quarantine hubs

[one-eyed]

Every team in one city? Plans for hubs ramp up

By Mitch Cleary
afl.com.au
22 April 2020 7:00pm

THE AFL is weighing up the possibility of housing all 18 clubs in one city to resume matches this season.

The League's general manager of clubs and broadcasting Travis Auld has given the strongest indication yet teams will be placed in quarantine hubs in order to return to playing amid the outbreak of coronavirus.

With a date set to be announced in coming weeks, Auld and the AFL executive continue to work through the best structure that includes the likelihood of between one to three hubs.

"It feels like the only way we're going to get our season started," Auld said.

"It may not be the way we complete our season, but it certainly feels like the way we need to get it started.

"A hub is a term for 'How do we put our players in an environment where we can, first prioritise their health and safety but also not be a burden on the community?'.

"We've got a few options in front of us. They range from one hub with 18 teams together playing out of 2-3 stadiums.

"Then there's an opportunity to have maybe up to three hubs with six teams in each hub located in different states playing out of traditional home and away venues."

It is understood the AFL is making plans with all states and territories over the possibility of housing a quarantine hub. The ultimate decision will rest on governments providing a tick of approval.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/391862/every-team-in-one-city-plans-for-hubs-ramp-up

[mightytiges]

Why not an island in Queensland or bass straight. Then basically they could run around and do whatever as long as no one had the disease.

The hub(s) will need to be at an AFL stadium which is already set-up for the TV networks.

[one-eyed]

Every state remains a contender to host quarantine hubs when the AFL restarts, League boss Gillon McLachlan says.

Hubs are almost certain to be a requirement if the AFL season resumes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with a return date to be confirmed as soon as next week.

"The guys are, or will be, talking to every state and there's a set of criteria that's being looked at," McLachlan told Triple M on Thursday.

"The first port of call is obviously the states that are keen for us to set up there and we start working through the logistics after that.

"There's a wide range of options - I doubt we'll be playing in every state and territory - but we're looking at every possibility."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/391872/afl-hubs-possible-in-all-states-why-swans-chief-wants-sydney-hub

[one-eyed]

* Four regions of Victoria are under consideration for use as an accommodation base – the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast, Yarra Valley and the Macedon precinct.

* THE cost of operating a hub, or hubs, would run into tens of millions of dollars, given accommodation would be required for at least six weeks (three weeks of "pre-season" training and then a minimum least three weeks of matches) for at least 740 players (18 clubs times 40 players) and a collective hundreds of staff.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/391907/millions-to-be-slashed-from-clubs-soft-cap-wine-regions-in-vic-hub-mix

[one-eyed]

One of the AFL’s biggest stars is genuinely torn on a radical concept

April 23, 2020 5:37pm
Tom Morris
FOX SPORTS

A candid Riewoldt spoke extensively on the matter on Fox Footy Live, admitting the thought of setting up camp without his young family in another city would be “difficult.”

The AFL Players’ Association will next week ask all 840 players to complete a survey on a variety of issues impacting them over the next few months.

One of these discussion points will be quarantine hubs, which the league has been contemplating almost since the season was postponed.

While some players such as Taylor Adams are happy to go anywhere to resume the season, others are not as willing.

It’s likely players would have to relocate for a minimum of six weeks, the first three of which would be without games.

Riewoldt stopped short of pouring cold water on the plan, likely to cost tens of millions of dollars, but didn’t give it a resounding endorsement either.

“Clearly people with families are going to be more affected than young 18 or 19 year old kids that don’t have kids to look after or don’t have as many duties at home,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy Live.

“I think that when players speak about it, they probably do so from their own perspective. Not from the greater group. Look, it certainly would be difficult for me and my family.

“(But) I’ve got a job that I need to go out and do. To be honest, I’m still really up in the air about it a little bit. Some days I think I’d really struggle away from my family. And then I think the AFL will come to some sort of agreement as well with guys like me and people in my situation. It is going to be an interesting one.”

Riewoldt was quizzed on the possibility of families travelling with players interstate to ease the burden, but the two-time premiership player said he’d prefer to wait for the league to confirm details before committing one way or another.

“It’s one you have to weigh up as a family,” he said from his couch at home.

“We really don’t have parents here, either of us, so we haven’t got any support in that area. And everyone is isolating at the moment.

“A change of environment might be a good thing. You have to weigh it up. There are so many things you get used to at home that you’d be taking yourself and your family away from.

