poohole, fair enough there may have been a contract in place but who is the contract with now?? Them self??
If you do the math there is enough clubs that call Marvel Stadium home to play a game there every week without having to drag other teams into it.
The fixture is so compromised the AFL shouldn’t throw another thing like this into it.
All that aside I’m just glad we don’t play North their in 2020.
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I’m not sure all that is correct.
When the AFL didn’t own the poohole, fair enough there may have been a contract in place but who is the contract with now?? Them self??
If you do the math there is enough clubs that call Marvel Stadium home to play a game there every week without having to drag other teams into it.
The fixture is so compromised the AFL shouldn’t throw another thing like this into it.
All that aside I’m just glad we don’t play North their in 2020.
There is a guarantee for Medallion Club Members that is certain number of AFL games there each year
There is also the naming rights deal with the comic book mob thst there is a certain number of games
I agree stadium tenants should make up the numbers but again the contracts with some of those home clubs state they only have to play a certain number of home games there and it's not 11. E.g. Carlton and The Bumblers
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I’m not sure all that is correct.
When the AFL didn’t own the poohole, fair enough there may have been a contract in place but who is the contract with now?? Them self??
If you do the math there is enough clubs that call Marvel Stadium home to play a game there every week without having to drag other teams into it.
The fixture is so compromised the AFL shouldn’t throw another thing like this into it.
All that aside I’m just glad we don’t play North their in 2020.
There is a guarantee for Medallion Club Members that is certain number of AFL games there each year
There is also the naming rights deal with the comic book mob thst there is a certain number of games
I agree stadium tenants should make up the numbers but again the contracts with some of those home clubs state they only have to play a certain number of home games there and it's not 11. E.g. Carlton and The Bumblers
It is pretty clear neither of us know what the actual reason is that other clubs have to play at Marvel because between
Essendon
Carlton
St. Kilda
Western Bulldogs
North
there is enough games that other clubs like us don’t need to play there. (As a home game)
Even if all of those 5 clubs only play 5 games each, that is still enough to play a game there every week.
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It is close to 50 games reqd that's what I've been told by someone who is Medallion Club Member
Four of the 5 co-tenant have deals to play some home games at other venues
North play 3 games in Tassie
Bombers have a deal that says they play 4 or 5 home games at the MCG per year
Ditto Carlton
Bulldogs play 2 home games in Ballarat
Only co-tenant that can play all 11 home games at Comic Book stadium is St Kilda
So the shortfall is made up by MCG tenants
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(https://s.afl.com.au/staticfile/AFL%20Tenant/Richmond/Images/2020%20Fixture%20Release%20AFL%20-%20A4%20FixtureA.jpg)
MCG
• 14 games all-up (13 in 2019)
• 10 home games (10 in ’19)
• 4 away games (3 in ’19)
• 8 day games (5 in ’19)
• 6 night games (7 in ’19)
• 2 Thursday night games (2 in ’19)
• 3 Friday night games (2 in ’19)
• 3 Saturday afternoon games (1 in ’19)
• 1 Saturday night game (2 in ’19)
• 5 Sunday afternoon games (4 in ’19)
Marvel Stadium
• 2 games all-up at Marvel Stadium (4 in ’19)
• 1 home game (1 in ’19)
• 1 away game (3 in ’19)
• 1 day game (1 in ’19)
• 1 twilight game (0 in ’19)
• 1 Saturday twilight game (0 in ’19)
• 1 Sunday afternoon game (1 in ’19)
Interstate
• 6 games all-up interstate (5 in ’19)
• 1 Friday night game at Optus Stadium (v West Coast)
• 1 Friday night game at the Gabba (v Brisbane)
• 1 Friday night game at Adelaide Oval (v Adelaide)
• 1 Saturday afternoon game at Metricon Stadium (v Gold Coast)
• 1 Saturday night game at Giants Stadium (v GWS)
• *Note that the final round home-and-away fixture v Fremantle at Optus Stadium is a floating one with date and time to be confirmed late in the season.
Day by day
• 2 Thursday night games (3 in ’19)
• 6 Friday night games (3 in ’19)
• 4 Saturday afternoon games (2 in ’19)
• 1 Saturday twilight game (2 in ’19)
• 2 Saturday night games (4 in ’19)
• 6 Sunday afternoon games (5 in ’19)
• 2 Thursday games all-up (3 in ’19)
• 6 Friday games all-up (3 in ’19)
• 7 Saturday games all-up (8 in ’19)
• 6 Sunday games all-up (6 in ’19)
• 10 day games all-up (7 in ’19)
• 1 twilight game all-up (3 in ’19)
• 10 night games all-up (11 in ’19)
Them’s the breaks
• One 14-day break (0 in ’19)
• One 10-day breaks (1 in ’19)
• One 9-day break (1 in ’19)
• Five 8-day breaks (4 in ’19)
• Six 7-day breaks (6 in ’19)
• Six 6-day breaks (6 in ’19)
• One 5-day break (0 in ’19)
Network coverage
• 9 Foxtel games (8 in ‘19)
• 12 Channel Seven games (13 in ‘19)
Other fixture facts
• Play twice: Adelaide, Carlton, Collingwood, Greater Western Sydney, West Coast.
• Play once: Brisbane, Essendon, Fremantle, Geelong, Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Melbourne, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Sydney, Western Bulldogs.
• Play three of the top eight sides of 2019 twice – Collingwood, Greater Western Sydney and West Coast.
• Interstate trips to: Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Perth twice, Sydney.
• Have a bye in Round 13.
• Play five of the first seven games at the MCG.
• Play five consecutive games at the MCG from Round 9-14.
• Play North Melbourne at the MCG for the first time since 2015 and only the second time since 2012.
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/2019-10-31/richmond-2020-fixture-analysis
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Pros: A whopping eight primetime (Thursday/Friday night) slots for the reigning premiers, with another two Saturday night clashes. Richmond will also be thrilled with 10 of its first 13 games being at the MCG.
Cons: The double-ups are tough. GWS, West Coast and Collingwood all made finals and have been some of the premier sides of the past few years, while Adelaide and Carlton aren't expected to be walks in the park either in 2020. Two games at Optus Stadium isn't ideal, but the Tigers only leave the state six times.
Circle it: Round two against Collingwood at the MCG on a Thursday night. It will be the fourth time in five years this fixture has been held in round two, with the fierce rivals always drawing a big crowd.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/2019-10-31/we-rank-your-fixture-pros-cons-circle-it-who-got-a-raw-deal
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Champion Data reckons we've got the 7th hardest draw.
Despite just winning its second flag in three years, Richmond is only seventh on the difficulty ladder.
The premier has been hit with Grand Final opponent GWS twice, along with Collingwood and West Coast.
The Tigers have got 14 games at the MCG – one more than last season – but have to go interstate six times, up from five.
1. West Coast
2. Hawthorn
3. Gold Coast
4. Essendon
5. GWS
6. Carlton
7. Richmond
8. North Melbourne
9. Geelong
10. St Kilda
11. Collingwood
12. Western Bulldogs
13. Brisbane
14. Port Adelaide
15. Adelaide
16. Melbourne
17. Sydney
18. Fremantle
Source: CHAMPION DATA
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/2020-afl-fixture-see-how-difficult-your-clubs-fixture-is/news-story/6c84b2e5eb464c0087a26e1a372109cf
https://www.zerohanger.com/champion-data-ranks-all-18-afl-clubs-fixtures-36459/
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Goes to show you those clowns running the competition buckled under pressure and a media driven with supporter angst when you see quotes like this never seen a spokesman from a organisation mention a particular team in reference why the fixture was given.Bush league stuff .Taken from Herald Sun.
" You’ll see a different outcome this year at the MCG. There’s a much broader spread of games, particularly in the back end of the season for Richmond,” Auld said.
“But you look at those clubs who play a lot of games at the MCG and you’ll have blocks of games, there’s no doubt about that. It’s the same for clubs who play a lot of games at Marvel Stadium.
“But I think we’ve got a better balance next year and you’ll certainly see in Richmond’s fixture that there’s more balance.”
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Robbo: Why the AFL fixture is overrated
A club chief executive on Friday described the AFL fixture as “overrated’’.
The point is the fixture is dissected — as it is every year — to within an inch of it’s life when no one really knows how much the fixture will impact.
Geelong coach Chris Scott this year said that, of course, it mattered who you played, but equally as important, if not more, was when you played them.
Like, playing an injury-beset Richmond in Rounds 11-13 this year — when the Tigers lost to North Melbourne, Geelong and Adelaide.
When the injured players returned, the Tigers went on a 12-game winning streak.
Injuries. Momentum. Form. Suspensions. Confidence. Attitude. Internal bickering.
What is clear is the annual debate about the fixture is mind-numbingly boring.
It is an 18-team competition played out in 23 weeks — so it’s really a box of licorice allsorts.
And money drives it, anyhow.
The fact is clubs will privately whinge and moan, but it means nothing because they can’t do anything about it.
It’s like an occasional umpire’s decision. You scratch your head, but you have to live with it and move on.
Melbourne in the heat of Perth Round 1? Bad luck. Prepare for it.
Collingwood draws the Suns at the end of a gruelling season? Lucky Pies.
Geelong gets three home games in Rounds 19-21? Make the most of it.
Richmond gets the ‘G again? It is what it is.
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/expert-opinion/mark-robinson/too-much-is-read-into-the-afl-stuff-robinson-writes/news-story/aaa2edbf8a5494a3fc16704d6487948f
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It is close to 50 games reqd that's what I've been told by someone who is Medallion Club Member
Four of the 5 co-tenant have deals to play some home games at other venues
North play 3 games in Tassie
Bombers have a deal that says they play 4 or 5 home games at the MCG per year
Ditto Carlton
Bulldogs play 2 home games in Ballarat
Only co-tenant that can play all 11 home games at Comic Book stadium is St Kilda
So the shortfall is made up by MCG tenants
50 games.... that is more than 2 a week! Are you sure??
I understand what you are saying WP but the AFL own the ground now- who do the AFL have the contract with, that says 50 games must be played there??
This is one of those things that is just there but nobody really knows the real details.
And if you think it is about the “Medallion Club” members, they now have access to MCG games unlike in years gone by. So that membership is better than ever before.
Truth be known it’s just a money decision by the AFL IMO.
Simple as that.
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43 games scheduled at Marvel stadium during 2019
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I thought Carlton's official home ground was the 'G?
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43 games scheduled at Marvel stadium during 2019
So 43 games scheduled with 5 teams that call Marvel Stadium home.
That’s 8.5 homes games each.
That still seems viable even with their other commitments.
Although the reason teams like the Doggies play in Ballarat is money- and if the AFL who own Marvel Stadium now, did better deals, they wouldn’t need to.
And we wouldn’t need to play any of our home games there.
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AFL to look at double-header matches for this year
Jake Niall
The Age
28 March 2020
The AFL will consider scheduling double-headers at the same grounds this season in a bid to complete the 17 home-and-away rounds during a reduced period.
AFL sources have confirmed that the league will entertain the concept - which was briefly trialled back in the mid-1980s - of playing consecutive games at venues such as Marvel Stadium, which the AFL owns, or even the MCG, if and when games return.
Double-headers are considered more feasible in the unprecedented circumstances of this year, for two reasons.
The first is the reality that the AFL anticipates that games will initially be played without crowds if and when the season resumes following the shutdown.
The second factor that makes double-headers more attractive is the shortened quarters of 16 minutes plus time-on, a reduction of 20 per cent. Shorter games make it easier for the AFL to host two games back-to-back.
Double-headers would save the AFL money on staffing at the games. They might also be helpful to the broadcasters in terms of cost savings, if the same network and crews could cover the double-header.
Games could be played sometime after 4pm and then followed by a genuine night game, when television and streaming ratings are invariably higher.
Double-headers shape as particularly suited to Marvel Stadium, which the AFL controls, but would be possible at the MCG, too.
Most at clubs and within the AFL think it is unlikely that games will return immediately after the shutdown, with a longer period without games viewed as probable in view of the government actions and advice to the AFL on the coronavirus crisis.
While the AFL season could stretch well beyond September and even into December - again, if it returns at all - the league still intends to have a 22-game home-and-away season in 2021.
Fixturing, while important to the clubs and competition, is less pressing to the competition than the financial restructuring of the game - which has seen the bulk of the club staff stood down - to ensure that the league and their clubs remain fiscally viable.
It is noteworthy that double-headers were trialled in 1986, the year before the then VFL went national by adding West Coast and Brisbane to the league, in what was a period of financial crisis for the game when several clubs were heavily indebted.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-to-look-at-double-header-matches-for-this-year-20200327-p54ep1.html
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Forget it this season aint gunna happen
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Barrett reckons the season will have to resume no later than September.
The plan is to have the 17 game H/A season as a set of rolling games every night on TV.
Finals to include the top 10-12 teams with a wildcard round.
MCG out of action after Oct 10 due to the T20 World Cup (until Nov 15).
May get a chance to play games at the MCG between the end of the T20 WC and the Boxing Day Test. If not then there's always the option of playing all finals at Docklands.
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I can't see the T20 world cup going ahead if our borders are shut down which they will be for 12-24 months.
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RADICAL FINALS PROPOSAL
Jon Ralph
Herald-Sun
30 March 2020
A best-of-three Grand Final series is one of several options being considered by the AFL as it seeks to devise a compressed fixture in the case the league resumes later in the year.
A wildcard finals weekend is another proposal being canvassed.
The AFL will meet with the AFL Players’ Association in order to get four-day breaks ticked off in order to play a 17-round season.
However, were a wildcard weekend and/or a best-of-three Grand Final series ticked off, the league would need to find more time to accommodate such changes.
AFL fixturing boss Travis Auld stressed that a 17-game season and traditional stuff finals series would serve as the league’s minimum requirements.
“We are (open to wildcard weekend) except it’s going to add length to the season,” Auld said.
“If we have got the time maybe but things would have to change really quickly for us to be in a position where we have spare time. If we had kept going from Round 1 we would have had spare time but every week that goes by you lose that space.
“Getting 17 rounds away in a shortened period of time and then four weeks of finals is our base.”
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-considering-wildcard-finals-weekend-and-is-open-to-bestofthree-grand-final-series/news-story/20be08b8dfda4299d998a41eef2cbb41
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Wildcard and best of 3 can F right off.
Not enough time.
Just play 17 games, skip the byes, skip the week off before finals and that will do. It's the only way to have a season of integrity and I have my doubts that we can achieve even that.
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Wildcard and best of 3 can F right off.
Not enough time.
Just play 17 games, skip the byes, skip the week off before finals and that will do. It's the only way to have a season of integrity and I have my doubts that we can achieve even that.
Yeah I just don’t get it. Is it the journos just trying to print something because I don’t understand why this would even be considered in the slightest.
Whole issue is about condensing a season into whatever time we have left when they are allowed to start again. Oh I know let’s bring in more teams into the finals series and make the grand final a best of 3.......
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The AFL is getting creative. Here's every option to complete the 2020 season
April 1, 2020
Tom Morris
FOX SPORTS
That's the motto the AFL is taking into all of its meetings with clubs and other key stakeholders as it tries to navigate unprecedented waters.
The only option that is categorically off the table is a Christmas Day Grand Final.
There is an acceptance at clubs and among players that to recoup valuable finances they will need to be nimble, understanding and open-minded. To start by saying 'yes' rather than 'no'.
The AFL has set May 31 as its target return date, but key industry figures believe this remains highly unlikely as the coronavirus spreads.
League CEO Gillon McLachlan forecast a 40-week window to play 17 games per team and host a finals series. But as the year progresses from winter into spring, finding grounds present a significant challenge.
According to AFL stats analysis site HPNFooty, the last possible date for a conventional season to begin is Friday August 14. If nine games are played from Friday to Sunday every week from then on, the Grand Final would be due for Boxing Day.
But a “roundless” season in which clubs play three games every 14 days on average could start as late as September 10.
And if the AFL gets desperate, Round 2 could be played on September 21 and each team would have 4-6 day breaks between games.
The latest the 2020 season could realistically start is mid-October, though the later it gets pushed back, the further larger list sizes and other provisions will need to be considered.
Here is a list of possible scenarios the AFL will consider over the next few months.
FOOTY EVERY NIGHT OF THE WEEK
If footy goes ahead, you can pretty much lock this in. The AFL Players’ Association is open to four-day breaks, which is a significant relaxation on policy given no club had more than one five-day break scheduled this season.
It might last for two weeks as a bonanza or it we might see more than a month of footy on most nights. Either way, the best way to condense 144 matches into a shortened period is to play more regularly. Remember across Easter and Anzac Day last year we saw games played on 10 out of 11 days.
List sizes, game length, rotations and other provisions will need to be considered.
MCG GRAND FINAL?
An MCG Grand Final remains a possibility before October 10 but any later is dependent on the International Cricket Council, which is unlikely to be sympathetic to cricket.
If the T20 World Cup is postponed or cancelled due to travel restrictions, the MCG could become available again in a critical October-November window.
If the T20 World Cup goes ahead, the league would need to negotiate a way to host football there in December around Sheffield Shield cricket and the Boxing Day Test. BBL is not played at the MCG until January due to the December 26-30 Test match.
HOME TEAM GRAND FINAL?
Imagine if the AFL decided to award the highest ranked Grand Final team with a home state decider.
There would be a great deal of uncertainty and it would probably require deep negotiations with Cricket Australia with the SCG, Optus Stadium, Gabba and Adelaide Oval all cricket grounds in the summer.
TWO DIVISIONS
If time gets tight and 17 rounds becomes logistically impossible, the AFL could split the competition into two conferences.
Clubs would play every other team in their division before an extended finals series.
The AFL would need to decide whether to effectively render Round 1 irrelevant or to just group teams with their opponents from the opening weekend and have those points count towards their conference table.
This outcome would be a seismic shift in the football landscape, but some footy is better than no footy. Nobody is ruling this option out.
TRAVELLING TEAMS TO REMAIN ON THE ROAD
To limit interstate travel the AFL could easily fixture Fremantle – for example – to play three games across nine days in Victoria.
The same could apply to a Melbourne-based team on the road in South Australia. A Friday night match against the Crows could be followed by a Tuesday evening encounter against Port Power.
DOUBLE-HEADERS IN SAME STADIUM
This scenario is made possible for two reasons. The first is that with no crowds, the logistics are simpler for security purposes. A 2.10pm bounce could quite easily be followed by a 7.30 start.
The second reason concerns the league’s purchase of Marvel Stadium, which would allow them to play an unlimited number of matches at the venue if needed.
MARVEL STADIUM GRAND FINAL
Cricket Australia and the BBL might play hard ball, but McLachlan is a shrewd negotiator and if the season starts late, a Docklands Grand Final appears the most likely scenario. The biggest home and away crowd at Marvel Stadium was 54,444 in 2009, which is just over half the MCG’s capacity.
The AFL paid $200 million for the stadium for a variety of reasons. This is precisely one of them.
WILDCARD FINALS SERIES
A wildcard finals series, which has long been discussed as an option to follow Round 23, would require spare time, which the AFL is unlikely to have at its disposal. Club officials believe a wildcard or playoff weekend is more likely in 2021.
BEST OF THREE GRAND FINAL SERIES
"I don't know if we're ready for it yet, but if there's ever going to be a time to try it, now would be it,” said Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury.
Like a wildcard finals system, the AFL would need time to complete a best of three series – probably three weeks. The Sydney Swans pushed for a change in format in late 2018 to give interstate teams more opportunity. Don Pyke had raised the possibility a year earlier after Adelaide lost to Richmond at the MCG.
Other Australian domestic competitions such as the National Basketball League use a best of three Grand Final series to determine the champions.
BEST POSSIBLE CASE
Football returns in early June, 17 home and away games are played and then four weeks of finals culminating in a decider at the MCG.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2020-how-the-afl-season-could-play-out-coronavirus-updates-gillon-mclachlan-marvel-stadium/news-story/cda47c1da774380d48bc7ab5c2ef7363
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All dribble.
Just award it to Richmond, given that they hold the flag currently.
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Eddie’s plan for old school footy throwback
News Corp/MMM
April 1, 2020
Eddie McGuire says there is a golden opportunity for AFL football to return to spiritual home grounds this season as the game faces a logistical nightmare if the season commences in 2020.
The AFL and clubs have stood down about 80 per cent of staff and the 2020 season will not resume until at least May 31 — pushing the game into a conflict with cricket over venue availability in spring and summer.
With the AFL’s best case scenario expected to be returning to play matches this year behind closed doors in empty stadiums, McGuire says staging games at suburban Melbourne venues, including Punt Road, Windy Hill, Princes Park and Victoria Park, should be considered.
“There is a real opportunity to do that,” McGuire said on Triple M on Wednesday.
“It could be something that comes up with the dramas with Marvel Stadium if it will be available with cricket. There are plenty of opportunities.
“I think that these venues are going to play a far bigger role with the women’s football and whatever the second-tier VFL competition looks like eventually once we get things going.”
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and Cricket Australia CEO Kevin Roberts have both declared they will work together to find a way for both sports to co-exist this summer, if the AFL season returns and plays into cricket season, with the World Twenty20 World Cup still scheduled to begin in Australia on October 18.
McGuire’s call comes after Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd called on the AFL to consider merging the 2020 season and the 2021 season in a bid to legitimise any football played this year.
He said the 2020 season would be in danger of being discarded as meaningless if a premier is declared after a 12-round season and finals series.
Lloyd has suggested a possible 34-game series that would see finals played in September, 2021.
“I’d rather an epic 34-game season, where we get 12 games off late this year and then have another 22 games next year into finals,” Lloyd said.
“You give players a break over Christmas, New Years, and get into a 34-game [season], play each other twice, rather than handing out [a lesser premiership].
“Giving a premiership to a side for 15 games ... if we get down to 12 [regular season] games and suddenly finals and a premiership’s given, it will never be remembered. It will be, ‘Oh yeah, that year. Remember Port Adelaide won that one — wasn’t a real premiership’.”
https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/eddie-mcguire-reveals-plan-for-afl-footy-to-return-to-the-nineties/news-story/cca5051d5efa83864025b401db931b27
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Gill on Ch 7 news tonight ruled out a best of three Grand Final series.
He didn't rule out a 10-team wildcard finals series though.
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There won't be footy in 2020. Be lucky to be able to leave the house until October.
People should start getting prepared for that.
I'm worried it will roll into 2021.
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na not for me. Thats the worse case.
My estimate is footy to return behind closed doors in around June/July with crowds allowed in come September
either way the reason is a right off
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How many weeks have we lost by 31/5 and how many more are we going to lose?
How many weeks does it take to play a season of integrity?
Only play 17 games (save 5 weeks), no bye (1 week), cut week off before finals (1 week) and I'd even be in favor of skipping elimination finals (top 2 progress straight to PF, 3rd-6th play SF in first week of finals) to save another week.
That's 8 weeks of time saved.
If we can push the season to finish later IE Nov/Dec that could gain us easily another 6-10 weeks.
