AFL shuts down 2020 season indefinitely (Fox)

[one-eyed]

BREAKING: AFL shuts down 2020 season indefinitely as Gillon McLachlan to face the media

    * March 22, 2020 4:31pm
    * by Fox Sports
    * Source: FOX SPORTS

The AFL season will be shut down with league chief Gillon McLachlan to speak at 4:30pm EDT.

It’s expected McLachlan will confirm the news the league will be suspended indefinitely amid the coronavirus crisis.

The league will likely announce a pause until May 31, but this is a target for a return rather than a confirmed date.

The news comes after Victoria and New South Wales announced they’ll be shutting down over the next 48 hours.

The AFL Women’s season will also be shut down and no premiership given out.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-live-coronavirus-updates/news-story/c8881de04a403df72431dfa7d8ae81fe

[mightytiges]

No team training allowed from now on?

If so then it's effectively like the post-season 8-week off-season break. When the footy is eventually allowed to return, if there's not a few weeks of team training and scratch matches before the restart then teams will be rusty as anything and playing like they haven't had a preseason.

[one-eyed]

Player training at each club will also be suspended.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-22/five-quick-questions-on-afl-suspending-the-2020-season/12079682

[Chuck17]

I feel sorry for Greta, all her thunder has been stolen due to this dang virus thing

[Simonator]

footy wont be back this year

[WilliamPowell]

footy wont be back this year

Yep will be a need a miracle

[cub]

footy wont be back this year

Yep will be a need a miracle

Thinking the same
oh well it's still Tigertime for another year.
Im one of the biggest Tigerheads going around and there is a bigger picture here, gunna be a real stuffing poo winter

[tdy]

Hey %100 win loss ratio for the tiges. Best season we have ever had.

[Simonator]

Obviously much much bigger issues for our country than footy , but part of my is peeed off that a year of our prime will likely go down the drain. 

[Andyy]

Real shame for the Tiges. Given we were one of the premiership fancies, we have the most to lose!

Hope we can keep it rolling on into 2021.

Guys like Jack, Cotch, Edwards etc have limited time left

[mightytiges]

5 day breaks x 16 H/A games = 80 days.
5 days x 4 weeks finals = 20 days.
Total = 100 days.

So the latest the season could be restarted is early September if the AFL is willing to play through to late December. September is still in our 'flu' season period.

A shorter alternative would be to split the League into two conferences like the AFLW and teams play each team in their respective conference once. Then only have two weeks of finals where the top 2 from each conference crossover in Prelims with the winners playing off in the GF.
5 days x 8 'H/A' games = 40 days.
5 days x 2 weeks finals = 10 days.
Total = 50 days.

This second option would allow an early November start at the latest. Sure it's compromised but the planned 17 rounds was already a compromised situation.

n.b. In both methods all finals would have to be played at Docklands so not to clash with the Cricket.

[tdy]

They could run a mini knockout comp at the end of the year for shots n Giggle's.

[one-eyed]

The NRL has also now shutdown their season.

[Diocletian]

Heh...

https://twitter.com/Demonblog/status/1241866992774070272

 

[Rampsation]

 2020 is finished as a season. AFL should tell everyone to get ready for 2021.