“It’s really hard to comment without seeing what the AFL is going to put together.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-coronavirus-news-updates-season-return-hubs-jack-riewoldt-fox-footy-live/news-story/1f0ac1c5f8aca3251460e06a1e5ea4ca

[one-eyed]

Cornes tells Riewoldt ‘suck it up’ on AFL hub

April 24, 2020 12:10pm
Fox Sports

Speaking this morning, Kane Cornes said he was surprised at Jack Riewoldt’s indecision.

“I reckon 85-90 per cent of the players we interview put their hand up and say yep we’ve gotta play, we’ve gotta get the game back on,” Cornes said on SEN’s The Captain’s Run.

“I think players have gotta understand they’ve got a responsibility for the players coming after them to get the game back on.

“If that requires being away from home for six weeks you’re probably going to have to suck it up, aren’t you (sic)?

“Considering you’ve just been at home for 11 weeks with your family which you wouldn’t have got prior to this situation.

“Yes it’s not ideal… but if this is what’s required it’s not the worst thing. Now if there’s going to be a hub in Melbourne then you’re probably don’t have that situation and Riewoldt will be able to stay home with his family, but put your hand up say look we’re happy to do whatever it takes for the game and if not, you don’t have to go, no one’s forcing you to go and play.

“The Olympians go away and spend a month overseas, cricketers go away and spend I don’t know, 300 days a year overseas? I reckon the AFL players can spend four weeks interstate, it’s not that bad, particularly because you’ve just had 11 weeks home with your family for 24 hours a day that you wouldn’t have had.

“So I’m not disappointed, I am surprised when I hear comments like that from Jack Riewoldt because I reckon 85-90 per cent of players are putting their hand up saying yep, we’ve gotta go, we’ve gotta get this game on thee road, it if means being away for a couple of weeks… we’re not going overseas, we’re just going interstate… we’ll be OK.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-2020-afl-kane-cornes-jack-riewoldt-afl-hubs-coronavirus-covid19/news-story/c715f1127e19adee4ba67490ed21d592

[one-eyed]

Tom Browne on Ch 7 news last night claimed a single hub is becoming the favoured option as it can be better controlled. Every state now wants to be a/the hub.

[one-eyed]

Tom Browne on Ch 7 news tonight:

The AFL is doing everything possible to satisfy its players with footy's re-start all but certain to begin in quarantine hubs.

https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1253969549579284481

* Training to start on May 11.

* 2-3 weeks of training needed before season restarts.

* Teams to spend 4-6 weeks isolated in a hub.

* Given that is a lengthy time to be apart from families, the League is considering to allow families to live in the hub(s).

[one-eyed]

HUB ISOLATION DETAILS EMERGE

Foxsports
26 April 2020

AFL players could spend up to two months in isolation hubs as clubs push back against the possibility of families joining them.

Adelaide captain Rory Sloane told Fox Footy Live yesterday he would consider bringing his wife and seven-month-old son with him into an isolation hub.

According to one report, many clubs are against that and similar scenarios.

“They will need to go into an isolated state, the three week pre-season will come inside that timeframe,” Damian Barrett told Channel 9.

“It needs to be a minimum of six weeks, the three weeks of pre-season and a minus of three weeks of matches… there is a preparedness for it to be longer than the six and quite possibly as long as the eight.

“Most clubs don’t want the families there… that will cause problems for some players.”

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-afl-2020-afl-draft-matthew-lloyd-alastair-clarkson-afl-draft-rory-sloane-adelaide-crows-afl-hub/news-story/ce0699beeec21ef6c439a8313c627160

[one-eyed]

Four regions of Victoria are under consideration for use as an accommodation base – the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast, Yarra Valley and the Macedon precinct.

Barrett mentioned this again today. If I heard him right he thinks there will be 5-6 clubs.

[one-eyed]

Gold Coast in box seat to be one of three hubs to resume AFL season.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/gold-coast-in-box-seat-to-be-one-of-three-hubs-to-resume-afl-season/news-story/39f6080092a81c91b8cb03b78af139f1

[one-eyed]

AFL Hub Concept To Be Decided On May 10th

Footy news breaker Tom Browne reported on the Hot Breakfast this morning that a decision on the AFL's 'Hub' concept will go in front of a national cabinet on May 10th.

The league are working closely with health officials & the government to get the new format signed off on so the season can continue.

If it is approved then the season could recommence by late June/early July.

The AFL are being very vigilant that the 'Hub' concept is water tight and would be compliant with all local Covid-19 measures.