I'm pessimistic but would love to see some footy, and as a current contender I really feel like we have a lot to lose! I want my Dimmasty!
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We can play 17 after June 1: AFL chief not backing down
By Anna Harrington
AAP
2 April 2020
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan is confident the League can get a 17-round season away, even if its return date is pushed beyond June 1.
The season is suspended until at least May 31 due to the coronavirus pandemic and was reduced to 17 rounds and finals before the 2020 campaign kicked off.McLachlan said there are no plans to cut the season length beyond that figure and flagged the possibility of squeezing extra games into weeks to ensure the abbreviated campaign were completed.
"What we're saying is 'What is the drop-dead date to get 17 rounds away?'" McLachlan told ABC Radio Melbourne on Thursday.
"And it's certainly later than June 1 - we can get our season away later than that.
"So it may get to the point that we need to look at different models beyond 17 but at the moment we have given ourselves that flexibility by 17 rounds.
"We've got a really united industry, a united group of players and clubs that know that it's plausible to get 17 rounds away (and) almost maybe in less than 17 weeks if we compress it a little bit - maybe we could pick up one or two weeks there over the course of 17 weeks.
"So we have time beyond June 1 to get 17 rounds away."
https://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/582574/we-can-play-17-after-june-1-afl-chief-not-backing-down
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They are now talking about basing teams in Darwin and playing multiple games when the season resumes.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/videos/afl/afl-video-footy-based-at-darwin-idea/ck8m6jizs001f0iqwhduv0cm3
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They are now talking about basing teams in Darwin and playing multiple games when the season resumes.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/videos/afl/afl-video-footy-based-at-darwin-idea/ck8m6jizs001f0iqwhduv0cm3
:facepalm
I guess they have to do what they have to do..
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Scrap tradition and ‘get creative’: Richo open to radical ‘championship’
“Unless you can have probably 15 games - and this is just off the top of my head - I think if you get to the point where you’re not having any more games than that, then really I’m not sure whether you should actually award a premiership,” Richardson told 7NEWS.com.au.
“Maybe you’re just playing games for the sake of having some football for people to watch and fans to follow in a tough time. I don’t think you can be awarding premierships if you only play 12 or 13 games.”
Richardson feels playing for a purpose during a season that can last only a few months would require some imagination and innovation.
A round robin and knockout tournament could clear any concerns about fairness if a 17-game season cannot go ahead.
Asked if the AFL should then consider shelving tradition and instead make use of a championship with a new trophy, the former Tigers star made his thoughts clear.
“They’re going to have to come up with something else. Are you playing for the premiership? I’m not so sure about that,” he added.
“I think it’s just going to be some form of football on the TV for fans to watch at home ... People don’t like change and people want it to be the same, but this is an extraordinary circumstance.
“If it gets to the point where we’ve only got x amount of weeks to get some footy on then we’re going to have to get creative. I think everyone’s just got to accept it and be positive about it.”
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/matthew-richardson-open-to-afl-scrapping-tradition-for-radical-championship-season-c-957324
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REVEALED: The AFL's plan to restart footy
By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
6 April 2020
AFL CLUBS will be given at least a three-week "pre-season" but no practice matches before a resumption of play in 2020.
With competition suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak, AFL general manager of football operations Steve Hocking has also told AFL.com.au that a rule allowing extra interchange players would be considered.
The AFL has declared it would not consider a return to matches until June, but it is likely the season suspension will continue long beyond that month.
Hocking said discussions with the football department heads at clubs had also raised the possibility of additional bench players, and even the re-introduction of a substitute player.
Playing in Round 1 provided great insight for how to manage the rest of the season.
"Getting round one away was a real credit to everybody. The decisions before that to shorten the quarters, to keep rotations at 90, and also to lengthen the time post-goals to allow access to trainers and water carriers, all the stuff to that has been exceptional.
"We've got a good body of evidence from round one that sets us up to move forward … round one is what we will take forward at this point in time.
"…what this downtime, or pause on the game, has provided us with is an opportunity as an industry to think differently.
"It's such a different season compared to any other year. The certainty that normally is in place and the rigidity of programming, people prosper off it, thrive off it.
"This season, the team that wins the premiership is going to be an amazing team because there is so much they are going to have to work through.
"The agility and flexibility and open-mindedness to what they are going to face is going to be critical to land the premiership."
When the AFL suspended the 2020 season at the completion of round one, it said rounds two to four would be retained as per initial fixturing, at least in terms of match-ups if not venues.
But Hocking suggested even that could change.
"There is some uncertainty around that," Hocking said. "But we haven't shifted away from that at this stage."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/390838/revealed-the-afl-s-plan-to-restart-footy
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AFL has multiple options on table for 2020
By Mark Robinson
Herald-Sun
6 April 2020
The AFL has explored “at least 10” different scenarios for how the rest of this season could look and still has “a lot of confidence” it can complete 144 more games this year.
Hocking said he was more confident than hopeful that the season would be completed this year. He said clubs were open to “innovative” ideas, including having multiple teams isolated in one city to play a series of matches, just as the NRL is considering.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-considers-multiple-scenarios-for-completing-2020-season/news-story/8faf296f76a6543166f2cab903f5d947
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They are now talking about basing teams in Darwin and playing multiple games when the season resumes.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/videos/afl/afl-video-footy-based-at-darwin-idea/ck8m6jizs001f0iqwhduv0cm3
:facepalm
I guess they have to do what they have to do..
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Eddie says the latest idea is to spread the 18 teams across three states with the lowest coronavirus cases.
WA - 6 teams
SA - 6 teams
Tas - 3 in Hobart & 3 in Launceston.
Teams to play round robin fixtures while isolated in one location before travelling in private planes.
McGuire said the plan would help offset the millions Tasmania receives from its partnerships with Hawthorn and North Melbourne.
“It would also mean that Tasmania … would get their money’s worth, which would be great,” he said.
“You’d get a lot of TV exposure, you’d get the players down there so the economic stimulus would be good.”
While Northern Territory (26) has the lowest rate of COVID-19, McGuire added: “Taking into account that you have got to be careful of course, even Alice Springs or Darwin, we have to be very careful of our indigenous population, particularly in the remote areas of Australia, so they may not get the spot.”
He said the proposal would limit the potential for coronavirus to spread through the competition and further delay the season.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/eddie-mcguires-tassie-plan-to-save-afl-season/news-story/02dfeed9a49c2ca5f26fb0601afd635d
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Hutchy wants a Tasmanian team to enter the comp this year as a one off. Fair dinkum, this idiot has lost the plot. How does he get air time.
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Hutchy wants a Tasmanian team to enter the comp this year as a one off. Fair dinkum, this idiot has lost the plot. How does he get air time.
And he wanted Jack Riewoldt to leave us to join it and then comeback to us for 2021 :facepalm.
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McCrann’s plan is based on the hub model and (utilises) round robin groups, taking advantage of states likely to emerge from the coronavirus earlier – potentially Tasmania and Western Australia.
Phase 1 would involve having three six-club groups of teams, potentially playing in Tasmania and Western Australia.
Six clubs in Hobart, six in Launceston and six in Perth.
Phase two would incorporate Adelaide as the groups split and move.
In phase three, footy would completely depart Tassie, while Queensland would become another base for games.
Finally, phase four would see footy returning back to Victoria in the run to the finals.
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/coronavirus-update-radical-four-phase-afl-return-plan-revealed-c-960593
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AFL Players' Association president and Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield described the plans put forward in recent days as "speculative" at best.
Dangerfield said many players would find it "extremely difficult" to be isolated away from their families for extended periods to play football.
However, he also noted players felt a responsibility to clubs that are under huge financial pressure and staff who have been stood down as a result of cutbacks.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/390875/why-danger-s-not-comfortable-with-proposed-quarantine-hub-
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Tom Browne on Ch 7 news reckons each hub will have 4 games in 3 weeks. It will be a FIFO arrangement for the teams/players.
Apparently a memo went out today which had one of the hubs being the NT (they are keen).
https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1247446686126891008
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In a memo from league chief Gillon McLachlan, the AFL told clubs that basing themselves in a "controlled environment" remained a viable possibility as the league considers various return-to-play plans.
The league flagged with its clubs in the memo that the financial structure for the 2021 and 2022 seasons is almost certain to look different, with AFL headquarters' chief strategist Walter Lee enlisted to work on financial plans.
Lee, a trusted advisor of McLachlan's, was one of two executives along with fixture boss Travis Auld who travelled to the US with McLachlan last year to meet with tech giants Amazon, Google and stuff to discuss potential broadcast opportunities.
In the memo clubs were also told the league was steadfast in its desire to play the remaining 144 home-and-away games plus a finals series.
The memo said the league planned to tell clubs by the end of April what its plan was for the remainder of the 2020 season.
The AFL's original timeframe was for players to return to their clubs and train on May 4, although many industry sources expect that to be pushed back, depending on advice from the federal and state governments.
But despite time not being on the game's side, McLachlan stressed in the email to club bosses that the "health and wellbeing" of the players and staff remained the AFL's top priority.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/speculative-at-best-dangerfield-not-sold-on-afl-quarantine-hub-20200407-p54hsd.html
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Premiers Richmond said they were open to a cluster-style format with teams playing in quarantine hubs to get AFL under way despite lukewarm stuff from the league’s stars. The idea of playing in groups of six teams in states with lower infection rates is just one of 12 proposals to help resume play, but has gained traction in recent days.
The Australian understands that unlike the NRL, the league is not pushing it as a proposal to start in coming months, but as an idea for later in the season.
If states and territories eased restrictions, the league would be able to fly teams into various states with low infection rates without having to quarantine them for 14 days.
The reality that Australia might be in some level of lockdown for the entire year means the league must come up with alternate proposals or find itself in a $400m broadcast black hole.
Richmond senior club adviser Neil Balme said clubs were genuinely open to any proposal.
“If that is what was to happen we would be more than happy to do it,” Balme said. “The clubs won’t be difficult about it, I can assure you, within reason.
“Whatever way we can play, we will play, it’s safe to say.”
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-prepares-to-return-but-with-a-bleak-warning/news-story/6ea92628a144b56cd39feeb021642464
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Wake up for Godsake the AFL stop trying to be the centre of a attention and do things at any cost to much stupidity .The world is suffering from a serious sickness and we a deeply affected in Australia clowns :banghead.
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The NRL reckons it will restart in 6 weeks.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/arl-commission-set-to-sign-off-nrl-return-for-may-21-start-date/422c8cea-573c-4769-9811-a4a3b6108272
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Fox Footy analyst David King has revealed the idea of players spending ‘as much as 20 weeks’ playing in isolated hubs is being canvassed as an ‘extreme option’, as the AFL continues to develop the radical idea in an effort to get a season away in 2020 despite the coronavirus outbreak.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-afl-2020-hub-dangerfield-aflpa-david-king/news-story/4b60848a99f22c87e3a3bd7bf7a4a316
Essendon chief executive Xavier Campbell is confident that the AFL premiership season will restart by July at the latest following the coronavirus shutdown.
https://africa.espn.com/afl/story/_/id/29010177/bombers-boss-confident-afl-back-july
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Even if it is the Tiges, this years premiership will mean close to stuff all!!!! :(
Just hope some poo arse club doesnt fluke it
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Even if it is the Tiges, this years premiership will mean close to stuff all!!!! :(
Just hope some poo arse club doesnt fluke it
Disagree. Every club playing under the same conditions, the premiership will count all the same to me.
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On Footy Classified, Eddie said each club would bring only 30 of their players to their respective hub.
They also had the example of us being based in Tassie with Hawthorn, North, St Kilda, Brisbane and Sydney although Eddie emphasized it was only an example.
Eddie also said big crowd drawing games like the fixtured round 2 Collingwood vs Richmond game would be pushed towards the end of the new re-fixtured season in case crowds are allowed back towards the end of the season. That way clubs could potentially regain some lost matchday revenue (i.e. gate receipts).
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Not necessarily saying I agree but one could argue that if anything a premiership this year would possibly have more integrity than a normal AFL season if every side only played each other once....anything less than that would be bollocks though and more more like a glorified Escort Cup or the old Championship of Australia....in which case we should probably just let some crap club like Saints, Norf or Freo win it for shytes & giggles..... :shh
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Reckon that’s why the AFL have decreed the 17 round season early :shh
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AFL: Victorian Premier Dan Andrews fears the state still has many weeks and months to go of the current lockdown, meaning the return of the AFL is still highly unlikely.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/video/afl/afl/dan-andrews-gives-afl-update!772146
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Caro and Hutchy on Footy Classified tonight:
* Only way the season can restart is via hubs. No footy in Victoria or NSW.
* There's talk of having a single footy match every day across the now cancelled Olympics period.
24 Jul Richmond vs Collingwood#
7 Aug Adelaide vs Richmond#
# Nominal. Fixture likely to be redrawn.
* Games spread across Seven & Fox. The networks don't expect games before July 24.
* Caro said there's also talk about a Grand Final in WA.
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“The quarantine hubs, I am certain now that is the only way football will be played in 2020. The AFL is looking at five Australian regions. They will pick three, in my view. Tasmania, maybe some in Queensland, definitely WA, maybe South Australia, maybe North Queensland,” Wilson told Footy Classified.
“The Olympics were due to start on July 24. Channel 7 was going to run all its footy games on its second channel over that time. Then we had the Paralympics starting in August.
“This is a real plan now to run football, if possible, every single day over the Olympics schedule. It will certainly happen if you bring Fox Footy into play.”
Under the proposed plan, Wilson said games would be played during the day and night, including Sunday nights.
“I don’t think Fox Footy or Seven expects football to be starting before July 24, the day of the Olympic opening ceremony in Tokyo. I think that would suit them down to the ground.
“Maybe July 31 is the absolute latest but I am looking at July 24.”
Wilson said both major broadcasters, Channel 7 and Fox Sports, at this stage didn’t expect the season to start on July 24 but added they’d been discussing logistics with the AFL about how games could be presented to viewers.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-season-fixture-coronavirus-news-updates-plan-that-could-fill-olympics-chasm/news-story/d9178cf1af5ef06baddcfb6002b8bbf7
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Whereas Ch 7 says:
Clubs are now planning for a potential AFL season re-start in late June, according to 7 News Melbourne.
The AFL season has been suspended until at least May 31, with league hierarchy already reducing the season to 17 rounds.
The initial hope was clubs would return to training by May 4 then resume the season later that month. However the AFL is set to provide further advice and guidance to clubs on April 27.
Channel 7 reporter Tom Browne said the AFL was being “a lot more cautious than the NRL”, but added the current view was it’s “realistic” the season could recommence in late June.
https://www.stuff-malthouse-afl-financial-crisis-pay-cuts/news-story/2bfc4fc2b115f2ee1167709bfac92f8c
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Bunch of clowns running the game how can put a date on it ? are these people living in the real world hubs or no hubs its dangerous and weither those states allow it is another question.
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Stick a stuff in the season already, it's stuffing done... :shh
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Stick a stuff in the season already, it's stuffing done... :shh
The flag will have an asterisk against it. Players' fitness won't be at peak, just write this season off.
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Mark Stevens on Ch 7 news mentioned a New Year's Eve Grand Final.
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The AFL is waiting for the word from Cricket Australia about the T20 World Cup. If it's cancelled then the MCG will be available in November. They are also hoping for crowds to return by then to recoup gate receipts.
Ch 7 news also mentioned that discussions between the AFL and Seven have come up with the idea of using canned crowd noise. So there isn't the dead silence (especially after goals) during match broadcasts when the season restarts in empty stadiums.
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AFL’s ‘top secret plans’ may include NYE grand final, ‘DJ-like’ fake crowd noise
April 15, 2020
FOX SPORTS
It may all culminate with a New Year’s Eve takeover.
The AFL is still weighing up whether to play a twilight or night Grand Final in 2020, including a potential flag decider on New Year’s Eve, reports 7 News.
Mark Stevens reported “don’t rule out” the move to a night Grand Final on December 31, if required by a fixture pushed deep into the second half of the year.
He also suggested Wednesday night games were looming as the “key addition” to the fixture once footy resumes, with that option preferred over daily games during the Olympic period.
On a more granular level, broadcaster Seven is looking at piping in fake crowd noise for games played in empty stadiums - potentially both for TV and for the players.
“Big changes looming in footy, and when footy does return, it looks like we’ll have recorded crowd noise or canned effects, if you like,” Stevens said.
“Certainly for TV viewers, potentially also for the players at the ground through the venue speakers. So get ready for no fans but more volume.”
He also said “a DJ-like staffer would have the ability to heighten sound with the flow of the game”.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-live-blog-coronavirus-updates-new-years-eve-grand-final-fake-crowd-noise-afl-return-date/news-story/e8f495def8c1032b73f9f3af20f020a5
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Can’t see it: Star’s grave fears for footy in 2020
Richmond star Jack Riewoldt fears there won’t be any sport played this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"I’m really starting to doubt whether we’re going to see sport at all this year.”
Jack Riewoldt on the "no man’s land" players are stuck in and the chance of season 2020 never restarting...
Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/jack-riewoldt-fears-no-more-sport-will-be-played-in-2020-due-to-coronavirus-pandemic/news-story/13bc46fdaa01093cd60a210bcd7a1a03
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According to Tom Browne, there won't be a game on every night. More like teams playing 6 games over 4 weeks.
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Gill said the end of April is when the AFL are planning to announce a return date.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
ON WHEN THE AFL WILL DECIDE ABOUT THE RETURN OF PLAY …
"We've been working towards making a public announcement by the end of April. That would contemplate having narrowed down all of the alternatives to a way that we would resume our season. We'll be clear about in what form our resumption would take and I'm optimistic that it would have a return-to-training date and a season resumption date. That's the intention. We flagged that some weeks ago and we're still confident we can get to that position by the end of April."
ON HOW THE MATCHES WILL LOOK UPON THE RESUMPTION OF COMPETITION …
"The shorter quarters, we've already seen. Certainly, the reality is that we'll be starting without crowds. That gives us flexibility with the scheduling. I don't have an answer on interchange, but I know Steve Hocking is looking at it at the moment. The reality is that we need to be agile and flexible and we've said that right the way through to get this season away."
ON THE MINIMUM NUMBER OF GAMES NEEDED THIS YEAR …
"I've talked about integrity. Our focus is on getting 144 games away. At the moment, we're not looking at doing anything other than that. We're not looking at shorter seasons or anything else. Today, in mid-April … it feels possible."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/391467/gill-on-longer-seasons-the-draft-and-when-footy-could-return
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Gil McLachlan gives clearest indication yet on AFL crowds in 2020
Ross and John
3aw
20 April 2020
AFL boss Gil McLachlan is preparing for a spectator-free season and isn’t even contemplating crowds when the season resumes.
While the league remains positive about its chances of completing a premiership season this year, McLachlan indicated to Ross and John this morning that he’s less confident about opening the stadiums.
“I take a line through what (Victoria’s Chief Health Officer) Brett Sutton said on Saturday … (and) I think that’s going to be challenging (to host crowds) this year,” he said on 3AW Breakfast.
“That doesn’t mean it won’t happen later in the year, but certainly not contemplating crowds at the start.
“And I think if you take a line through what Brett Sutton said, who in Victoria will be the guy making the decision, I think it’s a challenge to have (crowds) at all this year.
“But we are going very well and things change.”
The Rumour File last week heard staff at host broadcaster Channel Seven had been told not to rule out a New Year’s Eve grand final.
McLachlan said while that was technically a possibility given the timeframe the league had given itself to complete the season, at this stage he expects the season to finish before then.
“What we’re looking at doesn’t finish that late,” he said
https://www.3aw.com.au/gil-mclachlan-gives-clearest-indication-yet-on-afl-crowds-in-2020/
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Caro just said a Grand Final this year will be played at the MCG. There's people out there working out how to get 20-30k in the ground to satisfy social distancing.
Cricket doesn't have a contract for this summer either. It finished last summer and they didn't renew automatically. Having said that Caro and Hutchy both don't see the AFL stepping on Cricket's territory as far as the Boxing Day Test.
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AFL Players' Association president Patrick Dangerfield says he is open to playing 16 home-and-away rounds over 10 weeks to make sure the season is completed, but admits it is not an ideal option.
Dangerfield says a condensed 10-week competition may end up as the AFL's only option to get the 2020 season completed.
Shortened quarters of 16 minutes plus time-on is an idea the AFL will have to consider for each round to help protect the recovery of players.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-04-21/coronavirus-dangerfield-says-10-week-afl-season-is-an-option/12169202
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AFL general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld, who oversees the team building the AFL fixture, said the reduced 17-game season would provide greater flexibility in a season where fans are not expected to be able to attend.
"We won't take a round-to-round or weekend-to-weekend approach. It may mean we play games five, six, seven days a week," Auld said.
"A lot of night games, a lot of midweek games. Shorter breaks because we reduced the length of games could allow us to play games off four-day breaks as long as we get the parameters right for the players."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/391862/every-team-in-one-city-plans-for-hubs-ramp-up
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AFL could resume in June as revamped fixture release pushed back
Caroline Wilson
The Age
24 April 2020
AFL games are set to restart across Australia as soon as June as the competition negotiates with every state and territory as it puts together the final pieces of the localised hub model which will punctuate the resumption of the 2020 season.
The Age understands a 2020 fixture announcement is more likely to connect with the Victorian government's forthcoming decision regarding coronavirus restrictions in the lead-up to May 11, but that McLachlan will then unveil a return-to-training deadline along with a detailed calendar of matches at two to three centralised national locations.
AFL clubs and broadcasters contacted on Thursday by The Age said they now expect to kick off the season in the last week of June or, at latest, the first week of July.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-could-resume-in-june-as-revamped-stuff-20200423-p54mpn.html
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Flexible fixture a key as AFL plans season in phases
Peter Ryan
The Age
24 April 2020
The AFL is planning to break the fixture into three phases when the competition returns to play in quarantine hubs so it can regularly reassess the situation and retain flexibility as to where and when games are played.
The season would be split into phase one, phase two and then finals, with the first block of games played initially in quarantine hubs - with the locations of hubs yet to be finalised - before entering the second phase, which might have a second block of games played in different states or in different circumstances.
With 144 games plus finals to be played to complete the season as it stands, the step-by-step approach would enable the AFL to deal more effectively with any hiccups that might occur, or respond to opportunities as they arise and give it maximum agility to negotiate through the season.
Although the details around fixtures have not been outlined (the fixture is being reset so each team plays another team once) it is feasible under the broad plan that match-ups could be put in place before the exact location of each match in phase two was determined.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/flexible-fixture-a-key-as-afl-plans-season-in-phases-20200423-p54mnz.html
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'There's a chance': AFL return in June is possible, says Victoria's chief health officer.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/there-s-a-chance-afl-return-in-june-is-possible-says-victoria-s-chief-health-officer-20200424-p54mw1.html
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When will footy return? AFL delays big reveal
By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
25 April 2020
THE AFL has delayed revealing its return to play plans until the week beginning May 11.
