Richmond vs Carlton @ the MCG, Round 1, 2020

[one-eyed]

AFL considers postponing opening round

By Mark Robinson
Herald-Sun/Australian
March 13, 2020

The AFL is considering all options in the face of the escalating coronavirus crisis, including the extreme measure of postponing round 1.

While the league is still preparing for the season-opener to go ahead next Thursday before paying fans, chief executive Gillon McLachlan is chairing daily emergency briefings with clubs, the government and health groups.

But with the growing threat of coronavirus, it is understood that, as of last night, the AFL couldn’t guarantee Thursday’s match between Richmond and Carlton will go ahead.

“This is not moving by the day, this is moving by the hour,’’ an AFL source said. “There are some big calls to make.

“We are continuing to take advice from government and from the relevant medical authorities and we are planning for the season to go ahead on March 19.’’

https://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/afl/afl-considers-postponing-opening-round/news-story/14eb562820aab901e57644e7e31ada6a

[one-eyed]

MOCK TEAMS: Who's in the 22 for R1? We make the call

Jennifer Phelan & Riley Beveridge
afl.com.au
13 March 2020

RICHMOND

B: Dylan Grimes, David Astbury, Nathan Broad
HB: Bachar Houli, Nick Vlastuin, Jayden Short
C: Josh Caddy, Dion Prestia, Shane Edwards
HF: Daniel Rioli, Jack Riewoldt, Kane Lambert
F: Shai Bolton, Tom Lynch, Jason Castagna
Foll: Ivan Soldo, Trent Cotchin, Dustin Martin
I/C: Callum Coleman-Jones, Marlion Pickett, Sydney Stack, Liam Baker

EMERG: Riley Collier-Dawkins, Noah Balta, Jack Ross, Jack Higgins

NEW: Nil
UNAVAILABLE: Jack Graham (shoulder) Kamdyn McIntosh (ankle), Toby Nankervis (groin)

NOTES: Graham, McIntosh and Nankervis are set to play a VFL practice match the weekend ahead of round one and are building after pre-season injuries but look to have narrowly run out of time for the season-opener. Coleman-Jones is deserving of a spot after an impressive summer and has edged out Balta and also Mabior Chol while Collier-Dawkins is stiff to miss but will play at some stage this year. Ross will work his way back into the team when the opportunity arises after being strongly considered for the Grand Final.


CARLTON

B: Sam Docherty, Jacob Weitering, Lachie Plowman
HB: Sam Petrevski-Seton, Liam Jones, Kade Simpson
C: Sam Walsh, Patrick Cripps, Will Setterfield
HF: Jack Martin, Mitch McGovern, Zac Fisher
F: Michael Gibbons, Levi Casboult, Eddie Betts
FOLL: Matthew Kreuzer, Marc Murphy, Ed Curnow
I/C: Nic Newman, Jack Newnes, Jack Silvagni, Paddy Dow

EMERG: Tom Williamson, Marc Pittonet, Matthew Kennedy, David Cuningham

NEW: Jack Martin, Eddie Betts, Jack Newnes
UNAVAILABLE: Harry McKay (groin), Brodie Kemp (knee), Caleb Marchbank (knee), Charlie Curnow (knee)

NOTES: The big concern has shifted from McKay, who will almost certainly miss round one through a groin injury, to Marchbank. The key defender is battling a knock to the knee, which could prove one hurdle too far after a pre-season that was delayed by a neck injury. Petrevski-Seton is likely to make the team, having played a half in a VFL practice match last week as he returns from a quad problem. Newman should win the seventh defensive spot ahead of Williamson and Cam Polson, while the versatility of Silvagni and Dow might edge them ahead of emergencies Kennedy and Cunningham. Fellow first-round picks including Liam Stocker, Sam Philp and Lochie O'Brien will be in reserve. Casboult will support Kreuzer as the second ruckman, with Pittonet just ahead of Tom De Koning as an emergency.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/384196/mock-teams-who-s-in-the-22-for-r1-we-make-the-call

[Francois Jackson]

hard to see round 1 happening now

 

[pmac21]

Certainly won't be any fans attending you wouldn't think. 

