2020 Fixture

[one-eyed]

“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-fans-to-expect-the-revised-afl-schedule-for-2020-this-week-ng-b881543066z

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[Hard Roar Tiger]

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?

[WilliamPowell]

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?

Yep Tiger member

And a beautiful quote indeed 

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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  )

[one-eyed]

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.

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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.

[WilliamPowell]

Matthew gets his info from his brother who is at Carlton

[one-eyed]

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