Having two weeks ago told clubs it would outline its course out of the COVID-19 enforced shutdown by the start of next week, AFL chief executive officer Gillon McLachlan late Friday informed all industry officials of a new timeline.
"The national cabinet has indicated that they will review restrictions at a meeting on May 10 provided the (coronavirus infection) curve is still flattening and testing rates are increasing," McLachlan said to clubs in a memo.
"The timetable we will now work to is the week beginning May 11 when we will be able to provide full details for clubs and supporters on a proposed date for a resumption of training and return to play.
"That will give us time to finalise our national planning while continuing to work with governments and chief health officers around the country."
In addressing the delay of releasing match resumption plans, McLachlan said:
"Making sure we are aligned with the advice of government and the relevant medical authorities and ensuring everything we do protects the health and safety of our players and staff and the wider community has been at the core of our planning in ensuring we play the remaining 144 games plus finals.
"Obviously aligned to that announcement as an industry in the week of May 11, we will have to work through what the implications are for our own staff at AFL and club level. This is an incredibly challenging time for so many people across our industry and we need to continue to work closely with them.
"I realise that this means that all our staff will have to wait longer for clarity about next steps."
The memo also said:
* A return to play model had not yet been signed off, but that "all options with governments across the country", including hubs, were being thrashed out
* No decisions had been made on soft cap levels, pathway structures, list sizes or amount of games played in future seasons.
The AFL suspended the 2020 season after round one, leaving 144 matches (16 per club) to be played, before finals.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/391993/when-will-footy-return-afl-delays-big-reveal
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Ch 10 news tonight claimed a 5-week hub playing games every day to fit in 7-8 rounds is being looked at.
They also said the AFL wants to finish the season by November. Which would mean a Grand Final on or no later than Saturday, October 31.
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If they play from June then that's 10 rounds lost by my count. So to make up the time: cut bye (1 week), cut the 5 teams played twice (5 weeks), cut pre-finals week off (1 week) and push the finals series later into October (4 weeks).
That's 11 weeks, I'm sure they could make it 12 without much trouble.
Still a season of integrity without too much rule stuffing.
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Caro reckons the AFL will restart in late June and play finals in October with the Grand Final at the M.C.G. on Oct. 31.
Hutchy wants 3 state of origin games too in November (Vic vs SA, WA vs Allies, Winners play each other) as the NRL will be playing their SOO games then.
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If they play from June then that's 10 rounds lost by my count. So to make up the time: cut bye (1 week), cut the 5 teams played twice (5 weeks), cut pre-finals week off (1 week) and push the finals series later into October (4 weeks).
That's 11 weeks, I'm sure they could make it 12 without much trouble.
Still a season of integrity without too much rule stuffing.
Yep that doable, Andyy.
June 19-21 Round 2 Aug 28-30 Round 12
June 26-28 Round 3 Sept 4-6 Round 13
July 3-5 Round 4 Sept 11-13 Round 14
July 10-12 Round 5 Sept 18-20 Round 15
July 17-19 Round 6 Sept 25-27 Round 16
July 24-26 Round 7 Oct 2-4 Round 17
July 31-Aug 2 Round 8 Oct 9-11 Qual/Elim Finals
Aug 7-9 Round 9 Oct 16-17 Semi Finals
Aug 14-16 Round 10 Oct 23-24 Prelim Finals
Aug 21-23 Round 11 Oct 31 Grand Final
If they start in early June then they could add a midseason and a pre-finals bye. But with shorter quarters making post-match recovery easier and a full week between rounds they won't really need any byes if they do it that way.
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According to a well-in-the-know 'source' Andy Maher on SEN said he's just received the following info from:
* 5 weeks in hubs playing 7 games. So a match every 5 days.
* Training starts mid-May.
* Playing matches starts mid-June.
* Two hubs - Qld & Vic.
* Hold up is medical advice. Need to meet protocols first.
* AFL won't move until they get the tick from medical authorities.
* NRL will be made to wait and won't be allowed to start on May 28.
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I hope Hutchy never gets any control over AFL policy. The guys is a americanized nutcase.
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As mentioned in the quarantine hub thread, the latest word on this year's fixture is:
3 week preseason (at first hub).
5 weeks of 7 'H/A' matches (at first hub) ..... mid-June start.
One week break (at home).
8 weeks of 10 'H/A' matches (at second hub).
4 weeks of finals (at second hub) ...... GF on Oct 31.
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Tom Browne on Ch 7 news said two clubs have told him they are preparing for a May 18 return to training and a June 8 restart for the season.
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Apparently tiger players very vocal about the hub idea and not being able to bring family.
On AFL site just now
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Apparently tiger players very vocal about the hub idea and not being able to bring family.
On AFL site just now
Players should be given the opportunity to stand down. On no pay obviously. Once lists of nominated players is determine, have a mini supplementary list draft to top all teams up to required number. Gives some state league players a chance to stake a claim for next year.
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Apparently tiger players very vocal about the hub idea and not being able to bring family.
On AFL site just now
Here's the article link:
Players consider standing down as hub tensions escalate
By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
29 April 2020
SENIOR AFL players have on Tuesday night threatened to stand themselves down from the remainder of the AFL season if their families can't attend the quarantined hubs which will be established in June.
An online hook-up of more than 500 players on Tuesday afternoon, called to thrash out plans to play the remaining 144 matches of the 2020 season, became extremely tense when highly agitated players reacted adversely to a worst-case scenario which would have some players isolated in hubs for 20 of 21 weeks.
Richmond players were extremely vocal when told partners and children might not be able to attend the hubs.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/392374/players-consider-standing-down-as-hub-tensions-escalate
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That’s probably fair, particularly if they are going to be in these hubs for weeks on end.
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For me there is 44 on the list. If you choose not to play in the hub because you have a family then stand yourself down for the year on no pay. Each list would have 30 plus players ready to go to a hub. Every AFL player will have had 3 months straight with their families by the time they restart so basically 6 months at home.
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Don't blame them - or anybody with kids for that matter. 20 weeks is a long time for any child. If you have a baby it's basically a lifetime and they might forget you entirely. Not worth all the money in the world.
Just wait it out a bit longer so they can avoid the hub IMO.
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The afl opened a can of worms with this hubs crap they thought every player was going to bend over for the good of the game.The players are right standing there ground.
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Players fuming as AFL outlines ‘doomsday scenario’
Glenn Valencich
7News
Wednesday, 29 April 2020
AFL sources told 7NEWS reporter Tom Browne the 20-week idea is a ‘doomsday scenario’ that also features a week off after two months, while clubs believe it is highly unlikely of coming to fruition.
But players have made it known they do not want to go ahead if they are separated from wives, girlfriends, partners and children.
However, AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh stressed the entire plan is only a starting point in negotiations.
“The players want to do everything that they reasonably can to play but the world has shifted significantly here,” he told SEN on Wednesday morning.
“We’re all of the understanding right now that the hubs are the only way we’re realistically going to get the season started, given the border closures in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.
“But there’s a bit to work through in terms of the detail around all of it and we’ve just got to keep working through it. There’s a lot at stake here but there’s also a lot of issues that the players fairly have.”
Marsh said players’ individual circumstances relating to families and loved ones were a priority for the AFLPA.
“The AFL’s position is that they have an issue with bringing families in, but from our perspective it’s a significant issue for the players with families,” Marsh said.
“The AFL is well aware that that’s an issue for us and we’ll just need to keep working through it.”
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/players-stuff-quarantine-hubs-c-1004863
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Ch 7 news just said that health experts have told them hubs aren't the way to go anyway. Instead the AFL should stick to a normal home & away season. All that is needed (aside from no crowds obviously) is for travelling teams to stay in their hotel with their floor completely closed off to outside visitors and when flying to spread themselves across a plane's seating checkerboard style to observe social distancing.
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Ch 7 news just said that health experts have told them hubs aren't the way to go anyway. Instead the AFL should stick to a normal home & away season. All that is needed (aside from no crowds obviously) is for travelling teams to stay in their hotel with their floor completely closed off to outside visitors and when flying to spread themselves across a plane's seating checkerboard style to observe social distancing.
Going to be hard to fly about with Virgin, the AFL's $10mil a year sponsor in Adminstration
Their planes around the country impounded by numerous airports for not paying fees.
Not sure the above option is an option at all ;D
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Do we still have Bondy's Blimp? :shh
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Eddie on Footy Classified just said he sees a FIFO situation happening.
Used Richmond as an example. Richmond players will live at home and train together at Punt Rd. When travelling interstate, a quarantined bus will pick up the players to take them to the airport. They will then board a quarantined plane to fly them to Perth where they will be takened by another quarantined bus to stay in a quarantined hotel. They will play West Coast at Optus Stadium and then remain in Perth for 5 days before playing Freo. Then they fly home (in a quarantined plane).
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Eddie on Footy Classified just said he sees a FIFO situation happening.
Used Richmond as an example. Richmond players will live at home and train together at Punt Rd. When travelling interstate, a quarantined bus will pick up the players to take them to the airport. They will then board a quarantined plane to fly them to Perth where they will be takened by another quarantined bus to stay in a quarantined hotel. They will play West Coast at Optus Stadium and then remain in Perth for 5 days before playing Freo. Then they fly home (in a quarantined plane).
Here's an article quoting Eddie.
McGuire rubbishes controversial hubs proposal
By Chris De Silva
Nine/wwos
30 April 2020
A fuming Eddie McGuire has rubbished the notion that players will be forced into 20 weeks away from their families, saying that it is the worst-case scenario.
The AFL's playing fraternity was left stunned after AFL Players' Association boss Paul Marsh delivered the news of the 20-week hubs over a Zoom conference call on Tuesday evening.
Despite players being concerned over the thought of being isolated away from their families for months on end, McGuire revealed that the AFL is likely to employ a "fly-in, fly-out" method to get the season back up and running.
"I'm a little bit disappointed and so are a lot of people in the AFL at the moment," he told Footy Classified.
McGuire said that there was more chance of him joining the Carlton cheer squad than 20-week hubs (Nine)
"That was the worst-case scenario painted to the players last night. There's 40 million reasons why no one wants that to ever happen. It'll cost 40 million dollars on the best day to have the hubs, $2000 a week for 1000 people over 20 weeks.
"The AFL is desperately trying to get the best result they can for everybody and the best result is fly in, fly out.
"It means that you will be able to stay in your own bed, you will go to your own club. In Richmond's case, you would go to Punt Road and then on match day you'll get onto a quarantined bus and then get onto a quarantined plane and you might fly to Perth.
"You'll get off and go to a hotel that's quarantined and you'll play West Coast and you might stay for five days and play Fremantle and then you'll fly home."
McGuire suggested that Marsh did a poor job of putting the proposal to the players on the teleconference, scaring them and their families in the process.
"It was really badly put and as a result there's been massive stress in families over this and it's (barely on the table)," he said.
"It will adjust until we get to the best possible solution, but to say that this is something that's really on the table, that is so extreme, that is Armageddon.
"You only have to look at what's happening in society, they're screaming today that schools should be re-opened.
"The AFL wants to show social leadership, they don't want to be out like the NRL spruiking different ideas, we're going to be model citizens."
https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/eddie-mcguire-slams-scaremongering-hysteria-over-20-week-quarantine-hubs/6ce823b6-ba00-4a7f-bc8c-647bcbdd2332
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An AFL spokesman said on Wednesday night: ''We have just begun discussions with the AFLPA and their stuff has been valuable.
''No decisions have been made and there are still a wide range of options available to the AFL, the players and the clubs in order to begin and complete the 2020 season.
''We will continue to prioritise both the physical and mental health and welfare of all participants in the AFL industry and their families and follow the advice from the Commonwealth and state and territory governments and their chief health officers.''
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/family-a-sticking-point-as-players-not-happy-with-afl-hubs-20200429-p54oen.html
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(https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/attachments/mcg-hub-jpg.866989/)
https://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/2019-premiership-salt-mine.1229521/page-187
:lol
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Tomorrow looms as a crucial day for the AFL, with a return date to be discussed during a meeting of the National Cabinet.
The AFLPA will start meeting players from all 18 clubs on Friday to get a more detailed understanding of the players' issues, but family concerns have clearly emerged as the biggest of several stumbling blocks facing the AFL in gaining agreement to the concept.
Richmond captain Trent Cotchin is understood to have opposed spending a long stretch inside the hub, as did other senior players in the competition who made clear their opposition to the prospect of being inside a hub for 20 weeks.
Marsh and Dangerfield told The Age the AFLPA had only received one proposal from the AFL and had made it clear to the players when presenting it on Tuesday night that a change in government restrictions could lead to less of the season being played in hubs than was being presented. The chances of the AFLPA agreeing to 20 weeks inside hubs was "remote".
AFL sources confirmed the government advice is that border restrictions will be in place until September, though the league has consistently said it must be “agile” if conditions change around COVID-19.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/aflpa-says-chances-of-players-agreeing-to-a-lengthy-stint-in-hubs-are-remote-20200430-p54ong.html
https://www.stuff-dangerfield-aflpa-response-afl-season/news-story/0921a36920531f2becdeb5eb8968af1e
https://twitter.com/9NewsMelb/status/1255781722609901568
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Neil Balme on why AFL's hubs don't make a lot of sense
Outspoken president Jeff Kennett is somewhat bemused by the concern of players over quarantine hubs and Richmonds Neil Balme is blunt in his assessment, ...
Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-stars-will-embrace-taxing-hub-plan-despite-query-whether-the-2020-season-was-actually-worth-it/news-story/cca899a804ed10dddd0fe683714f15b5
ps. If someone can post what Balmey says in the article it'll be much appreciated :).
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Neil Balme on why AFL's hubs don't make a lot of sense
Outspoken president Jeff Kennett is somewhat bemused by the concern of players over quarantine hubs and Richmonds Neil Balme is blunt in his assessment, ...
Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-stars-will-embrace-taxing-hub-plan-despite-query-whether-the-2020-season-was-actually-worth-it/news-story/cca899a804ed10dddd0fe683714f15b5
ps. If someone can post what Balmey says in the article it'll be much appreciated :).
Veteran Richmond football manager Neil Balme said the AFL’s quarantine proposal “doesn't make a lot of sense” for all of footy’s young fathers.
“Ideally you would bring your families into the hub, but doing that immediately makes it difficult too, because all of a sudden they are captured in the hub as well,” Balme said.
“So they can’t do anything (in there) and that’s not ideal, either, because you’ve got a wife and three kids and they want to go to kindy and all of a sudden you are in Darwin or something.
“The positive is the optimism around the (prospect that) we will play is stronger now than it was two weeks ago. Whatever we have to deal with we will deal with, but let’s try to be reasonable about it.”
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Cheers amc11 :cheers.
A fly in, fly out model is now the AFL's top plan to restart the season
A fly in, fly out model is now the AFL's top plan to restart the season, but will depend on advice from National Cabinet.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/a-fly-in-fly-out-model-is-now-the-afls-top-plan-to-restart-the-season-but-will-depend-on-advice-from-national-cabinet-ng-17c5776a3dcf406f16b78117a4fb90ae
It is a measure of the difficulties that the AFL, the players and the clubs would confront in these highly hypothetical hubs that the league has called in the nation's biggest company, BHP, and the Australian Defence Force, to help with the planning for them.
Now, the league is privately saying that there might only be a hybrid hub model, a half-way house between being locked-up and staying at home at particular times.
... the people whom Gillon and the gang need to persuade first are the governments' chief medical officers, who will review the AFL (and NRL) plans for returning to play on Friday in what shapes as one of their most important moments in the return-to-play campaign.
Provided they convince the medical officers that their health and safety protocols cut the COVID mustard, the AFL then will be relying on the relevant state governments either,
a) opening the borders in Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland,
or
b) allowing the AFL a special exemption to charter planes, fly in and fly out, for the specific purpose of playing West Coast, Fremantle, the Crows, Port and the Queensland clubs.
Since the Murray is allowed to be crossed by teams from Victoria and NSW, travel between those states should not be an issue.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/they-called-in-bhp-and-the-troops-but-the-afl-s-hubs-might-not-fly-20200430-p54os9.html
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Neil Balme on why AFL's hubs don't make a lot of sense
Outspoken president Jeff Kennett is somewhat bemused by the concern of players over quarantine hubs and Richmonds Neil Balme is blunt in his assessment, ...
Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-stars-will-embrace-taxing-hub-plan-despite-query-whether-the-2020-season-was-actually-worth-it/news-story/cca899a804ed10dddd0fe683714f15b5
ps. If someone can post what Balmey says in the article it'll be much appreciated :).
Isn't Jeff Kennett head of Beyond Blue??
The suicide rate for FIFO workers doing 4 weeks on 4 weeks off is very high, and he's not concerned that players won't see family for 5 months??
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“My information overnight is that if these hubs do occur, they’re gonna be four, five, six weeks,” he said.
“Then we’ll revert to that fly-in, fly-out model… footy might not need these hubs.”
https://www.triplem.com.au/story/tom-browne-s-update-on-how-the-afl-can-avoid-quarantine-hubs-160469
Yes. Reliably told a short time ago HIGHLY unlikely they [hubs] will be required.
https://twitter.com/Stevo7AFL/status/1256065496794841089
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison says the national cabinet will release national principles for sport and recreation, including elite sport, today.
A national decision on easing restrictions will now be made next Friday, on May 8, several days earlier than initially planned.
In an effort to make it earlier for the AFL and NRL to restart, consistent national health advice will be given to all states - meaning the leagues can deal with states as a group, rather than individually.
Australian Minister for Youth and Sport Richard Colbeck has explained the three-stage process that will see sport recommence across the country.
“Theres a set of high-level principles which have been developed by the AHPPC (Australian Health Protection Principal Committee) taken up by national Cabinet that will provide that overarching stuff for the recommencement of sport across the country,” he said.
They are again... very heavily guided by work that’s been done by the Australian Institute of Sport... also along with Chief Medical Officers from a number of the national sporting organisations and national codes have had input into the work the AIS has coordinated. That contemplated a staged recommencement of sports, it indicated the types of activities at various levels that might be considered as part of that process.
We are currently at ‘Level A’. As the national Cabinet considers opening up the capacity to move around the opportunity then goes to ‘Level B’, which talks of commencing training in small groups of say up to 10 with 10 athletes and officials working together and then ‘Stage C’ which goes back to full training and full commencement.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-the-one-value-saints-legend-believes-uncertain-players-can-gain-from-isolation-hubs/news-story/5c9eaeebe32fc9748862e2e3664f2dc0
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Thanks for posting that OE.
I did watch the presser from Morrison and Murphy (aka the Two Stooges) and gathered that was the decision.
The National Cabinet met to consider and came up with some more guidelines.
The sport organisations now go away and come back with a plan that the cabinet will then consider BUT this leaves open the question that the only way they can re-open is dependent on states relaxing border restrictions which as has been said, are illegal.
A - where we are at with no training with more than two
B - up to ten can train together.
C - normal
No mention of quarantine, no mention of testing, No mention of travel, no mention of full training, no mention of matches.
Just more kicking the can down the road.
I did hear Morrison say something about Border Force having control over the travel of the NZ Warriors and their advice hasn't changed.
So they can'r enter Oz and therefore can't start any 14 day quarantine before play starts. Wonder how Benito Dutton feels about that one being lobbed in his lap.
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Isn't Jeff Kennett head of Beyond Blue??
No, hasn't been for 4 or so years now
Julia Gillard is the current chair of Beyond Blue. Appointed on the recommendation Jeff Kennett
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Here's a copy of the actual document:
(https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/ad76c978f646c0088c0c2ffda20b6e5c)
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-afl-2020-nrl-nrl-2020-sport-return-australia-2020-coronavirus-national-cabinet-sport-return-document/news-story/9b76c25d8ae4b0b9562e1dd6bbeace36
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AFL on track for late June return as restrictions set to ease
Peter Ryan, Jake Niall
Essendon have asked all players to be back in Victoria by May 11.
But the options for the AFL's return will depend on the restrictions in each state, with the door appearing open for travel to and from Queensland after the Queensland government allowed the NRL to do so on Friday. This leaves Western Australia and South Australia, which have closed borders, as the key states in organising a return to play.
The AFL could even have at least one game with a crowd - in the Northern Territory, where two games had been scheduled - after the NT said it was open to crowds for the AFL.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/optimism-grows-for-afl-as-federal-government-flags-looser-restrictions-20200501-p54p3d.html
The Gold Coast is in the box sit to become the AFL’s quarantine hub city after the Queensland Government opened its borders for NRL teams, according to 7NEWS reporter Tom Browne.
AFL officials are hopeful of the season restarting next month and sources have told Browne they believe all 18 clubs could be based in the Sunshine State.
“Club sources I’ve spoken to are really positive about this return schedule,” Browne said.
“Everyone is going off the hub idea but I still think based on sources I’ve spoken to that they will be used for the first four to six weeks of footy.
“The aim in an ideal world is footy will restart by the second half of June and they’re on track.”
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/what-qld-opening-borders-for-nrl-means-for-afl-c-1012087
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GF set for Oct 31.
AFL boss sets date for grand final
Jason Phelan
PerthNow
May 2, 2020 1:16PM
Gillon McLachlan has set a target of October 31 to complete the 2020 premiership season and the AFL chief is increasingly confident long-term hubs won’t be required to achieve that goal.
Some players have baulked at the prospect of going into an isolation hub for up to 20 weeks, but McLachlan moved to allay fears that would be required in a teleconference with the 18 club captains on Friday.
However, shorter-term hubs are still in play to get the season restarted, with McLachlan confirming Queensland has given the AFL permission to fly teams in and out of the state without going into quarantine.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/afl-chief-executive-gillon-mclachlan-sets-october-31-target-to-complete-the-2020-premiership-season-ng-b881536341z
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AFL could move to Stage B from May 11
Football could be back up and running in just six weeks, 7NEWS has revealed.
Reporter Tom Browne said a conference call between AFL CEO Gill McLachlan and all 18 club executives on Saturday was a success with a return date pencilled in.
“Footy is on track to return in mid to late June,” Browne said.
“Footy training in groups of 10 could be from May 11.”
Confirmation of a re-start to training, in groups of 10, from May 11 is set to be announced in a few days time, 7NEWS revealed.
https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/afl-set-to-restart-2020-season-in-just-six-weeks-despite-coronavirus-restrictions-ng-b881536496z
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The league must work with each state on limits to gatherings that affect the ability of teams to train together and border restrictions before arriving at a model for the 17-round season.
“They’re the last two pieces and then we’ll be able to start rolling out things like fixtures and training dates and season start dates,” McLachlan said.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-coronavirus-australia-news-updates-queensland-gold-coast-hub-idea-plan-proposal-system-concept/news-story/ebf1a357fa1b53d80b25790c1d6a48ca
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With October 31 a loose deadline, AFL grand final venue remains uncertain
The AFL could find themselves in a race against time to guarantee the 2020 grand final is played at the MCG after declaring on Saturday they aim to complete the season by the end of October.
The MCG - which has the contract to host the grand final until 2057 - is certain to be available for the AFL until October 10 before the venue begins preparations for the ICC T20 World Cup.
