2020 Fixture

[one-eyed]

Gill said the end of April is when the AFL are planning to announce a return date.

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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

[one-eyed]

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/

[one-eyed]

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.

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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-fixture-release-pushed-back-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

[one-eyed]

'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

[one-eyed]

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

[one-eyed]

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.

[Andyy]

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.

[one-eyed]

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.

[mightytiges]

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.

[one-eyed]

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.

[pmac21]

I hope Hutchy never gets any control over AFL policy.  The guys is a americanized nutcase. 

[one-eyed]

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.