Some Tigers a 'genuine chance' to opt out of hubs, says Cotchin (Age)

[one-eyed]

Some Tigers a 'genuine chance' to opt out of hubs, says Cotchin

Jon Pierik
The Age
30 June 2020

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin has conceded there is a "genuine chance" he will have teammates who will opt not to go into an interstate hub should the Tigers be required to in a season of uncertainty.

As the AFL grapples with the ongoing fallout of COVID-19, the Tigers have already had their round five clash against the West Coast Eagles on the Gold Coast postponed because of the Queensland government's concerns over Victoria's rising coronavirus infection rates and will instead face Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

The AFL may need to send teams away – two per destination – for weeks on end, creating mini-hubs across Australia, to ensure an already truncated home-and-away season is completed.

This will mean players could have to spend significant time away from their families, and Cotchin, with a young family of his own, said this could mean some opted not to go.


"I think it's going to be a challenge. Every person in our footy club – no doubt our footy club will be there and will want to partake and do what we need to do to continue the season," he said.

"But there are going to be a number of individual cases and scenarios, we have got guys with pending babies, other challenges, things going on in their life that we will have to just manage accordingly and that will be something that we manage inside the club to make sure everyone is comfortable and happy.

"I think the most important thing is that our partners feel supported and have the required help that is going to be needed with players and coaches and staff going to be away for a period of time."

Asked is this meant there could be players who opted out, he replied: "That would be a genuine chance".

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/afl/some-tigers-a-genuine-chance-to-opt-out-of-hubs-says-cotchin-20200630-p557gw.html

[Knighter]

Some players have opted out of the Melbourne hub already

[Diocletian]

Depending on which players it could well be a blessing in disguise...

[pmac21]

I think RFC would be more than happy if the pin was pulled in 2020.  I love my footy but I must say I wouldn't care in the slightest right now. 

[one-eyed]

Harden up Vic AFL players

Josh Garlepp
PerthNow
June 30, 2020 3:51PM

West Coast and Fremantle are in their fourth week in the Queensland hub away from families, friends and the normality of Perth - so why is the same so hard for Victorian AFL players?

All available Dockers and Eagles made the journey to the Gold Coast but today Richmond captain Trent Cotchin admitted there was a “genuine chance” some Tigers would find the hub life too demanding and wouldn’t take part.

The West Australian’s chief footy writer Mark Duffield and the Sunday Times editor Glen Quartermain responded to Cotchin’s comments and argued Victorian players owe their interstate counterparts for the sacrifices that allowed the AFL restart to take place.

“I see Trent Cotchin this morning saying Richmond are no certainty to have their first team on the road if they go into the hub, because players don’t want to leave their family units,” Quartermain said.

“That’s their call, they’re entitled to do that, we’ve said that all along

“But I think Trent should probably realise that there’s been a couple WA clubs and a couple South Australian clubs that have been doing that for some time.”

“What Trent needs to realise is by the time Fremantle gets back to Perth Freo will have played 6 games, zero at home. West Coast will have played just one at home.” Duffield replied

The Eagles and Dockers are winless since entering the Queensland hub but one team that has thrived in unfamiliar surroundings are top-of-the-ladder Port Adelaide.

The pair agreed in this week’s episode of the Duff and Quarters podcast that the Power were clearly taking advantage of the hand dealt by the COVID-19 outbreak.

“What we see from Port Adelaide is a sense of opportunity,” Duffield said.

“At the end of this weird season there is going to be a premier.

“I think Port have looked at it and said well it’s better us than someone else.

“I wonder if the significance of the early-season struggles of West Coast and Richmond is that they have won flags recently and maybe that extra drive and hunger just isn’t there at the moment.”

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/duff-and-quarters-victorians-clubs-need-to-harden-up-and-get-used-to-hub-life-ng-b881594435z

[one-eyed]

JACK BACKS CAPTAIN COTCHIN’S COMMENTS

Star Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt has thrown his support behind captain Trent Cotchin over his comments around the hesitancy of some Tigers players to relocate to a hub.

Cotchin, who has a young family, emphasised the Tigers were prepared to head to a hub but said there was a “genuine chance” some teammates wouldn’t relocate indefinitely due to family reasons. The Herald Sun reported expectant parents Shane Edwards and Bachar Houli were weighing up whether to join a hub and leave their partners at home.

Riewoldt said it was “inevitable” Victorian teams would have to move interstate at some stage to keep the season alive.

Asked if he’d be personally prepared to go into a hub indefinitely, Riewoldt told Fox Footy’s AFL 360: “I’m not going to speculate on what the hub looks like because you don’t want to put yourself in concrete with an answer. But it’s something that obviously has to be weighed up by every player in every team about whether their current situation allows them to be away from family, which is the biggest issue, and personal issues as well that players find themselves in as everyday people do.

“Every case is judged on its merits, but I think the fact that every club is strong in its support to keep the season continually moving on shows that all 18 clubs are pulling in the same direction.”