The first ICC World Cup match at the MCG is scheduled for October 25 with the final to be played on November 12. There are six T20 matches scheduled at the MCG for the tournament.
Sources suggested that although the ICC is still bullish about the T20 World Cup taking place, there was still some potential for negotiation between government and sporting bodies around where a grand final might be played if the AFL season went late into October.
Perth Stadium is scheduled to host ICC T20 World Cup matches from October 24-October 30.
The league owns Marvel Stadium, allowing them flexibility in determining venues for matches outside the traditional football season.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-and-covid-19-with-october-31-a-loose-deadline-grand-final-venue-remains-uncertain-20200502-p54p97.html
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Five days a week, delayed blockbusters: How rebooted AFL season could look
Caroline Wilson has outlined how the AFL will look when games get underway again in the coming months.
Wilson told the ABC the AFL could announce how the 2020 season will look as soon as Friday and that she expected it to recommence by mid-June.
Unlike the NRL, Wilson said the AFL will announce a return-to-training date, a full fixture and a potential Grand Final date in the one hit.
“There’s 16 rounds to play and the absolute ambition is to finish the season by the end of October. The Victorian Sports Minister hinted last week that the Victoria Derby might be moved to a Sunday,” Wilson told Offsiders.
“There’ll be four day breaks – that’ll be the shortest break players will be asked to have.
“They still haven’t made a decision about interchange benches, but I expect them to widen because of this.
“There is a suggestion that bigger games, such as ‘Derbies’ and ‘Showdowns’, might be pushed back towards the end of the year in the hope there might be some crowds, or to make things more interesting.
“But there are two fixtures at the moment and we’re going to know a lot more (soon).
“I know Roy (Masters) thinks that people need a carrot and a (start) date. That date, Gillon McLachlan assured the players, the CEOs and the presidents in the last few days, will come very, very soon.
“There’s going to be a lot of games. I think footy will be played, definitely four days a week and probably five days a week for the next few months.”
Wilson added that a hub situation would likely take place in WA due to the strict quarantine measures that were still in place.
Wilson said she expected the season to restart as early as June 11.
“If you say that the AFL will make an announcement at the end of this week about a return to training date – as early as next Monday, so eight days away when they can train in groups of 10, if the Victorian Government comes to the party – you could probably ambitiously add five weeks to that,” she said.
“If we’re thinking a Thursday night start, June 11, and as we sit here today June 18 at the latest. That’s what the AFL networks are telling me as well.”
The Queensland government recently gave the all-clear for the three NRL clubs in its state to resume training, helping the NRL’s bid to restart the competition by May 28.
Wilson said that move would also benefit the AFL and likely avoid the league from implementing a hub scenario that could see teams spend up to 20 weeks in isolation.
“The fact that we know that they can go to Queensland in a fly-in, fly-out basis and play games of football – they believe that will also take place in other states by the time footy does get off the ground – it’s going to save the AFL a huge amount of money,” she said.
“Charter flights are nothing compared to the apparent $40 million cost to put players into so-called ‘hubs’ for all that time, so that was a big one.
“I’m amazed it’s moved this quickly, the broadcasters are amazed it’s moved this quickly. It was only three weeks ago that we’re talking about late July – Olympics timetable – dates and the players have had their minds set at rest as well.”
https://www.stuff-caroline-wilson/news-story/928447e8835395ec42ddde145bf165d7
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/03/how-will-stuff-when-the-season-resumes/
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Victoria's Chief Health Officer Professor Sutton was asked whether it was likely AFL teams would be able to train next week as the league looks to salvage some of the 2020 season.
"There's the potential for that, absolutely," Professor Sutton said.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-04/coronavirus-victorian-cases-climb-cedar-meats-abattoir-brooklyn/12209776
Federal sports minister Richard Colbeck says the AFL season will be able to resume without quarantine hubs if COVID-19 cases continue to decline.
“If we continue the trajectory we’re on and maintain the discipline that we have as a community I think that is quite conceivable (games will be played without hubs).
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-latest-news-quarantine-hubs-wa-clubs-disadvantage-victorian-bias-claims-40-million-savings/news-story/5297f34633bf1c6a15fd3514451c334c
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Tom Browne on Ch 7 news tonight reckons training in groups of 10 (no contact/tackling) will resume next week (May 11) followed two weeks later by full training (starting May 25). That would allow a restart of the season in mid-June as coaches like Buckley have said today they need 3 weeks full training to get the players ready for games and avoid players breaking down.
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GERARD HEALY’S PROPOSED AFL 2020 TIMELINE
(https://www.foxsports.com.au/pmd/images/2020/05/04/773486_640x360_large_20200504190006.jpg)
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-return-date-length-of-season-timeline-afl-fixture-grand-final-date-preseason-length-breaks-between-games/news-story/24938388441e69f7fddbac56ab63f776
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"Western Australia has emerged as a late stumbling block to restart the AFL season."
@sam_mcclure reports that WA's strict border closure could see West Coast and Fremantle relocated to Melbourne until restrictions are lifted. #9FootyClassified | Watch @Channel9
https://twitter.com/FootyonNine/status/1257290695863406592
Of course any positive covid-19 cases will throw a spanner in the works on any plans as could be case in the NRL with four South Sydney players sent home having "flu-like symptoms".
https://7news.com.au/sport/rugby-league/under-fire-nrl-superstar-latrell-mitchell-sent-home-for-coronavirus-test-c-1015983
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Old fixture binned, traditional time slots a priority in full rewrite
By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
5 May 2020 4pm
THE 2020 season fixture is in the process of being torn up, with a fresh schedule to be announced later this month.
It is expected that matches, when they resume from the COVID-19 shutdown, will be mostly played in the "traditional" slots of Thursday through to Sunday, with only a few games to be played on Mondays, Tuesday and Wednesdays.
If the games are to resume in that Thursday to Sunday configuration, the push to increase team sizes for the remainder of 2020 from 22 to 24, which would have allowed for six players on the interchange, will significantly diminish.
It is believed the broadcasters – Channel Seven and Foxtel – would prefer a traditional sequence of matches over an ad hoc one.
When the AFL suspended the 2020 season after round one, it said it intended to keep rounds 2-4 as fixtured, but the extended shutdown has forced it to reconsider that plan.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/432506/old-fixture-binned-traditional-time-slots-a-priority-in-full-rewrite
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AFL clubs are aiming towards a return to training on May 18.
The AFL has made it clear clubs will be handed a three-week pre-season, which would put it on track for a June 18 return at the earliest.
But clubs hoping they could start screening players ahead of a return to 10-man training groups next Monday were left disappointed on Tuesday night.
The league told club football bosses in a hook-up last night that it was still too early for Level B training — which includes six to 10 players training in no-contact situations.
It means the earliest date for group training would be May 18.
The league has made it clear all options are still on the table, and it could still choose to condense games when teams fly into various states to play interstate opposition.
The AFL is still expected to announce a concrete date for the season resumption on May 11.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-set-to-kickstart-with-regular-round/news-story/1880e4f8f1c2294d480abd79e19ffbe2
https://www.afl.com.au/news/432529/the-date-clubs-are-aiming-to-return-to-training
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The WA hub problem isn’t the AFL’s fault. WA’s biggest economy is mining, fifo workers underground etc are vulnerable to covid. They have to quarantine and the state is essentially arguing they can’t exempt Afl and not fifo mining workers. Hopefully it can be resolved.
https://twitter.com/TomBrowne
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The WA Premier all but ruled out relaxing border restrictions for AFL players ahead of a national cabinet meeting on Friday, where states including Victoria and NSW are expected to ease theirs to allow the league to resume its reduced season in those states only.
Mr McGowan again implored the AFL to consider a quarantine hub in the west, where fixtures would be played at Optus Stadium and teams housed at nearby Crown Resort.
The standoff will most likely result in West Coast and Fremantle players being exempted to fly to Melbourne and Sydney for AFL fixtures to resume the season in mid to late June, play a batch of away games, and then bank on a bunch of home fixtures to finish the season and balance the ledger once WA eases its border control restrictions.
Eagles and Dockers players, coaches and officials will likely be forced to remain interstate for the first batch of fixtures given they would be required to quarantine for two weeks if they flew back home to WA after each match.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/writing-on-the-wall-for-west-coast-fremantle-resuming-afl-season-interstate-20200506-p54qei.html
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AFL clubs nominate June 18 and 25 as possible dates for season to resume.
A blockbuster between Richmond and Collingwood would be a dream restart.
Paywall: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/afl-clubs-nominate-june-18-and-25-as-possible-dates-for-season-to-resume/news-story/e84a0b76017996431ca849e24e369b4b
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Caro reckons the remaining fixture will be 16 rounds with the usual one game for each club per week. The exception might be the last round(s) which gets 'squeezed'.
No break between end of H/A and finals either so it all fits in between mid-June & late October.
TV broadcasters happy with that. Games played Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday with the occassional Monday game.
Talk of Collingwood vs Melbourne starting early on June 8 so they can hold the usual Neale Daniher Big Freeze slide (for MND funding). Eddie said they have discussed it but they'll try to do something for Neale on another date if they can't do June 8.
Eddie said if the WA clubs have to come across in a hub then to be fair he'll happily have Collingwood & Richmond play the WA sides at Docklands instead of the MCG. Alternatively the WA clubs could set their hub base up on the warmer Gold Coast and other teams would travel up and play them at Metricon Stadium.
Ross Lyon said if he was (still) coach of either WA club he wouldn't want to avoid the MCG. The Eagles are in their premiership window and the 'G is where the Grand Final is played so it would provide a perfect opportunity to get plenty of practice playing at the 'G before GF day. For Freo, it would be a great chance for their younger squad to gain valuable experience for future seasons playing regularly this year on the MCG especially during a cold Melbourne winter.
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WA government has "no confidence" in AFL, borders to remain shut to them
By Nic Negrepontis
SEN
7 May 2020
The West Australian government will not allow AFL teams to fly in for games when the footy season resumes and this likely means both West Coast and Fremantle will have to relocate.
West Australian Health Minister Roger Cook said on Thursday “there is no confidence the AFL can maintain infection control and prevent infection spread among players and staff under the proposed model”.
This decision by the state government will seemingly force the Eagles and Dockers to play the majority of the season interstate.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/07/w-a-government-has-no-confidence-in-afl-borders-to-remain-shut-to-them/
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16 Crows players have been caught on a golf course breaching their social-distancing training protocols.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-investigates-crows-training-breach-in-barossa-20200507-p54qui.html
Idiots! Right at the time the AFL is trying to convince governments to allow the season to restart :facepalm.
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AFL and broadcast sources say Wednesday night games are in the mix for Seven in the shortened 17-round season, which had been fixtured with Collingwood v Richmond as the first game of round two and sources suggested that, if not that match-up, then it would still resume with a "bang.''
Seven will have its traditional Friday and Saturday nights, plus the Sunday afternoon games at 3.20pm (Australian eastern time) or thereabouts that lead into the network's news bulletin. Thursdays nights will be important for the AFL and have been shared between Seven and Foxtel, though it is unclear how those games - and potentially Wednesday nights - would be divvied up if the league fixtures Wednesday night games as a means for compressing the season.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/remotely-with-remote-brian-how-seven-plans-to-cover-covid-footy-20200507-p54qxs.html
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The AFL will reportedly unveil its revised fixture next week, which will see no home games for Western Australian and South Australian sides.
The Herald Sun is reporting the fixture will only detail the first few rounds from footy’s restart, giving it flexibility should border restrictions in SA and WA be eased.
West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide will all be forced to travel interstate to restart the season, with the Crows and Power set to recieve a quarantine exemption from the state government, allowing them to avoid 14-day quarantine after returning home from interstate matches.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire suggested WA clubs would get to choose where they want to play their ‘home’ games, a small consolation to the sides affected.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-latest-news-coronavirus-updates-fixture-return-date-training-date-afl-western-australia-hub/news-story/20c751b1525892e732bccb2b1de20a53
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AFL clubs around the country could return to training in groups next week after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews flagged some restrictions will be lifted from Monday.
The AFL has yet to settle on a timeline to restart its season but June 18 looms as the earliest possible date for round two to begin.
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/daniel-andrews-hints-at-when-afl-players-could-return-to-training-c-1025550
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Brayshaw on MMM today said he's been told the season will restart on June 18 (Thursday night). Barrett said the season now will be more like a regular one except for the WA clubs. The big blockbusters though will be pushed back later on in the season.
BT said Ch 7 is working on fake crowd noise. He's heard various things Seven have attempted (such a rises and falls of noise with the play). BT thinks there only needs to be a "hum" in the background to overcome the total silence.
Hutchy across on SEN said he expects the season to go from the weekend of June 20 to Oct 21 (sic) (he must have meant Oct 31 which is a Saturday).
Tom Browne on Ch 7 news tonight said every AFL player will be tested for covid-19 before they return to their club.
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“I would expect that by the end of the week we will get an indication from the AFL what the schedule will look like,” Jeff Kennett told 6PR radio on Saturday.
“Within five days (of Daniel Andrews’ announcement on Monday) we’ll get an outline of the fixture for the rest of the season.
“And probably, from all that I’m hearing, a start to the game in mid-June.”
The four AFL clubs from Western Australia and South Australia will likely have to play a sequences of away matches in order to restart the season. They could then be given streaks of home matches later in the season to even out the fixture once restrictions are eased.
It means a floating or flexible fixture could be the AFL’s best option.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/hawthorn-president-jeff-kennett-says-stuff-ng-b881543066z
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AFL PUSHING FOR WA GOVERNMENT APPROVAL
The AFL is working to get an even competition for the season restart, with league headquarters pushing the West Australian government and police to allow teams to fly in and out of the state.
The AFL is hoping to improving its COVID-19 protocols which would help Fremantle and West Coast leave the state and return after games.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/covid-19-push-to-get-western-australian-approval-as-decisions-loom-20200509-p54rec.html
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PENCIL IN JUNE 11 RESTART
Report: The blockbuster matches in line to restart the AFL season
By SEN
10 May 2020
The AFL season could begin with a host of blockbuster matches as early as June 11, according to the Sunday Herald Sun.
The traditional Queen’s Birthday FightMND fundraiser between Melbourne and Collingwood – originally scheduled for June 8 – could be pushed back to relaunch the season.
The report also states that Richmond could face off against Collingwood to reboot the season as the AFL looks to kick off round two with a bang.
Clubs could begin training in groups of 10 by next week, allowing the season to resume by the middle of June.
While June 18 has been one of the mooted restart dates, the report says June 11 has been “tentatively earmarked” to begin round two.
If the season does commence then, it would allow the AFL to play the remaining 16 rounds and finals series before October 31.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/10/report-the-blockbuster-matches-in-line-to-restart-the-afl-season/
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Sunday said the AFL has worked “incredibly well in laying out a pathway”, including consulting with government and health authorities.
“They’ve been working very constructively with the states, as have other sports,” Hunt told Sky Sunday Agenda.
“I think we’ll get the footy back pretty soon.
“I’ll leave the dates to the particular states that are reviewing the plan but they are putting forward careful plans.
“That will give people a measure of joy and hopefully we’ll see a Richmond premiership this year to make it a true recovery.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-coronavirus-covid19-updates-latest-afl-news-return-to-play-date-testing-gillon-mclachlan/news-story/b30aecd9389a8a48a68b87fc27be0ece
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I didn’t realise he was a Tiger fan but can I just say he has snuck in the quote of the entire virus period? :lol :cheers :bow :rollin :shh
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I didn’t realise he was a Tiger fan but can I just say he has snuck in the quote of the entire virus period? :lol :cheers :bow :rollin :shh
Yep Tiger member
And a beautiful quote indeed :gotigers
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WHEN WILL THE AFL SEASON RETURN?
It could be as early as Thursday June 11, with a potential Collingwood vs Melbourne meeting to support FightMND - three days after the Queen’s Birthday public holiday - on the cards.
Many players who have returned to South Australia and West Australia from interstate are still in quarantine. West Coast reportedly still has players who will be in quarantine until May 21.
If the SA and WA governments lift the 14-day quarantine restriction for these players, it would help the AFL speed up the return process, but after Adelaide’s training breach in the Barossa Valley this now appears unlikely.
Because of these factors, the return date could be pushed back slightly to Thursday June 18.
WHAT WILL THE 2020 AFL FIXTURE LOOK LIKE?
The AFL wants to finish the season by the end of October, and a mid-June start gives it enough time to fit in a regular one-game-a-week (per club) fixture.
There’s a strong chance the fixture will be released in phases, allowing the league to make changes as coronavirus restrictions are altered across the country.
WILL FANS BE ABLE TO ATTEND GAMES IN 2020?
The best-case scenario right now seems to be fans being able to attend finals games (in October) in a limited capacity.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/its-dday-for-the-afls-return-plans-heres-everything-we-know-right-now/news-story/3adbc5987b3481f8454738cd6cb873ff
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Vic Premier clears path for AFL’s targeted return date
All AFL players have now been granted government approval for non-contact training in groups of 10 after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Monday followed other states in relaxing COVID-19 social restrictions.
From first thing Wednesday, footballers from the 10 Victorian teams will be permitted to train in that number.
The Victorian allowance for training in groups of 10 will stand for at least three weeks, when the next set of restriction plans could be unveiled.
It is possible the AFL will delay allowing clubs to officially return to training until uniformity across all states can be achieved.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433108/get-to-work-vic-government-approves-training-but-there-s-a-catch
“We have agreed to a set of arrangements that will allow for training for AFL, for Rugby League, for other professional sports to resume from just before midnight tomorrow night,” Dan Andrews said.
“With that happening, once training is up and running again, that paves the way for the AFL and other codes to make announcements.
“Training resuming paves the way for footy to be back and I think we all want that, provided it’s safe, appropriate and can be done in a cautious way and I’m confident that it can be.”
Andrews suggested AFL teams will be able to train in their entirety, if following agreed upon guidelines.
“What we have done is said that each sport, and obviously sports are different, will put in place what (their own) plans are ... but they must be self- contained,” he said.
“If they are using a training facility or a gym or an outdoor area, it must be exclusively for them. We can’t have a situation where there is a carve-out for professional sport because of their workplace, because it’s basically our job, we can’t have a carve-out and then have other people not connected to that sport intermingling, if you like.
“This is about containment. It is about managing the risk, and in the event that there are positive tests, we are in a strong position to be able to contact trace and take appropriate public health measures are deemed so.
“This is exclusively for those sports, and they need to have control the space therein and they need to listen to the advice of the chief health officers, but a very positive partnership, not just with footy, but with rugby league, other codes, and I’m confident that they understand that there are risks.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-afl-2020-afl-live-blog-afl-coronavirus-updates-afl-covid19/news-story/6adb9f70ba4cce1a35925df183f52607
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CLUBS are not expecting the AFL to make an announcement on a potential return date until later this week, according to Collingwood president Eddie McGuire.
"It won't happen today," McGuire told radio station Triple M.
"My understanding is that the AFL is going to get all the information from all the states … then distil it all down.
"There's an AFL Commission meeting today, there are probably various meetings this afternoon with the various committees that need to happen and then in the next day or two the AFL will be able to come out and say, 'this is what we're doing'.
"So we can get past all these headlines about which day … we will know by Wednesday, probably by Tuesday, but we will know what's going on then."
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433099/-it-won-t-happen-today-clubs-not-expecting-afl-announcement
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No free kick for the Vics: Still no AFL training until all states equal
May 11, 2020 2:05pm
Tom Morris
FOX SPORTS
The league’s commitment to equity across five states and 18 clubs is likely to complicate plans for decision makers, all in the name of fairness.
And unlike local sporting clubs, which will need to split training into groups of 10, Victorian teams have received an exemption from the state government to train as a larger group, provided they remain contained in an exclusive facility.
Even in groups of 10, there would be no contact between players as per the Level B guidelines.
But throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the league has maintained no club would gain a competitive advantage in training, as demonstrated by the decision to mandate groups of no more than two in Western Australia a fortnight ago despite the WA premier easing restrictions to groups of 10.
It’s understood West Coast has up to a quarter of its list serving WA’s mandatory two-week quarantine period. These players are not expected to be available to train with their teammates until at least May 21.
Similarly, the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide have more than 25 players between them who are in quarantine for at least another week.
The AFL Commission will meet to discuss these matters and more on Monday afternoon and deliver a plan later in the week to clubs, broadcasters and fans.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-return-to-training-groups-of-10-afl-players-in-quarantine-when-can-footy-return-victoria-restrictions-lifted/news-story/2ac16336b98468bc4b40a0467830102a
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Benny Gale was interviewed on the 4pm news and he said "we're still in the dark" regarding a re-starting date. Gale also said he's heard it will be mid-to-late June.
Ch 9 & 10 news are saying they're expecting an AFL statement within the next 48 hours. They think all teams may be forced by the AFL in the name of fairness to keep training in pairs until May 21 due to the SA & WA players being in isolation until then.
Tom Browne on Ch 7 reckons there will be an AFL announcement as early as tomorrow afternoon (so it won't be tomorrow ;D )
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Ch 7 and 9 news saying a compromise is being worked on by the AFL to have training for all clubs restarted by Monday (May 18). Apparently, 5 Eagles and 10 Dockers are currently in quarantine until May 21 and Adam Simpson said he's prepared to allow his other non-quarantine players to restart group training earlier next Monday. The SA clubs have all their players out of quarantine on May 18 as well so it worked for them too.
Ch 10 sports report said a scheduled media conference by Gil for tomorrow has been cancelled. So the media is expecting the AFL to publicly talk Wednesday.
The AFL has apparently told all the clubs they need to remain training in pairs until Monday.
The AFL is still targetting the June 11-18 window for the restart of the actual season.
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Victorian clubs 'held back' as AFL pursues uniform approach
By Jake Niall
The Age
May 12, 2020
The AFL needs to get all states allowing full training, then set a date for return to play before completing the revamped fixture, in which Collingwood v Melbourne is among the candidates for the first match back. A Thursday night return game - June 11 or June 18 - is a good chance, a source said.
An AFL spokesman clarified that the Victorian government's position would allow clubs to train with tackling and other forms of body contact, but that it was the league's position that all 18 clubs had to have the same rules, which meant the 10 Victorian clubs would have to wait.
"The only thing holding Victorian clubs back is us," said the AFL spokesman, adding the league was thankful to the Victorian government "for giving approval for full-contact training".
He said the AFL would continue to finalise arrangements for a return to play with other governments before allowing full-contact training across the competition.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/andrews-paves-way-for-footy-s-return-with-loosening-of-restrictions-20200511-p54rrl.html
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On Footy Classified last night, Lloyd had the following scenario that he's heard:
May 18 - May 25 ................. Training in groups of 10.
May 26 - June 10 ................ Full contact training.
June 11 ............................ Season restart (Round 2).
He added that he's heard the training in groups of 10 period could be extended to a fortnight which would mean the middle full training period would be short. Not what Lloyd said but they could push the restart to June 18 if that happens.
