Cotch on footy classified tonight

[one-eyed]

Cotch coming up soon according to hutchy.

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They've been told playing is no more riskier than being out on the street.

Asked if a premiership this year would be tainted? Cotch replied all clubs are affected by this. Main thing is the comp's integrity holds.

[one-eyed]

'Ready to play': AFL players have their say on coronavirus-hit season

By Sam McClure and Jake Niall
The Age
March 17, 2020

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin says players feel ready to kick off a 17-round season on Thursday night as planned, following a survey of all AFL players.

But he acknowledged there were some lingering concerns among players, which included spreading the coronavirus to family members and financial worries.

More than 800 players were asked to fill in a six-part questionnaire on Monday night, and from those results a recommendation was to be taken to the AFL Players' Association board, which was continuing late on Monday night

There was no simple vote, and there is not a uniform position held by the entire playing group. At an initial phone hook-up many players indicated their willingness to play on, while others expressed reservations. "Sentiment suggests they want to play," a source familiar with the situation said.

"As it stands, the players feel like they're prepared and ready to play this weekend. Having said that there is a lot of depth to the conversation," Cotchin said on Channel Nine's Footy Classified.

The players were to be briefed on the likelihood that they would be asked to take a significant pay cut as the game loses massive revenue as a result of the virus.

Cotchin described the prospect of pay cuts as "challenging" for footballers and indeed anyone else who planned their lives around knowing what was coming in.

The AFL announced on Monday afternoon that it would cut the 2020 season to 17 rounds due to the coronavirus outbreak, and would implement a number of radical changes to the fixture.

The league will make a decision on Tuesday as to whether the opening round will begin as normal on Thursday night, with the players' decision looming as a crucial factor.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-players-have-their-say-on-coronavirus-hit-season-20200316-p54aqm.html

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Richmond captain Trent Cotchin admits potential COVID-imposed pay cuts will be 'challenging' to accept

By Chris De Silva
Nine WWOS
17 March 2020

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has admitted that accepting a pay cut due to the AFL's shortened season would be "challenging" amid reports that players will have to shave off up to 20 percent of their salaries.

With the AFL having shortened its home and away season to 17 games, players, coaches and executives are all likely to see their salaries reduced this season, and Cotchin gave an insight into the players' view on the matter.

"It's challenging," Cotchin told Footy Classified.

"In any industry, whether it's footy or any form of business, in any small business, everyone is being impacted at the moment.

"You plan your life around knowing what's supposed to be coming in each week or month. There's still lots of ongoing conversations about that."

Following the league's decision to shorten the 2020 season, the majority of players voted to play Round 1 in an unprecedented conference call which included over 1200 players from both the AFL and the AFLW, and Cotchin said players are prepared to play despite the risks involved.

"As it stands right now the players feel as though they're prepared and ready to play this weekend," he said.

"The advice we're receiving is that unless you genuinely bunker down and sit at home, playing is no more of a risk than walking down the street or potentially picking something up at the supermarket if you do happen to go shopping.

"From a club point of view and a playing point of view, if it's deemed safe enough to play weekend, we're all for it."

While admitting that he and other players would like to proceed with the season, Cotchin said he understood why people would be opposed to players taking the field.

"I can completely understand it from a health point of view and the risk we can put others at," he said.

"Our focus is on community and ensuring that we do our absolute best to create a really healthy environment at our footy club, but also by doing that to help protect the community as well."

https://wwos.nine.com.au/afl/trent-cotchin-admits-players-pay-cut-challenging-amid-coronavirus-shortened-season/713c3697-b5b1-4457-8dc6-012bc489c74d

[Andyy]

It will get called off anyway (the games). AFL just trying to mitigate their $$$ losses, but there really is no way the season can go on until this is over - which I predict will take 6-9 months.