[pmac21]

I can't see it stopping at round one either.  Certainly the first month would be in doubt if this continues to spread.

[1965]

I can't see it stopping at round one either.  Certainly the first month would be in doubt if this continues to spread.

This would give a huge advantage to the fitest team with the smallest injury list.

😁

[WilliamPowell]

Certainly won't be any fans attending you wouldn't think.

^^^^ this

[mightytiges]

All mass gatherings banned by the Feds.

So this won't go ahead unless it's played in an empty MCG.

[Rampsation]

This is going to cost clubs millions of dollars in lost gate takings

[one-eyed]

AFL meeting on now.


The AFL is expected to reveal the fate of round one and the start of the 2020 season in a phone hook-up with its 18 clubs at 2pm on Friday afternoon.

... unconfirmed reports from industry sources this afternoon suggested the AFL was already leaning towards postponing the start of the season.

The preferred model would see the opening games postponed until late April.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/d-day-arrives-afl-set-to-inform-clubs-of-seasons-fate-with-2pm-hook-up-c-743345

[1965]

All mass gatherings banned by the Feds.

So this won't go ahead unless it's played in an empty MCG.

I cant find this. Can you please quote your source.

[mightytiges]

All mass gatherings banned by the Feds.

So this won't go ahead unless it's played in an empty MCG.

I cant find this. Can you please quote your source.

Reporting this on SEN.

Also mentioned here: https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-australia-mass-gatherings-of-more-than-500-expected-to-be-banned-c-743351

[one-eyed]

SEN saying the AFL's preference is to still start the season which would mean in front of empty stands.


Apparently a player at a "big Melbourne club" was sent for testing last night but it came back negative. He just had an ordinary cold.

[one-eyed]

Balmey this morning (before the crowd ban):

“What the hell do we do then?”: Balme admits Tigers in precarious position

By SEN
13 March 2020

Neil Balme says the major worry with coronavirus is that if just one player contracts the virus, the whole AFL competition could be called off or postponed.

As COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc with the sporting landscape, there is enormous uncertainty surrounding the 2020 season which is due to kick off on Thursday, March 19 when Richmond host Carlton at the MCG.

Balme, Richmond's Senior Club Advisor, expects the season opener to go ahead in front of a crowd but is none the wiser as to what will happen thereafter.

“I think there will be (a crowd) then but I can’t guarantee anything after that,” he said on SEN SA Breakfast.

“It’s a crazy thing and it’s hard to manage. It’s hard to know what the impact on the community is going to be.

“The scary thing for us is that if all of a sudden one of our players came down with the disease, what the hell do we do then?

“Everyone is kind of then involved and everyone sort of can’t play, if you know what I mean.

“That’s the thing from our point of view. We’ll be over-conservative, try and make sure we protect our playing group and our coaches etc from having to be involved in too many other things out in the community, just in case.

“There’s a certain inevitability about most of us seeing the disease at some stage but as long as we’ve got the facilities to look after it.

“Essentially, what we are trying to do is put off anything too serious. All of a sudden if everyone needs to be treated, we are probably not going to be able to do it (play).

“Part of our strategy is just to try and minimise as much as we can and see what happens.

“None of us really know the answer or know what’s going to happen.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/03/12/what-the-hell-do-we-do-then-balme-admits-tigers-in-precarious-position/

[1965]

All mass gatherings banned by the Feds.

So this won't go ahead unless it's played in an empty MCG.

I cant find this. Can you please quote your source.

Reporting this on SEN.

Also mentioned here: https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/coronavirus-australia-mass-gatherings-of-more-than-500-expected-to-be-banned-c-743351

OK "expected to"
A fast moving mass of goo is what we have.