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Matthew gets his info from his brother who is at Carlton
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Details Of The AFL's Rigorous Covid-19 Testing Program
Tom Browne revealed the extreme lengths the AFL are going to assure that the season will be able to re-commence as planned.
Browne reported on the Hot Breakfast that the league are looking to use Marvel Stadium as a large scale testing base for all players and staff throughout the season.
He believes that the players could be tested for COVID-19 twice a week to make sure no individuals in the system are affected.
A leading pathology company will oversee the program.
https://www.triplem.com.au/story/details-of-the-afl-s-rigorous-covid-19-testing-program-160972
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Stern warnings: AFL's memo to clubs, all players must test for COVID-19
By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
12 may 2020
ALL PLAYERS will be tested for COVID-19 by the end of the week as part of the AFL's plans to allow a resumption of training as early as next Monday.
In a detailed memo sent to clubs, the AFL has ordered the tests, which take 5-10 minutes, be completed before Friday.
The AFL has outlined strict protocols relating to a resumption to training and playing in the document, including the banning for the remainder of 2020 of AFL-listed footballers from playing in their respective states’ second-tier competitions (VFL, WAFL, SANFL, NEAFL).
Following the Victorian government on Monday significantly relaxing the restrictions enforced by the coronavirus pandemic, the AFL is now acting with all state governments in the hope of gaining uniform approval to train.
The changes announced by the Victorian government effectively allow for the actual playing of matches from midnight on Tuesday, but the AFL will not implement that until all clubs get the all-clear to complete a three-week "pre-season".
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433227/stern-warnings-afl-s-memo-to-clubs-all-players-must-test-for-covid-19
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AFL restart date gathers steam
afl.com.au
12 May 2020
The mooted June 11 date to restart the AFL season is even closer to becoming a reality as the league closes in on its finalised plans, with an announcement expected on Wednesday.
The fixtured blockbuster between Collingwood and Richmond likely to remain as the first game of round two.
But the round is set to be brought forward from a rumoured June 18 or 25 start date to June 11 amid optimism within the Victorian government and the AFL.
“We’re beginning to cook with gas. June 11 looks a big possibility,” 7NEWS’ Tom Browne reports.
“Thursday night. Collingwood and Richmond most likely scenario - blockbuster.”
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-restart-on-june-11-gathers-steam-with-collingwood-richmond-blockbuster-likely-c-1031783
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Is it me or does blockbuster take on that status due to crowd interest in the game? Hard to understand how a blockbuster can be played in front of zero people.
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TV audience size.
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Let's see how were going with this virus in the coming weeks after lockdown.
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AFL statement on Return to Train and Return to Play update
afl.com.au
12 May 2020
The AFL this morning has written to all 18 AFL clubs to remind them the current player training protocols that are in place will continue to apply until advised otherwise.
The AFL said it was continuing to work with all Governments on the return to play model and until this work was complete, all clubs had to follow the same strict training and isolation protocols that have been in place since March.
Those protocols include:
* Club facilities to remain closed, including club gyms;
* All coaching sessions and training programs must be provided remotely;
* Clubs can mandate fitness programs for players; however, they can only be conducted in isolation either at home or in an outdoor space which complies with government social distancing requirements;
* Ball work is permitted in open outdoor spaces and kick to kick with another single individual is permitted as long as social distancing is maintained and strict hygiene measures are employed (regular wiping of ball, washing/sanitising hands etc);
* GPS monitoring during the shutdown period is strictly not permitted;
* All medical services must be provided remotely.
The AFL will announce a Return to Train date and a Return to Play date later this week.
It will also release over the coming week the training protocols component of the AFL’s Return to Play protocols, designed to protect the health and safety of players, staff and the wider community.
The protocols, which were approved in principle by the AFL Commission at its meeting yesterday, are still being finalised.
TESTING AND COMPLIANCE
As the AFL continues to work with various Governments to confirm the Return to Play model, it also advised AFL clubs of a series of steps needed ahead of any return to club training.
* Clubs have been asked to nominate an internal Covid-19 Club Compliance Officer who will be responsible for ongoing player / staff education, leadership and compliance with the AFL Return to Play Protocols throughout the return of training and 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership season and promote the health, safety and welfare of all players, staff and the wider community. The AFL will provide education sessions in the coming days for each club Compliance Officer before teams return to training.
* All players and staff who will be expected to be at their club for the return to train period must undertake an initial Covid-19 swab test with tests to begin later this week. This is in addition to the daily health checks that club doctors have been undertaking with players and Football Department staff since mid-March.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433243/afl-statement-on-return-to-train-and-return-to-play-update
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"Almost certain" Richmond will play Collingwood in Round 2 on a Thursday night.
Source: Mark Stevens on Ch 7 news.
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Looks like the SA clubs will now have to join the WA clubs in Victorian hubs.
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Plans to see AFL’s return could be under threat as South Australian health authorities slam the brakes on interstate travel exemptions.
In an email between itself and the AFL, seen by 7NEWS, SA Health has ruled out any changes to the state’s current 14-day quarantine requirement for those crossing the borders.
The decision means there’s little chance any matches could be played in South Australia.
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-plans-thrown-into-disarray-as-sa-health-authorities-refuse-travel-exemption-for-crows-and-port-adelaide-c-1032526
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Players set to be briefed about restart on Wednesday
By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
13 May 2020
PLAYERS are set to be briefed on Wednesday about the AFL's return to training and play plans.
AFL.com.au has confirmed the AFL Players' Association will be meeting its cohort across multiple sessions throughout the day as the League gets closer to its announcement of a date for games resuming.
It is expected players will also be notified of strict protocols around social gatherings despite restrictions easing via state governments in recent weeks. It shapes as an important meeting as the AFL prepares to get back on the field potentially by the middle of June.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433272/players-set-to-be-briefed-about-restart-on-wednesday
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Foxsports' Round 2 thought bubble:
Collingwood v Richmond (Thursday night)
It was reported on 7 News Melbourne on Tuesday night that this match-up was “almost certain” to re-launch the AFL season. If that comes to fruition, what a way to recommence the year with two premiership contenders coming off impressive Round 1 victories. It’s a match-up that makes sense too, given it was initially slated for Round 2 in the pre-coronavirus fixture.
Adelaide v Port Adelaide (Friday night)
Essendon v Carlton (Saturday afternoon)
Sydney Swans v GWS Giants (Saturday twilight)
Brisbane Lions v Gold Coast Suns (Saturday night)
Geelong v Hawthorn (Saturday night)
St Kilda v Melbourne (Sunday early)
North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs (Sunday afternoon)
West Coast Eagles v Fremantle (Sunday night)
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-fixture-2020-dream-round-2-match-ups-collingwood-vs-richmond-west-coast-eagles-vs-fremantle/news-story/893cd0eb8775f6bfd4e28ce4c2959ee5
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The Hot Breakfast's footy news breaker Tom Browne reported this morning that the AFL could release an updated fixture as soon as tomorrow.
Browne said that the first five or six weeks of fixture are likely to be announced in the coming days, while the remainder of the fixture will be released over time.
Interestingly, Browne expects all games to re-start the season to be played on the eastern states (VIC, NSW & QLD), meaning that the WA & SA clubs will need to potentially relocated to Victoria.
https://www.triplem.com.au/story/details-of-the-afl-fixture-being-released-161022
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All the Victorian clubs players are being tested for covid-19 at Marvel Stadium today.
Richmond premiership captain Trent Cotchin said getting footy back is “great for the community” and worth more than eased living restrictions for players, who will see dozens of teammates, coaches and club staffers at training each day.
Cotch also said the test certainly isn't pleasant but it is what it is and it will be good to know where they stand.
(https://cdn.newsapi.com.au/image/v1/ee83f970d88c91e1529c270de5ce5935?width=700) (https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/trent-cotchin-of-the-tigers-arrives-to-undergo-drive-through-covid19-picture-id1224484734)
(https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/jack-riewoldt-of-the-tigers-arrives-to-undergo-drive-through-covid19-picture-id1224492047?b=1&k=6&m=1224492047&s=612x612&h=5o2Zg8IXdJVy3syS2rEkuZ9lQ1GC7hGRokYb_kGX4XM=) (https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/tom-lynch-of-the-tigers-arrives-to-undergo-drive-through-covid19-at-picture-id1224486463?b=1&k=6&m=1224486463&s=612x612&h=yEzk84uLwZsTCIcjK-RMWyyh2FAiY584y9CZAnqOD6o=)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746626.jpg) (https://media.gettyimages.com/photos/toby-nankervis-of-the-tigers-arrives-to-undergo-drive-through-covid19-picture-id1224492073?b=1&k=6&m=1224492073&s=612x612&h=ifZXmWtxeGouvK55sgVCaNiYDIJkHj-ulOW2FPzljV8=)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746632.jpg) (https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746641.jpg)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746639.jpg) (https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746637.jpg)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746643.jpg) (https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746631.jpg)
(https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746642.jpg) (https://www.aflphotos.com.au/images/thumbs/450/2020/05/13/746640.jpg)
https://www.aflphotos.com.au/galleries/results/?q=collection:AFL%202020%20Media%20-%20AFL%20Players%20Covid-19%20Testing%20130520
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433293/covid-19-mass-testing-begins-as-afl-gears-up-for-return
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/players-will-cop-restrictions-dangerfield-c-1033958
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-afl-2020-afl-live-blog-afl-memo-afl-restart-date-afl-quarantine-covid19-coronavirus/news-story/4b4439794deca2f0974683f03dde29f1
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Mark Stevens on Ch 7 news said the Eagles are going to a hub on the Gold Coast and play their 'home' games there to avoid the playing Victorian clubs in Melbourne. The Dockers are likely to join them.
On the SA clubs, his 'sources' are saying the SA government will give in and allow the Crows and Port to FIFO.
Stevens also said the AFL will announce a return to training schedule tomorrow but we will have to wait a few more days for a return to play schedule and the new fixture.
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Relief to see a number of our players in our co-major sponsor's product ;D
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Footy Classified tonight said:
Round 2 and the fixture:
* Ch 7 & Fox want the biggest game to restart the season. Collingwood vs Richmond was originally scheduled for round 2 anyway.
* Lloyd thinks that only 5-6 weeks will be announced at a time given the fluidity of the covid situation. Give a chance to reset later on in the season if WA clubs are able to play home games in their own state.
WA clubs:
* WA clubs will be given permission from the WA government to fully train with contact from May 28.
* Caro mentioned the discussion about the Eagles (and Dockers) wanting to go to the Gold Coast for their hub. It was said West Coast want to play all their games up there including opposition home games. Eddie spoke about Collingwood and Richmond heading up to Qld for 21 days and playing a block of 4 away matches against the Eagles, Freo, Lions and the Suns. There's 16 rounds to go so there could be 4 blocks of 4 games (2 home & 2 away).
SA clubs:
* Eddie had a leaked letter from the SA government stating the SA clubs will still NOT be allowed to FIFO. They will also have to train in groups of no more than 10 until June 8 (which is 3 days before the proposed start of the season).
* Caro blamed the Crows for this as well as the light sentence dished out. Eddie said punishment sometimes needs to be seen to fit the crime as much as it does. Caro added the Age has an article tonight stating the SA health chiefs have slammed Adelaide's Barossa outing and that the AFL 'don't understand quarantine'.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/sloane-assumes-families-welcome-in-hubs-20200513-p54skf.html
* Seems the Crows will now cop a real punishment given they will have to move into an interstate hub just to train properly. Eddie said a txt message should be going out tonight telling the players to pack their bags. Ross Lyon asked why should the Crows get a choice of a hub now given they have put the AFL season in jeopardy and that they should be now forced to train and play in Victoria. Eddie put up a graphic showing 25 Crows are originally from Victoria anyway.
* Port will be forced to do the same. Eddie added this is one more reason for Port supporters to hate the Crows.
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The two likely AFL season restart dates
By SEN
14 May 2020
According to Caroline Wilson, coaches, broadcasters and most clubs are all keen for a June 18 restart, while the AFL is pushing to resume the season on June 11.
Round 2 will reportedly open with a blockbuster Thursday night clash between Richmond and Collingwood.
“I’ve always felt June 18,” Wilson told Sportsday.
“That’s what I’m hearing from the networks, that’s what I’m hearing from most of the clubs, that is what the coaches want, and the coaches are very keen to get a bit of extra time.
“But I know that the AFL is very keen to start on June 11. There’s a lot of obstacles in the way to getting there now, particularly if those clubs (SA and WA) can’t do contact training next Monday, which is what the AFL was hoping.”
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/13/the-two-likely-afl-season-restart-dates/
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Victorian teams may play home games against WA clubs in Queensland
Sam McClure
The Age
14 May 2020
AFL teams may be asked to play home games against West Coast and Fremantle in Queensland in order to restart the season.
The two Western Australian clubs are set to base themselves in Queensland for the restart of the AFL season, unless the Western Australian government backs away from its strong stance on its border closures.
But, using that scenario, the Eagles and the Dockers don’t want to travel to Melbourne to play Victorian teams and have asked the AFL to play all their games – home and away – in Queensland until the WA borders reopen.
Moving to Victoria remains a stuff option for West Coast and Fremantle, who could be asked to play Melbourne teams away from their opponents’ preferred home ground, in order to reduce Victorian bias.
League sources have confirmed to The Age that the AFL have offered them to play Victorian teams at their non-home grounds.
For example, if West Coast were forced to play a home game against Richmond in Victoria, it would be at Marvel Stadium and not the Tigers’ preferred MCG.
The opposite would apply if they were to play a Marvel Stadium club, like the Western Bulldogs or North Melbourne.
It would avoid West Coast and Fremantle playing home games at their opponent’s stronghold.
Victorian powerhouses Collingwood and Richmond has been flagged as a season ‘‘re-opener’’ inside AFL HQ, but that’s yet to be confirmed as league executives continued to negotiate with individual states late on Wednesday night.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-teams-may-play-home-games-against-wa-clubs-in-queensland-20200513-p54spi.html
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This might be a case of all too hard and abandon the season altogether. Hardly a level playing field.
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This might be a case of all too hard and abandon the season altogether. Hardly a level playing field.
I'll give you a minimum of $300 million reasons why it won't be cancelled
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This might be a case of all too hard and abandon the season altogether. Hardly a level playing field.
I'll give you a minimum of $300 million reasons why it won't be cancelled
Yeah, it's funny how dealing with obstacles slows you down less when there is money at stake
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West Coast and Fremantle will be allowed full contact AFL training in Western Australia before relocating to a Queensland-based quarantine hub.
WA premier Mark McGowan on Thursday confirmed the Eagles and Dockers will be granted access to club facilities from May 18, with full training permitted seven days later.
But McGowan is not backing down on a refusal to grant exemptions for the clubs to fly in and out of the state for games, forcing the teams to temporarily shift their operations in order for the AFL season to resume.
McGowan delivered a significant whack to “pampered” Victorian clubs, claiming they aren’t “willing to leave their comfort zone” to get the AFL season restarted.
https://au.sports.yahoo.com/wa-clubs-cleared-full-afl-training-032156213--spt.html
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-2020-news-coronavirus-updates-live-blog-season-restart-date-hubs-concept/news-story/9031b39f242dca48714443b486d8b4cc
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AFL TO REVEAL ITS RETURN-TO-PLAY PLAN TOMORROW
Tom Morris reports...
The AFL will wait until Friday to announce its return to play plan.
Foxfooty.com.au understands complications relating to hubs and state governments’ intricate health and safety regulations have pushed back a public announcement until the end of the week.
It’s understood there are no plans at this stage for Gillon McLachlan to face the media, though the release of information to clubs, broadcasters, players and fans is expected to be comprehensive.
The league wants teams to begin training in full on the same date, which could be May 18 in groups of 10, with Port Adelaide and Adelaide based in Queensland.
On May 25, full contact drills would be allowed given all clubs would be permitted to train in as an entire group by then.
It would be then up to the AFL whether it believed clubs need two or three weeks of normal training.
The former would see games played from June 11, while the latter would see the season restart on June 18. Another option is for the Eagles and Dockers to fly to Queensland over the weekend - along with the Crows and Power - which would theoretically allow full contact training in big groups from Monday.
These are just some of the options the league is working through with its various stakeholders, though sources have confirmed only finer details remain to be organised before Friday’s big announcement.
AFL SAID TO BE KEEN ON SIX-CLUB QLD HUB
The AFL is likely to send West Coast, Fremantle, Adelaide and Port Adelaide into southeast Queensland hubs to train and play games, reports Nine.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afl-2020-news-coronavirus-updates-live-blog-season-restart-date-hubs-concept/news-story/9031b39f242dca48714443b486d8b4cc
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Mini-hub revealed, clubs to stay in luxury golf resorts
By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
14 May 2020 8pm
THE four AFL clubs [Eagles, Freo, Port & Crows] required to enter hub life in order to re-start the 2020 season will do so in two of the Gold Coast's premier golf resorts.
Complexes at Palm Meadows and Royal Pines will each house two teams.
(https://resources.afl.com.au/photo-resources/2020/05/14/51925b5b-1998-4fe4-a92e-b917196dbe0d/Screen-Shot-2020-05-14-at-5.15.27-PM.png?width=1064&height=600)
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433615/mini-hub-revealed-clubs-to-stay-in-luxury-golf-resorts
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The AFL season will restart on June 11 with training to resume on Monday, according to 7NEWS chief football reporter Mark Stevens.
Collingwood and Richmond are expected to restart the season with a round two blockbuster at the MCG.
The competition has been brought forward, with officials initially aiming for June 18 or 25, following positive announcements from the Victorian Government earlier this week.
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-restart-date-revealed-c-1038201
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AFL to reveal reboot date, full training starts May 25
Jake Niall
The Age
May 15, 2020
The AFL has told the clubs that the revamped "flexible'' fixture will only schedule games for the first four or so rounds and that full-contact training will begin on May 25.
The AFL also told the 18 clubs that it will confirm the starting date for returning to play on Friday, with an expectation within some clubs that the season will reboot on Thursday, June 11, a date that would give the clubs that play on that evening two and a half weeks of contact training. Collingwood v Richmond is among the options for that first game back.
As the South Australian and Western Australian teams prepare to join hubs in south-east Queensland at luxury resorts with golf courses, the AFL also has indicated that the players will not be able to play golf or eat at the restaurants early in the season. Players will be subject to stricter protocols and conditions than the rest of the community.
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told the club CEOs of the anticipated contact training date of May 25 in a phone hook-up late Thursday, when the clubs also were told there would be a flexible fixture of only four rounds for the resumption of the season.
The plan to permit contact training on May 25 would bring all clubs into line with WA, where the state government said on Thursday that it would allow contact training on that date.
The AFL wants a flexible fixture, bearing in mind that the rules around borders and restrictions may change once the season starts and that there is even a possibility of crowds later in the season in some states, depending on the progress of the fight against the coronavirus.
Making arrangements for the SA and WA teams and dealing with their different rules is the major step the AFL needs before announcing a return date, with either Thursday June 11 or June 18 remaining the favoured days.
Clubs are said to need three weeks of full-bore training before resuming games.
The fixture for the early rounds will not be released until the WA and SA clubs' situations have been resolved.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/four-afl-teams-likely-headed-to-queensland-to-restart-season-20200514-p54t0h.html
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Gil just held his media conference:
* Season to officially restart on Thursday, June 11.
* Fixture for the next 4 rounds will be released within the next 10 days.
* SA & WA clubs will likely play each other up in Qld during those 4 rounds.
* The rest of the fixture with be revealed in 4-6 week blocks to allow for flexibility in case state border rules change.
* Grand Final expected to be held in mid-late October at the MCG. If that date is pushed back due to changing circumstances then Docklands will be available. A reporter asked what if an interstate venue can host a crowd by then? Gil responded that the AFL has a contract to play the GF in Victoria.
* Training in groups of eight starts Monday (May 18).
* Full contact training from a week late (May 25). So 16 days of full training before the first game.
* All WA & SA clubs will move to a hub on the Gold Coast. WA clubs can fully train in Perth before flying across to Qld for their first games. SA clubs will need to fly up to Qld by May 25 given the SA govt. is preventing full training in Adelaide.
* Players to be tested twice a week.
* All players have been educated in and need to follow the health protocols.
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Footy's back: AFL statement on season return
afl.com.au
15 May 2020
The AFL has today announced that clubs will return to training on Monday, May 18 and the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership season will resume on Thursday, June 11.
Players and football department officials will return to clubs on Monday, with clubs completing a 3.5 week training block before matches officially restart.
Clubs will initially train in maximum groups of eight, before resuming full contact training from Monday, May 25.
All players and returning football department staff will have been tested for Covid-19 prior to returning to the club and undergone education sessions on the protocols they will need to follow, including rigorous ongoing screening and regular testing, throughout both the training and return to play period. This will also apply for umpires and AFL Match day staff once the season resumes.
Strict protocols will be in place to protect players, officials, staff and the wider public with all involved in the game regularly tested ahead of any contact sessions or matches.
“Today is a significant step in getting footy back for everyone - our fans, our clubs, players, coaches, umpires, officials and staff, our broadcast and corporate partners and club partners and all who love the game,” AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan said.
“We know as this situation continues to evolve, we have to remain agile and flexible to be able to adapt where necessary while ensuring we continue to prioritise the health and welfare of our players, staff and the wider community and - importantly - don’t place any burden on the public health system.
"We have developed our model as the best option for returning to play for both players and officials and the general public and have done so following extensive consultation, including with the Federal, State and Territory Governments and Chief Health Officers.
“I want to thank the Prime Minister, the various ministers, State Premiers and Chief Ministers and all the Chief Health Officers for their on-going support and guidance.
"I particularly want to acknowledge the Victorian, NSW and Queensland Governments for their support in leading the way for football to return."
“All through this evolving pandemic we have anchored every decision in-line with the advice of the respective government and relevant medical authorities. Our return to play plans and our timings is evidence of that.
“Our industry understands the opportunity we have been given and we also fully understand and accept our responsibility to our football family and to the wider community.”
In order to maintain flexibility and given that some states still have restrictions in place, the AFL will release the remaining 144 games plus finals of 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership fixture in blocks of up to 4-6 weeks.
The first block of games will be released over the next 10 days with games in the early part of the season being scheduled at AFL venues in states that have approved full-contact training and matches.
The Return to Play model will see all teams based out of their home state with the exception of the Western Australian teams West Coast Eagles and Fremantle, and South Australian teams Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide.
West Coast Eagles and Fremantle will complete the pre-season training block at their home bases before relocating interstate ahead of their first scheduled match while current restrictions in SA will mean that Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide will need to relocate interstate before May 25 when full contact training will begin for all 18 clubs.
West Coast Eagles, Fremantle, Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide will all relocate to the Gold Coast.
The move has been made possible with the support of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Tourism Minister Kate Jones and the Queensland Government’s strong health response. The AFL also acknowledges the support of the Gold Coast City Council and Mayor Tom Tate.