Riewoldt said no club would “hold a gun to any player’s head to say ‘you have to play’ if there is a personal reason”.

“No organisation is going to tell someone to go away from their family if they’ve got an impending birth or a personal matter like that,” he said.

“We’re all probably around that time where guys are starting families and things bob up here and there that you’ve got to take into account. For us, family comes first, players’ welfare comes first – and then football is after that.”

Source: Foxsports.

[Diocletian]

So who are our players with kids on the way?

[one-eyed]

So who are our players with kids on the way?

No idea of those with kids on the way but Cotch and Brooke have 3 kids under 5 while Jack and Carly's daughter Poppy is just over one year old. Bachar said publicly this time last year that his family comes first ahead of footy. Grimesy and Elisha got married late last year (is a baby now on the way?). Pickett of course has kids as we saw post-final siren on GF day.

[WilliamPowell]

So who are our players with kids on the way?

Read the Article about Jack on 360. It quotes the ever reputable HUN that there are 2 bubs on the way

Cotchin, who has a young family, emphasised the Tigers were prepared to head to a hub but said there was a “genuine chance” some teammates wouldn’t relocate indefinitely due to family reasons. The Herald Sun reported expectant parents Shane Edwards and Bachar Houli were weighing up whether to join a hub and leave their partners at home.

So it has to be right; right? 

[Diocletian]

Sorry didn't read the article just watched 360 last night when Jack said a few players were expecting kids but didn't name them... don't read the HUN ..no Murdoch fan here....actually read The Age more...though these days that's mainly because it isn't behind a paywall....

[one-eyed]

Players who live in 'hotspot' postcodes have to move out tonight to a teammate's place or a hotel otherwise they won't be able to travel to and play in NSW. We're one of the 7 Vic clubs affected.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/01/afl-players-in-victorias-covid-hotspots-to-leave-amid-nsw-jail-threat/
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/revealed-these-7-vic-clubs-are-already-exposed-by-covid-outbreak-but-all-10-may-be-forced-interstate/news-story/08d474f09386a01a18ad64ed3ce195e5

[taztiger4]

So who are our players with kids on the way?

Edwards is one that has been mentioned previously, due in August IIRC

[Diocletian]

Players who live in 'hotspot' postcodes have to move out tonight to a teammate's place or a hotel otherwise they won't be able to travel to and play in NSW. We're one of the 7 Vic clubs affected.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/01/afl-players-in-victorias-covid-hotspots-to-leave-amid-nsw-jail-threat/
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/revealed-these-7-vic-clubs-are-already-exposed-by-covid-outbreak-but-all-10-may-be-forced-interstate/news-story/08d474f09386a01a18ad64ed3ce195e5

Tom Morris just said on AFL Tonight that we're one of three Vic clubs who aren't affected...Melbourne & Hawthorn were the other two....

[one-eyed]

Players who live in 'hotspot' postcodes have to move out tonight to a teammate's place or a hotel otherwise they won't be able to travel to and play in NSW. We're one of the 7 Vic clubs affected.

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2020/07/01/afl-players-in-victorias-covid-hotspots-to-leave-amid-nsw-jail-threat/
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/revealed-these-7-vic-clubs-are-already-exposed-by-covid-outbreak-but-all-10-may-be-forced-interstate/news-story/08d474f09386a01a18ad64ed3ce195e5

Tom Morris just said on AFL Tonight that we're one of three Vic clubs who aren't affected...Melbourne & Hawthorn were the other two....

Geelong is the third club along with Melbourne & Hawthorn that aren't affected according to The Age as well as Caro and Eddie on Footy Classified tonight.

[one-eyed]

Caro on Footy Classified criticised Cotch & Jack for their public statements about the hubs saying it reflected Richmond's poor attitude and results so far this year. They compared them to Lachie Neale & Travis Boak who said they are happy to do what is required to give back to the game and saw the hubs as an opportunity. Lyon said if there's a baby due that's fair enough but "other challenges in life" doesn't wash.

Caro said Richmond's 100k members who stuck by the club this year and didn't ask for refunds would be disappointed hearing from their captain and vice-captain that their team isn't fully committed to 2020.

Ross Lyon thought initially we would be one of the sides that would handle the challenges this year best but it hasn't happened. Port and Brisbane are desperate for a flag but both Richmond & West Coast players have  medals in their pocket. It may be subconsious and you don't realise you're doing it but it's there.

Lloyd said Cotch and Jack as fathers may have been speaking from their personal point of view whereas a younger player like Tom Lynch may say he is all for the hubs. However, as leaders Cotch & Jack shouldn't have said it publicly as it ends up a poor message to their younger teammates.

So who are our players with kids on the way?

Edwards is one that has been mentioned previously, due in August IIRC

Caro mentioned tonight Edwards as having a baby due as well as Houli's wife giving birth as being "imminent".