Browne couldn't confirm where the Hubs would be located just yet, but floated that the Gold Coast has emerged as a contender.

https://www.triplem.com.au/story/afl-hub-concept-to-be-decided-on-may-10th-160236

----------------------------------------------------

7NEWS estimates a hub housing more than 1000 players, coaches and officials could already cost the AFL more than $200,000 a day.



Adding dozens of partners and children to the mix could see costs skyrocket at a time when the AFL is cutting costs left, right and centre.

https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-faces-showdown-with-players-over-200000-a-day-hub-headache-c-1000521

-------------------------------------------------------

Clubs to meet the AFL soon at 2pm. At the last meeting 20 options were put to them.

[one-eyed]

AFL to turn testing times into hub measure

Sam McClure
The Age
27 April 2020

Every person granted access to AFL hubs will have to be tested upon entry and then several times a week under rigorous protocols being fleshed out by league bosses and health experts.

The AFL is also working closely with the federal government in a bid to purchase a large amount of coronavirus testing kits without impacting the availability for the wider community.

The Australian Health Protection Principle Committee (AHPPC) will meet on Friday, where it is hoped the AFL will be given further guidance as to how and when they will be able to return to train and play.

The national cabinet will then gather on Sunday, May 10, the day before the state of emergency in Victoria is set to expire.

All things going to plan, the AFL will then be able to publicly declare when they expect to resume matches.

The use of hubs will be the only way the heavily impacted 2020 season will be able to kick-start again, having lasted just one round behind closed doors.

Crowds will continue to be locked out for the foreseeable future, with league executives holding a glimmer of hope that games later in the year – potentially finals – will be able to include live spectators in some capacity.

All players, staff and other certified people given access to hubs will be required to be tested upon entry and then multiple times each week.

One model the AFL is working towards would allow health authorities to know the result of the test on the same day the sample was taken.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-to-turn-testing-times-into-hub-measure-20200427-p54nnf.html

[one-eyed]

#AFL hub news: South Australia has fallen down the pecking order to host a hub when footy resumes. The lack of a 2nd high-quality venue is a major sticking point. The league's keen on 3 hubs x 6 teams but will take 2x9/1x18. Qld (Gabba/Metricon) and Vic loom as 2 main spots.

https://twitter.com/TheoDrop/status/1254698219272953856

Caro believes that two hubs is now the favourite. One in Queensland. The two hubs chosen will be based on best facilities and financial viability.

Interstate clubs are concerned about a Victorian hub based at the M.C.G. giving an unfair advantage to Richmond, Collingwood & Hawthorn.

Balmey said no one will care about competitive advantages as we all just want the footy to restart. Obviously we all have a preference and it suits us being in Melbourne but all up we just want to play again.

[one-eyed]

AFL sends memo to clubs, has date in mind for re-start

By Damian Barrett
afl.com.au
28 April 2020

THE AFL has revealed it has a "date in mind for the resumption of play" but will await the outcome of a national cabinet meeting on May 10 before making it public.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan on Monday wrote to all clubs reiterating that the week beginning May 11 would be the timeframe for an announcement of plans.

In a long memo, McLachlan confirmed a hub, or hubs, would be used to re-start matches, which were suspended after round one due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We remain really optimistic about completing the remaining 144 games plus finals and we know that the hub model gives us our best chance of being able to continue with the season once we start," the memo read.

"… hopefully we might end up starting with a hub model and finishing with teams able to fly interstate without the need for a quarantine period."

All state governments and territories are actively working with the AFL in the hope of hosting clubs in hubs.

Whichever venues are chosen, accommodation for players will be within a 60-minute drive of venues.

It was revealed last week on AFL.com.au that hub options in Victoria include the Mornington Peninsula, Surf Coast, Macedon and Yarra Valley.

The Gold Coast region is also firming as a hub option.

"We hope to have that work done by next Monday before moving to formalise government, venue, accommodation, and broadcaster agreements next week and – as flagged on Friday – an announcement in the week starting May 11 following the meeting of the national cabinet on May 10," McLachlan wrote.

"We still have a date in mind for the resumption of play but – again – we are working closely with the government and the chief medical health officers through this period and we will await for their sign-off before formalising the date."

The memo also broadly referenced the costs of the hubs, as well as considerations being applied to families of players.

"It is going to be really important to have the right mental and emotional health support as well as physical support and the ability where possible to allow players as much freedom of movement within a village/hub as possible," the memo read.

"The players have been fantastic but we also know this is not a normal situation for them or their families or anyone in the game, including our supporters."

https://www.afl.com.au/news/392269/afl-sends-memo-to-clubs-has-date-in-mind-for-re-start