All four clubs will be based interstate for an initial period of at least four weeks and the AFL will continue to remain flexible with fixturing so it can respond to any changes to restrictions in either state.
The four clubs will be housed in accommodation villages - West Coast Eagles and Fremantle at The Pines Resort and Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide at the Mercure Resort. Players will be able to host family members at any stage during their time away from home which will be funded by the AFL.
The AFL has agreed with the players it will continually review the arrangements in consultation with the AFLPA, clubs and the WA and SA Governments.
“We recognise the great collaboration and understanding with our WA and SA clubs and their support for ensuring we get a full national competition underway. We know we are going to need to retain maximum flexibility with the fixture to allow for home games in each state should circumstances change.” Mr McLachlan said.
The AFL said the Return to Play model was the best possible response based on the different restrictions in each state and territory and the overwhelming priority to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved in football as well as the wider community, while seeking to minimise the impact on players, officials and their families.
The AFL hopes to play games in most states and territories but will continue to maintain an agile and flexible fixture to take account of any changes to restrictions in each respective jurisdiction.
“I am confident that how we start won’t necessarily be how we finish and that as the situation changes around the country we have the flexibility, agility and industry collaboration to change where we need to,” Mr McLachlan said.
All future decisions on location of matches will be made in consultation with Federal, State and Territory Governments and their respective Chief Health Officers.
PROTOCOLS
The AFL will implement protocols over and above the government restrictions to protect the health and safety of every member of our industry and the wider community.
The protocols have been developed with the advice of the Federal, State and Territory Governments along with the relevant Chief Health Officers across the country as well as the AFL’s own medical team and with consultation with players, coaches and clubs.
The protocols, which are in addition to the restrictions set out by the Federal, State and Territory Governments, cover the protection of players, officials and staff across training, travel and matches as well as the restrictions in place away from the club.
Protocols have applied to AFL players since the season was suspended at the conclusion of round one.
Players received daily health screens and were tested if showing any potential symptoms. No player on an AFL list has tested positive to the virus in that time.
Key points of the protocols, which have been agreed to by the AFLPA, include:
* All testing of personnel under this protocol will be AFL-funded and conducted independently from the public health system to not place any burden on its resources. It will be subject to modification at any time according to the public health circumstances in the community.
* Players and officials will be temperature screened every single time before they enter club facilities and will be tested twice a week - ahead of contact training and matches - using PCR testing conducted by pathology provider Dorevitch.
* Players will train in consistent small groups (< 8 people) and when contact training is allowed, will still train in consistent small groups except for the main contact sessions each week.
* Players and Club staff to be tested within 24 hrs of main contact sessions and all players and officials, including umpires and key AFL match officials, taking part in matches will be tested approx. 24 hours ahead of games.
* Protocols on the movements of players, coaches and staff outside of training and matches to continue to be restricted, with contact with the public, outside of their immediate families, to be minimised.
* Strict limitations on anyone outside of players and nominated Football Department staff from entering football areas or rooms at any stage, including on match days. Only essential and tested AFL match day staff will be present on match day.
"We are confident that with the resilience measures, processes and protocols we currently have in place and the constantly revised measures we will continue to instil, we have a system in place to protect players, staff, the community and the competition,” Mr McLachlan said.
The AFL will continue to consult closely with Federal and State Governments along with the relevant Chief Health Officers across the country to continue to refine the protocols and ensure the best practices are being adhered to. The AFL and the clubs are committed to compliance with all standards and know these may change at different stages.
Following an AFL Commission meeting on Monday, the protocols are deemed to be part of the AFL rules with any breach of the rules deemed to be conduct unbecoming and will be dealt with in accordance with the AFL rules and an agreed stuff between the AFL and AFLPA.
The AFL has also consulted with the Defence Department, BHP and Chef de Mission for the Paralympics in setting up protocols to provide support for those players who have to move away from home and their families as well as support protocols for those families who will join the players.
Mr McLachlan said the Project Return group had examined many structures before settling on the Return to Play model and the AFL had anchored its decisions in prioritising the health and welfare of the industry and the wider community as well as protecting the integrity of the competition.
He thanked members and fans for their patience and their commitment and the clubs for their ongoing collaboration and support.
“There has been an extraordinary amount of work and collaboration across the football industry, from clubs, players, coaches, our AFL team, the AFLPA, broadcast and commercial partners, governments and venues to come up with the best possible model in these circumstances while ensuring health and safety was the key priority.
“We have the best fans in sports, they have been patient and committed during this time. We understand our responsibility to both them and the wider community, and hopefully with footy returning they can get some normality back in their lives and cheer their teams on.
“The return of footy doesn’t mean the work is complete. We must continue to follow the advice of the government and medical authorities and continue to play our role in helping to flatten the curve, and we encourage everyone to download the Covid-Safe app on your phone.”
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433686/stuff-afl-statement-on-season-return
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McLachlan earlier denied on 3AW that heavyweights Richmond and Collingwood would definitely kick off round two, and while he didn’t rule out the prospect of clubs playing more than one game a week, he indicated that, at this stage, each of the remaining rounds of footy would be played out over the orthodox timeframe of Thursday to Sunday.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/afl/afl-clubs-to-resume-training-on-monday-20200515-p54ta3.html
McLachlan also confirmed:
* The AFL will cover all costs for the Crows, Power, Eagles and Dockers in the quarantine hubs and their families.
* Families inside hubs will be subjected to the same testing and distancing protocols.
* The Crows and Power will share the Mercure Resort and Eagles and Dockers will be housed at The Pines Resort.
* Umpires and key match day staff will also be subjected to COVID-19 when the season resumes.
* Matches for the remainder of the season will be released in blocks of 4-6 weeks.
* The finals series will continue as a traditional stuff model.
* The default position for the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final location remained for it to be played at the MCG on a fluid date in October.
* AFL football operations boss Steve Hocking would soon confirm whether the interchange bench would increase to six.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/433640/revealed-afl-s-stuff-full-contact-training-more-covid-tests
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West Coast will push for an extended run of home games later in the year as compensation for having to restart the AFL season interstate.
https://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/6758483/eagles-chase-afl-fixture-compensation/?cs=7660
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EVERY player’s home assessed, limited visitors: AFL’s extremely strict relaunch protocols
May 15, 2020 4:53pm
Matt Balmer
FOX SPORTS
With the AFL to resume training on Monday and matches to begun from June 11, every player from the 14 teams not included in the isolation village in Queensland will need to have their homes assessed.
“Each household will be assessed for risk. There’ll be restrictions on visitors to households – there's a full suite of those,” AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told reporters on Friday.
“They're allowed to get food and drink and others, so there's a set of protocols that go above the current restrictions in Victoria that are consistent for all players nationally having been signed off by the Players’ Association. It's going to require a level of discipline from playing group, but they've signed up for that because they’re committed to getting our industry back on track and they want to play.
“There will be a set of protocols that govern how each player can work obviously at training and outside training and who can be allowed in the house and who they can live with and how that works.
“Broadly visitation won't be allowed, but it's be based on the risk assessment.”
Read more: https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-season-restart-june-11-protocols-afl-rules-covid19-testing-coronavirus/news-story/a76e0895aac8c955ad677cd6366d481a
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All Tigers clear of covid-19.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/every-afl-player-tests-negative-to-covid-19-so-far-20200516-p54tkx.html
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West Coast picked Queensland as its base for the AFL season resumption to ensure Victoria's 10 teams weren't handed a serious advantage.
https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/qld-best-option-for-afl-hub-eagles-coach/e113e816-e604-442d-b3ab-fa6fd0693636
AFL boss Gil McLachlan says MCG not locked in for 2020 Grand Final
Oliver Caffrey
PerthNow
May 16, 2020
The AFL is not ruling out a Marvel Stadium grand final and a decider away from the MCG for the first time in 29 years.
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/afl-boss-gil-mclachlan-says-mcg-not-locked-in-for-2020-grand-final-ng-b881549439z
Sounds more like the Eagles fear playing us :whistle.
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DOUBLE-HEADER fixtures could be on the cards when the AFL restarts its season in June.
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld said the absence of crowds and limited number of venues could make playing two games at the same ground in one day a viable option.
For example, a venue could host a game early on Saturday afternoon, then another later that night.
Auld said the League's preference was not to use suburban grounds, with the MCG, Marvel Stadium and GMHBA Stadium likely to be the only stadiums used in Victoria from the June 11 restart.
He noted the League still hoped to see games played in Tasmania later this year, though that won't happen in the first block of fixtures.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/434007/double-headers-on-cards-for-afl-restart-says-fixture-boss
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Speaking on SEN, Auld all but confirmed Richmond will take on Collingwood on June 11 in a dream start to the revamped season.
“It feels like it’s building,” he said.
“There’s certainly a level of support for it.
“I do like it, I think it’s a really strong way to start the season so yeah, it might be the public vote that one.”
Also looming large is the prospect of no bye week before the first week of finals, as the league races to get a season away.
“I think so (no byes)... if everything went really smoothly... then you could roll into a standard stuff finals and that’d be quite neat in structure. Whether it plays out that way, we’ll see.”
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-afl-2020-afl-fixture-2020-afl-season-restart-afl-covid19-afl-coronavirus/news-story/d29c50dffe81be84e8140b85402f17ec
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AFL players will travel interstate on match day this year, in a break from longstanding league rules that may impact away teams negatively.
Foxfooty.com.au has confirmed teams will use chartered flights and leave on the morning of games, in an effort to avoid time in interstate hotel rooms.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-covid19-coronavirus-updates-season-restart-afl-relaunch-june-11-rules-vfl/news-story/02194876d40b746c39355f13725589de
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SEN's guess at round 2:
Thursday June 11
Richmond v Collingwood – MCG – 7:40pm
Footy will finally return in under a month’s time and its widely tipped Richmond will face off against Collingwood in a clash that was originally scheduled to take place in round two back in March. Both the Tigers and Pies are expected to be in premiership contention this year so it’s the perfect fixture to restart the season.
Friday June 12
Carlton v Essendon – MCG – 7:50pm
Saturday June 13
North Melbourne v Melbourne – Marvel Stadium – 1:45pm
Sydney v GWS Giants – SCG – 2:10pm
Brisbane v Gold Coast – Gabba – 4:35pm
Adelaide v Port Adelaide – Metricon Stadium – 7:40pm
Sunday June 14
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs – Marvel Stadium – 1:10pm
Geelong v Hawthorn – GMHBA Stadium – 4:20pm
West Coast v Fremantle – Metricon Stadium - 7:10pm
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/17/what-would-the-ultimate-round-2-stuff-like/
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Do we know who will be broadcasting which match? Ch 7 Foxtel etc.
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Do we know who will be broadcasting which match? Ch 7 Foxtel etc.
Thursday night games are broadcast on both Ch7 and Fox
Fox will broadcast all games as per the contract
Unless There is a change in the contract
Rd 2 games will be:
# Thurs night = Ch7 and Fox
# Friday night = Ch7 and fox
# Saturday night = Ch7 and Fox
# Sunday 4.20pm game = Ch7 and Fox
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Riewoldt, Tigers would be rapt to restart the season against Collingwood
By SEN
18 May 2020
Richmond star Jack Riewoldt is incredibly excited by the prospect of facing Collingwood on June 11th when the footy season resumes.
While it isn’t yet official, it has been suggested that the blockbuster will be used to kick off Round 2.
AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld told SEN’s Crunch Time on Saturday that it would be a “really strong way to start the season”.
Riewoldt is happy that they have something set in stone to focus on as players and clubs return to training on Monday.
“They’re obviously a really strong powerhouse side and we like to think that we are too, so it’s exciting that we have a date locked in,” he told SEN’s Whateley.
“Rather than planning for what ifs we’re planning for an actual time to get ready and go.
“I know from our senior coach’s point of view he’s rapt that we’ve got a date and can start to get the troops ready for what’s going to be a fantastic way to restart the season.”
Players will be forced to live under strict conditions during the season in order to keep COVID-19 from entering the league and derailing it once more.
Riewoldt said the AFL’s protocols are strict, but it all comes down to “common sense”.
“I’ve had a brief look over it (the protocols), but I can imagine today it will be spelled out pretty clearly for all the players and what the do’s and don’t’s are,” he said.
“I think it comes down to common sense really. The more times you put yourself in a position to come in contact and catch COVID-19, they’re the situations you’ve gone to be wary of and be smart of.
“It’ll continue to be a fluid situation … you hear one thing and then within two days its sort of taken a shift and gone a completely different way. I think it’ll be pretty fluid and common sense will prevail as well.”
The AFL is expected to release its fixture for the first four to six weeks within the next week.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/18/riewoldt-tigers-would-be-rapt-to-restart-the-season-against-collingwood/
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Caro said Richmond and Collingwood will be on the Thursday night.
The League wants another Victorian game on the Friday night.
West Coast to play Brisbane at Metricon and not the Gabba given it will be an Eagles home game.
Round 2 will be a normal fixture.
16 more rounds, no pre-finals bye and then finals.
Grand Final on October 24.
Hutchy reckons there should be Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday night games to maximise TV ratings. Even two Friday night games (starting 6pm and 9pm).
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Blockbuster clashes locked in for Round 2: McClure
By SEN
20 May 2020 6:00pm
A mouth-watering fixture is set to kick-start the 2020 AFL season.
According to Sportsday host Sam McClure, Richmond and Collingwood will open Round 2 in a blockbuster Thursday night clash.
McClure also understands a Showdown between Adelaide and Port Adelaide will be scheduled for Round 2 after the two clubs were granted permission to resume contact training in South Australia from May 25.
"You can lock in June 11 being Collingwood taking on Richmond at an empty MCG – that is done," McClure told Sportsday.
"As is the Showdown that will be at some stage in Round 2."
The Power and Crows will remain in South Australia before relocating to player hubs in Queensland prior to June 11.
The AFL will release the first block of fixtures in the coming days.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/05/20/blockbuster-clashes-locked-in-for-round-2-mcclure/
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AFL COULD ANNOUNCE FIXTURE IN COMING DAYS
According to the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph, the new fixture could come as early as Friday and could give both South Australian clubs a boost.
“Potentially Friday, at the very least Monday,” he said on Fox Sports News’ AFL Tonight.
“(They) will give AFL clubs four weeks of the fixture. They will push ahead on it, they need certainty and so you can plan those four weeks.
“Port Adelaide and Adelaide have a real hope they will not need to play in hubs at all.”
https://www.stuff-revealed-freo-great-outlines-path-ahead-for-hogan/news-story/06f31d561a6bc26c6390e41e774a673a
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Pies, Tigers set to reopen season in blockbuster Thursday clash
Jake Niall, Sam McClure
The Age
21 May 2020
The AFL is preparing for a blockbuster return, with Collingwood and Richmond set to clash in the first game back on June 11.
The Tigers are aware that they will be playing on the Thursday night of round two on June 11 and expect that they will confront Collingwood, the team that beat them in the 2018 preliminary final but failed to make an anticipated grand final clash with the 2019 premiers.
Collingwood have not yet been officially informed that they will meet Richmond on that Thursday night return game – expected to be at the MCG, obviously without a crowd – but the Magpies are preparing on the basis that they will meet the Tigers in that stuff game and football sources have confirmed that this is what the AFL will fixture.
Collingwood midfielder Adam Treloar is in doubt for that game, in what is one of few injury queries for either of those clubs, which have been the best performed Victorian clubs over the past two seasons.
The Tigers have a virtually full list to pick from, at this stage, though the clubs do not begin full-contact training and match simulation drills until next week.
The AFL's free-to-air broadcaster, Seven, will be delighted with a Collingwood-Richmond return, which is certain to be a ratings winner, the network having wanted a big bang in the return round.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/pies-tigers-set-to-reopen-season-in-blockbuster-thursday-clash-20200520-p54uxp.html
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Looks like the fixture release will be delayed until next week at least thanks to the SA govt and the lack of AFL umpires in SA.
----------------------------
South Australia pushed for a Showdown at Adelaide Oval in round two but the AFL has arrived at a hitch in their plans to make it happen.
South Australia is refusing to allow fly in, fly out football, a directive that applies to all.
Teams can’t fly into Adelaide, and neither can umpires, officials or broadcast staff - without serving a 14-day quarantine period.
There are just two qualified umpires already in Adelaide.
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/south-australian-ruling-leaves-afl-scrambling-to-resolve-fixture-hold-up-c-1052190
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BREAKING: @AFL & SA Health authorities have reportedly reached a deal to allow a Round 2 Showdown to go ahead. Umpires will fly over early and serve out 2-week quarantine. Broadcast team will drive over and be exempt from quarantine if they agree to limit movements
@abcadelaide — Stacey Lee (@Staceylee_) May 22, 2020
https://twitter.com/Staceylee_/status/1263679588233703425
SEN just said the revised fixture will now be released either Monday or Tuesday.
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AFL fixture reveal expected on Monday — with these key details
May 23, 2020
FOX SPORTS
Round 2 is almost certain to begin with a Richmond vs Collingwood game on the night of Thursday June 11 at the MCG - the same game that was set to begin Round 2 on the original fixture.
It’s possible the Showdown could be played on Friday night, while a Derby between West Coast and Fremantle isn’t on the cards, and is more likely to be held over until it can be played in Perth rather than the southeast Queensland hub.
The two WA sides are therefore likely to face the two Queensland sides, Brisbane and Gold Coast, in Round 2.
Sydney and GWS will either host games together or travel interstate together each weekend - rather than the usual format of one game in NSW per round since the Giants’ entry into the competition.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-major-curveball-revealed-in-afls-round-2-showdown-plan/news-story/b8d14d59bd425ead66825c25c7492472
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"So Thursday night Tigers Pies, Friday night Geelong and Hawthorn, and then Saturday night Port Adelaide versus Adelaide." - Herald Sun journalist Jay Clark on MMM.
Source: Foxsports (https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-live-2020-afl-news-rolling-updates-luke-beveridge-afl-coaches-afl-coronavirus-cuts/news-story/43a91faccb2c1a0858f121aef9f19397)
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Who plays who in the AFL's return round: Fixture details revealed
Jake Niall
The Age
25 May 2020
ROUND TWO FIXTURE (As of last night)
THURSDAY JUNE 11
Richmond v Collingwood, MCG (night) ..... [n.b. some media outlets are reporting it could
be Collingwood's 'home' game]
FRIDAY JUNE 12
Geelong v Hawthorn, GMHBA stadium (night)
SATURDAY JUNE 13
St Kilda v Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium
Carlton v Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Adelaide v Port Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Gold Coast v West Coast, Metricon Stadium
SUNDAY JUNE 14
GWS v North Melbourne, Giants Stadium, 1pm
Sydney v Essendon, SCG
Brisbane v Fremantle, Gabba
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/who-plays-who-in-the-afl-s-return-round-fixture-details-revealed-20200524-p54vzh.html
https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/exclusive-geelong-to-play-every-game-at-home-ground-up-to-30000-fans-may-be-allowed-to-attend-grand-final/news-story/3bcb90deebc63e9db5314acc13990619
---------------------------------------------------
The AFL will release the times and venues for round two in the first phase of fixtures on Monday.
The new schedule of matches will likely be released in stuff blocks, allowing the AFL flexibility to adapt to changing coronavirus restrictions later in the year.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/435752/blockbusters-galore-as-afl-prepares-for-monster-round-two
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Round 2 confirmed.
Rounds 3-5 fully revealed at 1pm.
Fixture reveal from 1pm AEST, monster R2 unveiled
By Ben Sutton
AAP/afl site
25 May 2020
Thursday, June 11
Collingwood vs Richmond, MCG
Friday, June 12
Geelong vs Hawthorn, GMHBA Stadium
Saturday June 13
Brisbane vs Fremantle, Gabba
Carlton vs Melbourne, Marvel Stadium
Port Adelaide vs Adelaide, Adelaide Oval
Gold Coast vs West Coast, Metricon
Sunday, June 14
Sydney vs Essendon, SCG
GWS vs North Melbourne, Giants Stadium
St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs, Marvel Stadium
https://www.afl.com.au/news/435752/monster-r2-unveiled-r3-5-to-be-revealed-at-1pm-aest
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9 games across Thurs. night, Friday night, Sat. arvo, Sat. twilight, 2x Sat. night, 2x Sunday arvo, Sunday night for Foxtel.
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The AFL fixture for Rounds 2-5 are locked in! Bring on the footy 🙌
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EY1PHtDUcAABe8I?format=jpg&name=360x360)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EY1PLJzUEAM82Bc?format=jpg&name=360x360)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EY1PNlAVAAE9o9c?format=jpg&name=360x360)
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EY1PRKvVcAEsnij?format=jpg&name=360x360)
https://twitter.com/triplemfooty/status/1264754390415470592
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So our games:
Collingwood @ MCG ...... Thurs. night
Hawthorn @ MCG ....... Thurs. night
St Kilda @ Marvel ..... Sat. twilight
West Coast @ Metricon ... Thurs. night ..... (both teams off a 5-day break)
Travis Auld said we've been sent up to play the Eagles at Metricon because by round 5, with how the fixture had worked out, they had run out of interstate teams up in the Qld hub to play against each other.
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Do we have a broadcast guide yet?
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Do we have a broadcast guide yet?
https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership (https://www.afl.com.au/broadcast-guide-premiership)
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Mark Stevens said clubs like Richmond and Collingwood will travel more than usual this season because there are no crowds and thus no other clubs requesting games in Melbourne against them.
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3 away games out of 4 early on = more home games later on in the season :whistle.
Waits for Kane Cornes and interstate opposition fans to again sook about our draw if we get on another winning run towards September October :nopity.
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lol
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From Barrett's latest sliding doors column:
RICHMOND
IF ... the fixturing gods were ridiculously, maybe even unfairly, kind last year with seven consecutive MCG matches to close the 2019 home-and-away season ...
THEN ... those fixturing gods are looking down favourably, again. Now get to play an "away" game against premiership rival West Coast … on the Gold Coast, in round five.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/440270/sliding-doors-if-jordy-can-drive-through-traffic-like-a-hot-knife-through-butter-then
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We won't have to go to Perth :thumbsup.
PERTH HUB LOCKED IN
Fremantle and West Coast are set to gain an advantage after the opening month of the season, with the AFL reportedly all but set to open up a hub in Western Australia.
According to 7 News reporter Ryan Daniels, a hub in WA is locked in, with the possibility of the two western clubs playing one further round in Queensland.
“Most likely scenario: In round 6 West Coast would play Adelaide, Fremantle to face a team that would fly into Qld. Derby back in WA for round 7 played in quarantine. After that four Vic clubs – teams unconfirmed – will fly in and quarantine at Crown. Games at Optus (Stadium).
“The key change – Government, Cops and health officials allowing teams to fly in and play each other during quarantine. That means no need for a bye that would stall the season. Opened everything up.”
Both Essendon and Richmond are unlikely to be the teams heading to WA given they will have already played a WA team under the current stuff fixture.
Melbourne, Hawthorn, Collingwood, North Melbourne and the Western Bulldogs will travel in the upcoming stuff fixture block, leaving Geelong, St Kilda and Carlton the three teams who will not have travelled by the end of Round 5.
https://www.stuff-mcgowan-wa-wa-hubs-afl-tv-rights-deal-rolling-updates-afl-coronavirus-afl-season-restart/news-story/426cc254f4f722040c8db334301d3669
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21 days in WA as Victorian clubs ready themselves to travel
Peter Ryan, Jake Niall
The Age
24 June 2020
A pair of Victorian and NSW clubs could spend 21 days in Western Australia to play a series of matches against Fremantle, West Coast and each other from round seven onwards if the AFL can gain agreement around quarantine protocols with the West Australian government.
Club CEOs were told that West Coast and Fremantle were likely to remain on the Gold Coast for round six with the Eagles to potentially play Adelaide while the Dockers' opponent remained unclear.
The two clubs from WA would then move back to quarantine in their own homes while Victorian or NSW-based clubs would hit the road to play three consecutive games in WA.
Subject to Western Australian approval, which is still being discussed, the two Victorian or NSW- clubs in WA would play each other in round seven while serving their quarantine period in a hotel with the premier Mark McGowan saying no interstate clubs would be allowed to play the Western Australian based clubs until their 14-day quarantine period was served.
Fremantle and West Coast could then play the derby in round seven with Optus Stadium able to host a capacity crowd of 60,000 people from July 18.
The AFL is hopeful of announcing rounds six and seven by Thursday or Friday.
There could then be a rolling arrival of clubs based in WA to play against each other while serving their quarantine period before being drawn to play Fremantle or West Coast.
With Richmond scheduled to play West Coast at Metricon Stadium in round five and Essendon and Melbourne already having played Fremantle and the Eagles respectively in round one it is unlikely they would be among the first clubs to play over in the west while the clubs from South Australia and Queensland will have also played the Western Australian clubs in the first five rounds.
It means Carlton, Collingwood, Hawthorn, Greater Western Sydney, Geelong, North Melbourne, St Kilda, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs were all preparing for the prospect of having to relocate for a period from round six onwards.
All clubs have expressed willingness to do their bit to keep the AFL rolling with the coaches of Geelong and Collingwood embracing the prospect a fortnight ago.
Carlton and St Kilda will not have left their home state since the start of the season by the time round five concludes leaving them as potential candidates to travel although the AFL has not given any indication as to which teams may have to head west during 2020.
They are yet to discuss new fixture arrangements and what it might mean for players with the AFLPA although they have broad support for arrangements similar to those in place on the Gold Coast.
McGowan said Perth would be the logical place for a grand final if Victoria could not host crowds at the MCG however the MCG - which is contracted to host the grand final - remains the AFL's preferred venue at this stage.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/21-days-in-wa-as-victorian-clubs-ready-themselves-to-travel-20200623-p555g8.html
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The full Round 6 Fixture:
(https://images.7news.com.au/publication/C-1123210/08eb3c54a0c15f7550010c21fd3cb081b3b0e4bf.jpg?imwidth=650&impolicy=sevennews_v2)
https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-round-six-and-seven-fixtures-revealed-c-1123210
Collingwood and Geelong will head over into WA hubs for round 7.
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Full Round 7 fixture revealed
By SEN
25 June 2020
SEN Chief Sports Reporter Sam Edmund has exclusively revealed the full Round 7 fixture.
Thursday July 16
Hawthorn v Essendon at Marvel Stadium (7:40pm AEST))
Friday July 17
Geelong v Collingwood at Optus Stadium (8:10pm AEST)
Saturday July 18
Sydney v Brisbane at SCG (1:45pm AEST)
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs at the MCG (4:35pm AEST)
Gold Coast v Carlton at Metricon Stadium (7:40pm AEST)
North Melbourne v Adelaide at Marvel Stadium (7:40pm AEST)
Sunday July 19
St Kilda v Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium (1:05pm AEST)
Richmond v GWS Giants at MCG (3:35pm AEST)
Fremantle v West Coast at Optus Stadium (8:35pm AEST)
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/06/25/full-round-7-fixture-revealed/
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Is just :banghead forget I’m over it
Not complaining, it’s just a joke
And just to pee a few lefties in here off.
If Richmond are going to flog poo through the superstore
FFS can you keep the women’s stuff totally seperate :banghead
Yeah yeah bla bla no one gives a crap but a small minority
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Just two of the first six rounds at home. So, including round 7, six of our final 11 H/A matches will need to be home games and we won't be travelling to Perth. Waits for Kane Cornes to sulk again about our cushy run home ;D.
Is just :banghead forget I’m over it
Not complaining, it’s just a joke
And just to pee a few lefties in here off.
If Richmond are going to flog poo through the superstore
FFS can you keep the women’s stuff totally seperate :banghead
Yeah yeah bla bla no one gives a crap but a small minority
We know you're no fan of it cub and that's your prerogative but there is a reason why the AFLW won't have to make any cuts.
The AFL Women’s competition is watched by 2.78 million Australians and is the only form of AFL competition to increase its TV viewership compared to a year ago.
https://www.bandt.com.au/study-the-afl-still-trumps-the-nrl-for-tv-eyeballs-but-more-men-than-women-now-watching-womens-footy/
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just two of the first six rounds at home. So, including round 7, six of our final 11 H/A matches will need to be home games and we won't be travelling to Perth. Waits for Kane Cornes to sulk again about our cushy run home
Correct me if im wrong but who says we need to play x amount of games at the G. Arent all ground rights thrown out the window?
also why cant we cant play freo over there?
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Correct me if im wrong but who says we need to play x amount of games at the G. Arent all ground rights thrown out the window?
also why cant we cant play freo over there?
We're not yet going to Perth because we are going to Brissie next week
And yep about the grounds... that's why the Pies & geelong are playing "a home game" over there - not sure which team it has been designated as the home team
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Ch 7 tonight mentioned that clubs may have to double up playing some other clubs twice while not playing others at all to complete the season.
--------------------------------------------------
Victorian clubs are looking increasingly likely to be sent to hubs.
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld told Sportsday it meant it was “certainly a probability” that Victorian clubs would now be spending more time on the road.
https://www.3aw.com.au/hubs-certainly-a-probability-for-victorian-clubs-now-afl-concedes/
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Ch 7 tonight mentioned that clubs may have to double up playing some other clubs twice while not playing others at all to complete the season.
--------------------------------------------------
Victorian clubs are looking increasingly likely to be sent to hubs.
AFL fixture boss Travis Auld told Sportsday it meant it was “certainly a probability” that Victorian clubs would now be spending more time on the road.
https://www.3aw.com.au/hubs-certainly-a-probability-for-victorian-clubs-now-afl-concedes/
Not a season of proper integrity is it then?
Just a BS season...
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hahaha please make that happen.
Would be an absolute crack up, though not all that surprising.
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Season will eventually be cancelled - until then, just play the kids, nothing to lose but draft position... :shh
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Sam McClure on Footy Classified reckons the AFL is working on having hubs around the country including in Darwin and Vic clubs will be paired off to each hub. He also said the fixture from now on will be released weekly.
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The AFL will redraw the fixture for rounds six and seven after the South Australian government decided to keep its border closed to Victoria.
The SA government's call has further narrowed the league's options and ensured that Victorian teams will be playing on the road in those weeks and beyond.
The AFL also indicated that Victorian teams that went on the road to meet quarantine rules would not necessarily be in "hubs", though they would likely stay in one location for at least two weeks.
A revised round six draw should be released later this week.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-fixture-to-be-redrawn-after-sa-border-decision-20200630-p557l8.html
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We should have gone to darwin a couple of weeks ago. Good opportunity to win the darwin market? Get our players into a warmer environment out of melbournes winter and give the players the chance to reconnect as teammates.
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The upshot is that the Victorian clubs are all set for extended stints in interstate hubs. Whie the AFL is yet to confirm where the respective clubs will head, club and industry sources indicated that the Western Bulldogs were expecting to join Geelong and Collingwood in Western Australia, Hawthorn and Essendon are tipped to head to the Gold Coast, and Melbourne is favoured to head to NSW. Manly, Coogee and Wollongong have been slated by industry sources as possible locations for the NSW hubs.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-briefing-clubs-ahead-of-victorian-exodus-20200702-p558b8.html
Based on this, we're likely heading to either SA, NSW or Darwin.
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The Western Bulldogs are likely to join Geelong, Collingwood, Fremantle and West Coast in Perth. But an odd number makes no sense, so another team will need to join them.
Sydney is expected to house Gold Coast, GWS, the Swans, St Kilda and potentially North Melbourne and Melbourne. The latter two teams could spend a short time in NSW before heading north to Queensland, where they wouldn’t have to quarantine because by then they would have been outside of Victoria for 14 days.
Richmond and Carlton’s future is less clear, while Adelaide, Port Adelaide and Brisbane are no certainty to be in their home states for the initial block of games.
Hawthorn and Essendon have been tipped to head to Gold Coast, where they would need to quarantine for 14 days. If given the tick of approval like the WA government gave the AFL, the Hawks and Bombers could play against each other while quarantining.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/live-afls-fixture-mess-laid-bare-and-why-a-bye-weekend-makes-sense/news-story/002a8fc3c667f2089154ea6969ed345f
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AFL clubs have been asked for stuff on the possibility of cramming extra matches into the next six weeks of fixturing.
While rounds six and seven of the 2020 AFL season will stand as fixtured, the ensuing weeks are expected to look very different as the AFL and its clubs continue to respond to the heightened uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The cramming of matches inside that timeframe would present massive challenges for all aspects of the AFL industry, particularly players, coaches and broadcasters, and stuff from all facets was sought out of Wednesday's meeting with the club bosses.
The clubs, while apprehensive about the possibilities of asking players to endure shorter breaks, have indicated initial conditional support to the potential changes.
Upon completion of the matches jammed into the next five or six weeks, consideration will be given to a period of AFL shutdown to allow clubs to re-set for the run into finals.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/462797/fixture-cram-afl-looks-at-extra-games-in-next-six-weeks
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AFL FIXTURE ANNOUNCEMENT SET TO BE DELAYED
Tom Morris reports...
The AFL‘s next batch of fixtures are set to be announced next week.
The AFL is keen to condense Rounds 8-12 inside the current 32-day window before players return home from their hubs.
It would shorten breaks between games, but give the league some much-needed breathing room in the back end of the season.
Clubs would return home before the weekend of August 15 and 16, and either have a bye or play another round.
Victorian teams would take on each other, while the eight non-Victorian clubs would be free to fly around as normal.
High ranking club sources believe it‘s almost inevitable Victorian clubs will then be asked to re-enter hubs for five weeks to finish the home and away season.
As first reported by foxfooty.com.au last Friday, the AFL has assured players they will not be spending any more than five weeks in hubs in this batch of fixtures.
Shorter quarters allow for four-day breaks between games, though the league would endeavour not to schedule back-to-back four-day breaks for clubs.
Sunday night and Monday night footy looks set to stay when the AFL announces the next set of matches, while the league could even fixture a Tuesday and/or Wednesday night game if it needs.
It‘s unclear when Essendon will play against Melbourne to make up their encounter from earlier in the year, but it could happen in one of those two mid-week timeslots.
The AFL is hopeful of confirming a Grand Final date by the end of August.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-live-2020-afl-updates-afl-coronavirus-afl-covid19-geelong-injuries-sydney-quarantine-afl/news-story/ff846dcc703cc29880f075a9109b8e5a
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Mitch Cleary from the AFL website on ABC radio said the next couple of rounds will be released on tomorrow (Monday).
Two Victorian clubs will play each other in round 8 to satisfy WA quarantine before heading over to Perth. Carlton is one of the sides going. So Hawthorn is expected to be the other given they haven't played the Blues yet.
The AFL is also planning for all Victorian clubs to be based in Qld hubs. So that means Melbourne and Hawthorn currently in Sydney.
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Round 8 info so far:
Sydney vs Hawthorn @ S.C.G.
Port Adelaide vs St Kilda @ Adelaide Oval
West Coast vs Collingwood @ Optus Stadium on Sunday July 26
Fremantle vs Geelong @ Optus Stadium on Monday July 27
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cats-to-face-freo-on-monday-night-in-round-eight-pies-v-eagles-on-sunday-20200713-p55bl9.html
So that leaves us playing one of Adelaide, Brisbane, Essendon, Gold Coast, GWS or Bulldogs.
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Round 8 info so far:
Sydney vs Hawthorn @ S.C.G.
Port Adelaide vs St Kilda @ Adelaide Oval
West Coast vs Collingwood @ Optus Stadium on Sunday July 26
Fremantle vs Geelong @ Optus Stadium on Monday July 27
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cats-to-face-freo-on-monday-night-in-round-eight-pies-v-eagles-on-sunday-20200713-p55bl9.html
So that leaves us playing one of Adelaide, Brisbane, Essendon, Gold Coast, GWS or Bulldogs.
Likely to be Bulldogs or Essendon as the other teams will be in Perth won't they?
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Round 8 info so far:
Sydney vs Hawthorn @ S.C.G.
Port Adelaide vs St Kilda @ Adelaide Oval
West Coast vs Collingwood @ Optus Stadium on Sunday July 26
Fremantle vs Geelong @ Optus Stadium on Monday July 27
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/cats-to-face-freo-on-monday-night-in-round-eight-pies-v-eagles-on-sunday-20200713-p55bl9.html
So that leaves us playing one of Adelaide, Brisbane, Essendon, Gold Coast, GWS or Bulldogs.
Likely to be Bulldogs or Essendon as the other teams will be in Perth won't they?
AFAIK only Geelong and Collingwood will be in Perth (they already are) with the WA sides as non-WA clubs need to do 14-days quarantine. The rest of the Victorian sides are/will be based in Queensland along with Brisbane & the Suns. The NSW & SA sides are based in their respective home state.
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Ch7 10 news suggesting GF Re-match in round 8
No mention of where
-
Round 8
GWS v Richmond
Giants Stadium
Sydney, Friday 24th July
7.50pm
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That’s a stupid move. Move a whole club to Qld, make them isolate for 14 days and then send them to Sydney straight after where COVID is starting up again. Halfwits running the AFL
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Laughable were stationary in qld and then they want us to travel to nsw bunch of clowns.
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Laughable were stationary in qld and then they want us to travel to nsw bunch of clowns.
They’d rather we catch covid than make GWS travel for a home game. Travis Auld is a idiot
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Caro just said the AFL is now worried about the covid situation in NSW and is considering moving the Giants & Swans up to Qld.
So the venue may change.
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Caro just said the AFL is now worried about the covid situation in NSW and is considering moving the Giants & Swans up to Qld.
So the venue may change.
This season is an utter circus
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Caro just said the AFL is now worried about the covid situation in NSW and is considering moving the Giants & Swans up to Qld.
So the venue may change.
This season is an utter circus
But it suits us
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West Australian reporting that the NSW based teams have been told to have their bags packed.
SA now refusing to open border to NSW. That's a problem for the AFL if clubs are in Sydney.
SEN also mentioned the NRL is considering moving their whole comp up to Qld.
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West Australian reporting that the NSW based teams have been told to have their bags packed.
SA now refusing to open border to NSW. That's a problem for the AFL if clubs are in Sydney.
SEN also mentioned the NRL is considering moving their whole comp up to Qld.
Yep the pub cluster in Western Sydney causing major concerns. It's spreading
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No way in the world that gws game is played in Sydney afl is living with fairys.
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NT gov now calling Sydney a covid hotspot. Hard to see us playing GWS in NSW.
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Gil is moving the Dees from Sydney up to Qld but he added he isn't going to second guess NSW health officials. He'll continue to follow the advice of health officials.
So no change to the fixture at this stage.
Also the AFL wants the H/A season completed over the next 10 weeks.
No decision on the location of the Grand Final.
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The GF will be at the MCG unless it can't be.
Gil also said they are looking at games in Cairns, NT & Tassie.
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Ch 7 tonight said there will a bye week off for hub teams in the next round of fixtures. Good for us.
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Travis Auld on footy classified said the AFL want to squeeze 8 'rounds' into 6 weeks. There will be a bye for each club given the 4 day breaks between matches. There will be a game every day. The last two rounds before the finals will return to normal weekly rounds.
Caro expects rounds 9-12 to be played over 3 weeks and the schedule released on Monday.
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AFL aiming for a Oct 17 GF.
Rounds 9-12 to be over 19 consecutive days.
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AFL players will accept compressed fixture if contract freeze is lifted, AFLPA boss Paul Marsh says
Paul Marsh says Victorian AFL teams relocation is necessary to continue the season
Players from the AFL's 10 Victorian clubs feel a "responsibility" to do whatever it takes to complete the 2020 season, AFLPA boss Paul Marsh says, but they want the freeze on contract discussions lifted.
Key points:The AFL is planning to cram as many games as possible in during the next few weeksAFLPA boss Paul Marsh says the increased risk of injury means players need to be able to secure their futuresMarsh also says most players are accepting of a lengthy stay in a Queensland hub in order to get the season completed
The league is preparing to set up camp in Queensland for the remainder of the home-and-away season after a serious coronavirus outbreak in Victoria forced it into action.
It is also planning to heavily compress the latter round of the season, cramming as many as 33 games into less than three weeks, with the possibility of playing games every day.
While this plan was yet to be confirmed, Marsh said the players would likely only sign off on the idea if the league-wide and AFL-mandated contract freeze was lifted.
"The AFL would like to play the last 11 home-and-away games in a period of eight weeks, and we are certainly open to that," he said.
"But at the moment, one of our concerns is the AFL has put a freeze on players contracting into next year and beyond. We need that to be removed.
"We will see a greater risk of injury if players are compressing over the next few weeks, and we don't want to put the players in a situation where this impacts their futures going forward."
AFL fixtures boss Travis Auld said the idea was to move to the altered schedule over the next few weeks before reverting to a more traditional format before finals.
"What we've talked a lot about is needing to get some weeks back in this next block, and then trying to clean up the back end of the season so everyone is well prepared for what is hopefully a normalised finals series," Auld said.
"Now, how that works and how that exactly plays out, I'm not sure, but that certainly has been the preference of everyone."
Marsh said a majority of players were prepared to make the move to Queensland, but expected some would opt against a hub stay.
"We are working through it with the players, and they will embrace it," Marsh said.
"It doesn't mean every single player is going to be able to work through these issues this year, and that is ahead of us, but the players as a group feel a deep sense of responsibility to get this season finished, and we will continue to push forward.
"There are still some details we are working with with the AFL at the moment, but clearly at the moment, Victoria is not a feasible destination.
"So if we want to continue the season, we need to be out of Victoria."
Players' families would likely have the option to move into their own Queensland hub, but Marsh said the personal situations of some players could make the move untenable.
"There are different circumstances for different families," he said.
"Many of the players' families work, which makes it difficult for them to leave Melbourne or Sydney or wherever it might be," he said.
"But a lot of families will go up, no doubt, and that's been an important part of this. There are individual circumstances that are more difficult than others.
"There are players whose partners are expecting children in coming weeks. They will clearly need to get out of Queensland or wherever they might be, and prioritise their families."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-16/afl-players-compressed-fixture-contract-freeze-removed/12460710?section=sport
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AFL Grand Final on collision course with Caulfield Cup: Auld
By Riley Beveridge - 3 hrs ago
THE GRAND Final could be set for an earlier date than initially anticipated, with fixture boss Travis Auld revealing that the League is now planning for an October 17 decider in the midst of a campaign heavily impacted by the global COVID-19 pandemic.
As reported by AFL.com.au on Wednesday evening, 33 matches will be played across 19 consecutive days beginning later this month as part of the League's plan to condense the 2020 fixture to accommodate for the three-month suspension period earlier in the year.
The rapid series of matches will mean the AFL's initial plan for the Toyota AFL Grand Final on October 24 would be brought forward, ending suggestions that the campaign might not finish until early November.
"Probably about the 17th of October," Auld told Channel Nine when asked about the potential Grand Final date.
"I know that will throw everyone into a bit of a spin about what date it is and what else is on that date, but who knows? That will probably change again. It will probably change a couple of times between now and then."
An October 17 Grand Final would coincide with the Caulfield Cup, which is a key part of Melbourne's packed spring racing carnival.
Speaking on Wednesday, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan said that no concrete plans had yet been made as to the venue of the Grand Final and reiterated that the MCG would continue to sit as the host of the showpiece event unless the League was told otherwise.
That is despite all Victorian clubs being forced interstate for the rest of the home and away season, made to relocate to hubs in both Queensland and Western Australia due to the state's increasing number of COVID-19 cases.
A definitive start time for the Grand Final is also unknown, with suggestions continuing to arise that the 2020 decider could be played in either the twilight or night time slot due to the unprecedented events of this season.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/465501/afl-grand-final-on-collision-course-with-caulfield-cup-auld
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Foxsports website saying there's going to be 9 rounds in 6 weeks.
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Looks like we won't be going to WA in the next phase as Ch7 just said Sydney & GWS are heading to Perth.
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R12 vs Suns @ Gabba, Mon Aug 17.
source: SEN
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4 rounds (9-12), 33 games in 20 days.
R9 july 29 - aug 2
R10 aug 3 - aug 7
R11 aug 8 - aug 12
R12 aug 13 - aug 17
source: SEN
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4 rounds (9-12), 33 games in 20 days.
R9 july 29 - aug 2
R10 aug 3 - aug 7
R11 aug 8 - aug 12
R12 aug 13 - aug 17
source: SEN
??? we play
Rd 9 29-07-2020 Western Bulldogs Metricon Wed night
Rd 10 04-08-2020 Brisbane Metricon Tuesday night
Rd 11 08-08-2020 Port Adelaide Adeleiade Oval Sat arvo
Rd 12 17-08-2020 Gold Coast Gabba Monday night
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done well here.
lions at metricon and suns at the gabba is good
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Only 1 game on Ch7
Round 9
Western Bulldogs v Richmond
Wednesday, July 29
7.10pm
Metricon Stadium
Channel 7
Round 10
Richmond v Brisbane
Tuesday, August 4
7.10pm
Metricon Stadium
Fox Footy
Round 11
Port Adelaide v Richmond
Saturday, August 8
4.35pm
Adelaide Oval
Fox Footy
Round 12
Richmond v Gold Coast
Monday, August 17
7:10pm
Gabba
Fox Footy
https://www.richmondfc.com.au/news/747083/tigers-set-for-four-games-in-three-weeks
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All the top teams at their home grounds inc GWS this week before we get our best players back. AFL can GAGF’d
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Very testing 5 weeks for us. If we can go 3-2 we've excelled
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All the top teams at their home grounds inc GWS this week before we get our best players back. AFL can GAGF’d
not really mate, lions at metricon is better than the gabba, ditto suns at the gabba
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If we can get Meaty and Cotch by the Port game, id be confident of a win
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To be honest only game fears me is dogs there bit of a bogey team.Sun's at the gabba and lions in gc suits us.No fear from Port there arrogant bunch we did them there last year with our vfl side practically.
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All these teams are due for some injuries in the next few weeks also.
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It's going to a tough with so many key outs and playing mostly top 8 sides away but we need to win at least 2 of the next 4 to hang in there. If results go as expected for the rest of the round we'll be outside the Eight heading into this squeezed block of 4 games :/.
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NT govt has declared Brisbane a covid hotspot. That means Richmond won't be able to play the Suns at the Gabba before the Darwin Dreamtime game. It will have to be moved to a venue outside Brisbane such as Metricon.
source: Tom Browne on Ch7.
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Brisbane a hot spot lol ?. We always cop these rubbish decisions like travelling to gws.Mickey mouse.
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Brisbane a hot spot lol ?. We always cop these rubbish decisions like travelling to gws.Mickey mouse.
Yes there has been small outbreaks in metro Brisbane in the last couple of days. So NT govt have added it to their list of banned list
Was speaking to my nephew who is based in Darwin last night about it as we collectively lamented me not being able to go to Darwin for Dreamtime. And because of this NT govt announcement right now he can't visit his Mum and Sisters
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They are missing the point completely. This is about managing the health system from being overwhelmed - not staying at zero active cases
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Round 13 officially released by the AFL.
Friday, August 21
Gold Coast v Carlton, TIO Stadium, 7.20pm ACST
Saturday, August 22
Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Port Adelaide v Hawthorn, Adelaide Oval (FOX) 4.05pm ACST
Essendon v Richmond, TIO Stadium, 7.10pm ACST
Fremantle v Sydney, Optus Stadium, 6.10pm AWST
Sunday, August 23
Adelaide v Geelong, Adelaide Oval, 12.35pm ACST
Brisbane v St Kilda, Gabba, 3.35pm AEST
West Coast v Greater Western Sydney, Optus Stadium, 4.10pm AWST
Monday, August 24
Collingwood v North Melbourne, Gabba, 7.10pm AEST
https://www.afl.com.au/news/481542/r13-fixture-reveal-find-who-and-where-you-re-playing-for-sir-doug-nicholls-round
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So rounds 11 to 13 announced. Eagles at home next 3 rounds so a Freo and lions stay home again next 3 rounds ? how's does that work out and fair.At least both Adealide clubs travel once and both Sydney clubs in Perth.
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So rounds 11 to 13 announced. Eagles at home next 3 rounds so a Freo and lions stay home again next 3 rounds ? how's does thst work out and fair.At least both Adealide clubs travel once and both Sydney clubs in Perth.
Its not fair but guess what the AFL don't give a toss. All they care about is the TV revenue.
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Nothing short of a joke.Lets hope those later rounds they play away.
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So for rounds 14-17 we have left to play Eagles, Freo, Geelong & Adelaide.
Two of them need to be 'home' games as we will have only played 6 'home' games by the end of round 13.
Geelong and Adelaide have already played both Perth clubs so we can't travel and play either of them in WA. So either we travel to WA and have to have a bye to achieve a 14-day quarantine before playing both Perth clubs or both Perth clubs travel to Qld to play us. I can imagine the cries of #vicbias if it's the latter lol.
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so last 3 rounds
adelaide
then perth x 2
or
perth x 2
then adelaide
finals start weekend of the 26th september, GF 17 Oct
have i got that right?
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Nothing short of a joke.Lets hope those later rounds they play away.
well how can they Georgie. They play us in one of them.
Looking at the 19 draw we played Eagles in Melbourne (only game for 2020) and Eagles in Perth (only time for 2019)
so if the AFL are being fair and reasonable then we would be playing Eagles in Perth, Freo and Crows in QLD.
can you have 2 years in a row where the team gets home games? I suppose they can do what they want.
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AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan has revealed there is likely to be another condensed fixture block on the horizon.
Rounds 14-16 is set to be played in a similar fashion to the ‘football frenzy’ between Rounds 9-12 with the final round of matches to be scheduled in the traditional Thursday-Sunday time slots.
The rescheduled match between Essendon and Melbourne will be played at some point between Rounds 14-16 after the initial Round 3 encounter was postponed in June.
https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/08/07/afl-confirms-when-rescheduled-essendon-melbourne-match-will-be-played
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so last 3 rounds
adelaide
then perth x 2
or
perth x 2
then adelaide
finals start weekend of the 26th september, GF 17 Oct
have i got that right?
We've got to play Geelong too.
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of course, and it wont be in geelong either, though the cats will try their hardest and make it happen.
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5. RICHMOND (6-4-1, 116.6%)
Remaining games: Gold Coast Suns at Gabba, Essendon at TIO, Adelaide Crows at TBD, Fremantle at TBD, Geelong Cats at TBD, West Coast Eagles at TBD
Remaining fixture difficulty: 16th-hardest
Despite the loss to Port Adelaide, the Tigers are still well-placed to reach the top four, especially if St Kilda slips up in the coming weeks.
The reigning premiers should be favoured to win their next two games, especially when they have a much longer break than Gold Coast heading into Round 12.
Richmond is also set to be one of the major beneficiaries of West Coast and Fremantle hubbing in Queensland to end the season, as it seems they won’t have to travel west to play either team.
That’s a big win, especially when it comes to facing the Eagles.
Source: Foxsports (https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-the-run-home-predicted-ladder-predicted-top-eight-after-round-10-finals-series-final-ladder-projections/news-story/9c5e56f30a17030ae9be56d8ab9bc606)
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Should win the next 4 and hopefully at least 1 of the last 2.
Finish up about 11-1-5
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Mark Stevens said both WA clubs will end up in the Qld hub during the remaining fixture (rounds 14-17). So it sounds like we will be playing both the Eagles & Freo in Qld.
Stevens also said Hawthorn will end up in an Adelaide hub and stay for the remainder of the season. I'm guessing that could imply we play the Crows after the Essendon game.
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No certainties for the top 8 at this stage if we drop one we shouldn't. The Essendon game will be crucial.
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Looks like we will get a bye during rounds 14-17.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Rounds 14 to 17 are likely to be compressed into three weeks, just like Rounds 9 to 12. Ten teams will need to have a bye week during that period.
Round 18 will, like the final round of previous seasons, be a “floating fixture” with opponents announced but venues and times to be confirmed later in the year.
The AFL is expected to announce the Round 14-18 fixture later this week, potentially as soon as Thursday, with all clubs except the Hawks, Crows and Power likely to end up based in southeast Queensland.
That would include West Coast and Fremantle. The Eagles’ last true home game is likely to be in Round 13 against GWS, reports Seven Perth, while the Dockers are expected to host the Giants a round later.
If both teams depart WA after those games and don’t return until the season is completed, they would have each played eight of their 17 home and away matches in Perth.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-fixture-round-14-fixture-alice-springs-game-melbourne-vs-st-kilda-fixture-announcement-northern-territory/news-story/865bd34e767bb72ea2cec2179483d086
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We will be playing Freo in Cairns.
------------------------------------------------
The Fremantle Dockers and Sydney Swans will finish the AFL season in Cairns with all players and staff moving to the tropical north for rounds 15-18.
The Dockers and Swans will play North Melbourne, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs and Richmond opponents who will fly in and out of the third Queensland location with the potential for up to 16 clubs to finish the season in the sunshine state.
https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/fremantle-dockers/afl-2020-sydney-and-fremantle-will-finish-the-season-in-cairns-as-queensland-firms-to-host-the-grand-final/news-story/69e929e9d79dea0ea8916d514152047f
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THE AFL's second wave of Big Bash-style programming in the 2020 season will see matches played on 17 of 18 days, beginning Thursday, August 27.
Hawthorn versus Essendon will be one of two matches to be played on that night, with the AFL to release times and locations of the remaining matches of rounds 14 to 17 on Friday.
Round 18 will also be released on Friday, but it will be deemed a "floating fixture", with times of games not to be determined until a later date in order to maximise intrigue leading into the finals.
The home and away season is set to end on Sunday September 20.
There may be a week’s break between round 18 and finals, with the Brownlow Medal now expected to be held in the week after the completion of the final round.
If there is a break, the Grand Final would almost certainly fall on Saturday October 24. If there is no break, it would be Saturday October 17.
Ten teams will have byes in the rounds 14 to 17 block.
The first wave of Big-Bash-type fixturing will be completed on Monday, when a Richmond-Gold Coast match at the Gabba brings to a close a sequence of 33 matches being played in 20 days during rounds nine to 12.
The already scheduled round 13 matches have been "traditionally" structured in a Friday to Monday sequence (August 21 to 24).
There will be a two-day break between the completion of round 13 and the start of round 14.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/485126/17-of-18-days-hawks-dons-to-fire-up-second-fixture-frenzy
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-fixture-2020-release-rounds-14-to-18-dates-venues-second-footy-frenzy-compressed-fixture-latest-news/news-story/4b39b193f6d7f61f644ceb875675b767
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Next two games are huge for us. Win and we remain in the hunt for a top 4 spot with our missing stars returning; drop one or both and we're back in the chasing pack fighting for a finals place.
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Sam Edmund says we're playing the Eagles at Metricon in Round 14 on Thursday night, August 27.
@Sammy__Edmund:
West Coast will be hitting the road in Round 14 after that stint back in WA. The Eagles have been drawn to face Richmond at Metricon Stadium as part of a Thursday night double-header to open Round 14. Hawthorn-Essendon on the same night at Adelaide Oval. Fixture released soon
https://twitter.com/Sammy__Edmund
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Interesting what effect playing the Eagles off back-to-back 5-day breaks will have while they will be coming off a single 4-day break travelling to Queensland from Perth.
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According to SEN (quoting the AFL released fixture):
Round 14
Richmond vs West Coast @ Metricon ……. Thursday, August 27
Round 15
Richmond vs Fremantle @ Metricon ……….. Wednesday, September 2
Round 16
Bye
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FIXTURE REVEAL: Missing Dons, Dees game inked in as AFL unveils rounds 14-18
afl.com.au
14 August 2020
Round 14
Thursday, August 27
Hawthorn v Essendon, Adelaide Oval, 4.40pm AEST, 4.10pm ACST
Richmond v West Coast, Metricon Stadium, 7.10pm AEST
Friday, August 28
Western Bulldogs v Geelong, Metricon Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, August 29
Port Adelaide v Sydney, Adelaide Oval, 1.45pm AEST, 1.15pm ACST
Fremantle v Greater Western Sydney, Optus Stadium, 4.35pm AEST, 2.35pm ACST
Melbourne v St Kilda, TIO Traeger Park, 7.40pm AEST, 7.10pm ACST
Sunday, August 30
Carlton v Collingwood, The Gabba, 3.35pm AEST
Gold Coast v North Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 6.10pm AEST
Byes: Adelaide, Brisbane
Round 15
Tuesday, September 1
Hawthorn v Adelaide, Adelaide Oval, 5.40pm AEST, 5.10pm ACST
West Coast v Essendon, The Gabba, 8.10pm AEST
Wednesday, September 2
Richmond v Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 7.10pm AEST
Thursday, September 3
Sydney v Melbourne, Cazaly's Stadium, 4.40pm AEST
Greater Western Sydney v Carlton, Metricon Stadium, 7.10pm AEST
Friday, September 4
Brisbane v Collingwood, The Gabba (SEVEN) 7.50pm AEST
Byes: Geelong, Gold Coast, North Melbourne, Port Adelaide, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs
Round 16
Saturday, September 5
North Melbourne v Port Adelaide, Metricon Stadium, 7.40pm AEST
Sunday, September 6
St Kilda v Hawthorn, Metricon Stadium, 1.05pm AEST
Geelong v Essendon, The Gabba, 3.35pm AEST
Western Bulldogs v West Coast, Metricon Stadium, 6.10pm AEST
Monday, September 7
Melbourne v Fremantle, Cazaly's Stadium, 7.10pm AEST
Tuesday, September 8
Adelaide v Greater Western Sydney, Adelaide Oval, 5.40pm AEST, 5.10pm ACST
Carlton v Sydney, Metricon Stadium, 8.10pm AEST
Wednesday, September 9
Brisbane v Gold Coast, The Gabba, 7.10pm AEST
Byes: Collingwood, Richmond
Round 17
Thursday, September 10
St Kilda v West Coast, The Gabba, 7.10pm AEST
Friday, September 11
Geelong v Richmond, Metricon Stadium, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, September 12
North Melbourne v Fremantle, Metricon Stadium, 1.45pm AEST
Port Adelaide v Essendon, Adelaide Oval, 4.35pm AEST, 4.05pm ACST
Greater Western Sydney v Melbourne, The Gabba, 7.40pm AEST
Sunday, September 13
Carlton v Adelaide, Metricon Stadium, 1.05pm AEST
Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs, Adelaide Oval, 3.35pm AEST, 3.05pm ACST
Sydney v Brisbane, Cazalys Stadium, 6.10pm AEST
Monday, September 14
Collingwood v Gold Coast, The Gabba, 7.10pm AEST
Round 18 (all venues, times TBC)
Adelaide v Richmond
Brisbane v Carlton
Collingwood v Port Adelaide
Essendon v Melbourne
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs
Hawthorn v Gold Coast
North Melbourne v West Coast
St Kilda v Greater Western Sydney
Sydney v Geelong
https://www.afl.com.au/news/485426/fixture-reveal-dons-dees-inked-in-as-afl-unveils-all-the-r14-18-games
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Reckon they'd play us v Geelong last round for a potential top 4 spot??
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Our games:
Round 14
Richmond vs West Coast @ Metricon, 7:10pm ……. Thursday, August 27
Round 15
Richmond vs Fremantle @ Metricon, 7:10pm ……….. Wednesday, September 2
Round 16
Bye
Round 17
Geelong v Richmond @ Metricon, 7.50pm …….. Friday, September 11
Round 18
Adelaide vs Richmond …….. Date & Venue TBA
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Is the AFL hoping for us to finish 4th so we can remain in Adelaide and they give Port a home Qualifying Final?
Hoping Nank, Prestia, Edwards & Astbury will all be available for the last two games to blow out the cobwebs before the finals :pray.
I can see us resting Cotch for the Dreamtime game as we won't risk him with back-to-back 5-day breaks. Plays the Suns game on Monday then give him 10 days recovery to be right for the Eagles and all remaining games.
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Club-by-club fixture analysis: Winners and losers from AFL’s 2020 season-ending footy frenzy
WINNERS
Port Adelaide: No short breaks and pretty easy opponents sets them up perfectly to finish on top of the ladder.
Richmond: They avoid playing in WA at all this year, and have longer breaks heading into showdowns with the Eagles and Cats than their opponents.
Hawthorn: The easiest remaining draw including four home games which could still be moved to Tasmania if they open their borders.
Richmond
Fixture difficulty: 12th-hardest
Pros... Not only do they avoid playing in Perth, but they get West Coast off a four-day break on the other side of the country... Then a nicely-timed bye week heading into their other big game against Geelong, who’ll be coming off a five-day break... finish the year against the almost-certain wooden spooners which could mean they can rest players for the finals.
Cons... Might have to fly interstate in the last round.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-fixture-2020-clubbyclub-fixture-analysis-rounds-14-to-18-winners-and-losers-footy-frenzy-2-breaks-days-off/news-story/2d0d6c2df352b551813dcdc7608b416e
Winner: Richmond
This is not a clear win for the Tigers, because there is a tight little turnaround at the top of Footymania 2.0 as they head to Darwin on a five-day break, return to play West Coast on the Gold Coast on another five-day break and then take on Freo after yet another five-day break.
But after that, it's smooth sailing thanks to a beautifully timed nine-day break just a couple of weeks out from finals, at which point the Tigers can refresh and launch at a third flag in four years.
Richmond should be nice and familiar with Carrara Stadium by the end of the home and away season, and their round-18 tune up will come against the Crows in Adelaide, offering the possibility of resting a few key players if needed.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-08-14/the-winners-and-losers-from-the-final-drop-of-afl-fixtures/12560460
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Caro just said there will be a pre-finals bye and that means the Grand Final is set for October 24 (most likely Sat. night after the Cox Plate).
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Ch7 saying if we get a home final then we get to choose the venue. Leppa called Metricon like our new home ground given we've played well there.
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We are off to Adelaide in Round 18 to play the Crows.
Saturday August 19 @ 5:10pm
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Those nasty little Geelol lovers hates us they do. Nasty little buggers. We'll steal it from them though we will
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We are off to Adelaide in Round 18 to play the Crows.
Saturday August 19 @ 5:10pm
They won't be a pushover there either... :shh
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In all seriousness its probably not a bad thing. With the bye now before finals it will provide a refreshing break from the Qld hub.
It doesn't pass the sniff test though. In fact is stinks to high heaven. Makes no sense to make a top 4 team travel for the last round when the other teams season is well and truely over.
We need Balmey up there threatening to throw Shocking in the pool to get a fair go from here on in.
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If we lose to Crows we won't win it anyway so top 4 won't matter.
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In all seriousness its probably not a bad thing. With the bye now before finals it will provide a refreshing break from the Qld hub.
It doesn't pass the sniff test though. In fact is stinks to high heaven. Makes no sense to make a top 4 team travel for the last round when the other teams season is well and truely over.
We need Balmey up there threatening to throw Shocking in the pool to get a fair go from here on in.
We were probably all set for getting a "home" fixture up until the other night... :shh
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Pathectic they make us travel.While lions been in home state for months as well as the Power.There not stupid even if we get over cats still comes to last round.
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We were probably all set for getting a "home" fixture up until the other night... :shh
Don't think so
On the Club website last week it said the Freo game was our last "home" game of the season
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We were probably all set for getting a "home" fixture up until the other night... :shh
Don't think so
On the Club website last week it said the Freo game was our last "home" game of the season
im a little confused here. If we get a home final we get to choose the venue? I know this is probably a dumb question because we are talking about the AFL, but is this not the case now WP?
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We were probably all set for getting a "home" fixture up until the other night... :shh
Don't think so
On the Club website last week it said the Freo game was our last "home" game of the season
im a little confused here. If we get a home final we get to choose the venue? I know this is probably a dumb question because we are talking about the AFL, but is this not the case now WP?
You are correct Frankie.
I was talking about laset week being our final home game of the H&A season
We qualify for a home final, then Yes we get to chose the venue (most likely Metricon)
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Would pee myself if we played Lions in a QF at the Gabba and beat them.
Crows in SA should be a cinch.
GWS mentally weak.
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Why is Norf in prime time?! :huh3 :sleep
ROUND 18 FULL FIXTURE
Thursday, September 17
North Melbourne v West Coast, Metricon Stadium, 7.10pm AEST
Friday, September 18
St Kilda v Greater Western Sydney, the Gabba, 7.50pm AEST
Saturday, September 19
Essendon v Melbourne, Metricon Stadium, 2.10pm AEST
Adelaide v Richmond, Adelaide Oval, 4.40pm ACST
Brisbane v Carlton, the Gabba, 7.40pm AEST
Sunday, September 20
Hawthorn v Gold Coast, Adelaide Oval, 12.35pm ACST
Sydney v Geelong, Metricon Stadium, 3.35pm AEST
Fremantle v Western Bulldogs, Cazalys Stadium, 6.10pm AEST
Monday, September 21
Collingwood v Port Adelaide, the Gabba, 7.15pm AEST
https://www.afl.com.au/news/497553/your-final-home-and-away-game-round-18-times-venues-revealed
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Why is Norf in prime time?! :huh3 :sleep
Think that might be prime time on Pay TV
reckon Ch7 will take
Friday night
Saturday night
Sunday arvo
Monday night
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The only top 8 side to travel last round.
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should we beat the crows are the afl going to bend us over in week 1?
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The AFL finals series will start on a Thursday night this season.
Foxfooty.com.au has confirmed there will be games played on Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday afternoon and Saturday twilight in week one of finals.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-finals-fixture-dates-times-no-wednesday-night-game-timeslots-when-are-the-afl-finals-brownlow-medal-date/news-story/21ef21bb603fb3ef6db500d875c8b5dc
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2020 Toyota AFL Finals Series fixture
afl.com.au
15 September 2020
The AFL has today released the fixturing policy for the 2020 Toyota AFL Finals Series.
As per AFL rules at the completion of the Home and Away Matches, the first eight Clubs on the Final Premiership Ladder shall compete in the Finals Series under the Final Eight System.
Week One
Qualifying Final One (1 vs 4)
Qualifying Final Two (2 vs 3)
Elimination Final One (5 vs 8)
Elimination Final Two (6 vs 7)
Week Two
Semi Final One (Loser of QF1 vs Winner of EF1)
Semi Final Two (Loser of QF2 vs Winner of EF2)
Week Three
Preliminary Final One (Winner of QF1 vs Winner of SF2)
Preliminary Final Two (Winner of QF2 vs Winner of SF1)
Week Four
2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final (Winner of PF1 vs Winner of PF2)
With the Covid-19 pandemic affecting the stadiums available to host matches, venues for the 2020 Finals Series Matches, including the 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final, shall be determined by the AFL Commission in its absolute discretion.
The following parameters shall apply in regard to all relevant circumstances including (but not limited to) the following:
- The relative ranking of the two Clubs involved in a 2020 Finals Series Match based on ladder position at end of Home & Away Matches and, for Preliminary Finals, the winners of Week One Finals Series Matches;
- The respective venue preference(s) of the Clubs (if any);
- The requirements of any State or Territory Government for a Club or Clubs to quarantine prior to or after a match that might be scheduled in that State or Territory;
- The forecast attendance for the Match with a view to maximising attendance;
- The availability of potential venues.
For clarity, the following examples will apply;
- Port Adelaide finishing 1st or 2nd will play Week One of the Finals at Adelaide Oval. If they win, they will play a Preliminary Final at Adelaide Oval. If they lose, they will play a Semi Final at Adelaide Oval.
- Brisbane Lions finishing 1st or 2nd will play Week One of the Finals at The Gabba. If they win, they will play a Preliminary Final at The Gabba. If they lose, they will play a Semi Final at The Gabba.
- West Coast Eagles finishing 5th or 6th will play Week One finals in Western Australia. They, along with their opponent will be required to quarantine for a minimum of seven days in Western Australia leading into the match. Based on a 7-day quarantine period, a final is achievable in Week One given the bye weekend, but not in subsequent weeks. Under the quarantine requirement, both teams will only be allowed to leave their accommodation for training sessions and the match.
- Richmond, Geelong Cats, St Kilda, Western Bulldogs, Collingwood finishing 5th or 6th will play Week One of the Finals at either Metricon Stadium, The Gabba or Adelaide Oval.
Week One of the finals series will be held across three dates:
- Thursday, October 1 (Night)
- Friday, October 2 (Night)
- Saturday, October 3 (Afternoon/twilight and night)
The Week One finals fixtures for of the 2020 Toyota AFL Finals Series will be released following the conclusion of Round 18.
The 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final will be held at The Gabba on Saturday, October 24 at 6:30pm AEST (7:30pm AEDT).
Ticketing information for 2020 Toyota AFL Finals Series matches will be released this week.
https://www.afl.com.au/news/501124/2020-toyota-afl-finals-series-fixturing-policy