Tigers told to prepare for weeks away (The Age)

[one-eyed]

Tigers told to prepare for weeks away

By Jake Niall, Daniel Cherny and Peter Ryan
The Age
Updated May 27, 2021 — 1.39pm

Richmond players have been told to prepare to be away from Melbourne for weeks as the AFL looks to reschedule the Dreamtime game against Essendon from the MCG to Perth, an outcome that is not yet confirmed.

Sources said the latest suggestion from the AFL to Richmond was that the Tigers, who have taken most of their squad to Sydney (barring players in rehab) in preparation for next travelling to Perth, would play Essendon in Perth in round 12. They would then scrap their round 13 bye and play West Coast in Perth that weekend. Their bye would then be pushed back to round 14. West Coast would make the same change.

Richmond’s VFL game on Thursday night has been cancelled and most of those players are joining the senior team on the road, with the likes of Tom Lynch staying back to complete rehab. They are likely to regain Shai Bolton, Trent Cotchin and Dion Prestia from injury to face the Crows.

Club sources at Richmond said the AFL had told the Tigers that they may even stay in Perth after the scheduled Dreamtime game, as they are set to play West Coast there in round 13.

Sunday’s match against Adelaide was originally to be played at the MCG but is set to be moved from to Giants Stadium as the AFL responds to Victoria’s escalating COVID-19 crisis.

While the AFL has not publicly confirmed its plans, Tigers assistant coach Adam Kingsley said Richmond were bracing for an imminent departure to NSW.

“I’ve heard the likelihood that it’s going to be moved to Sydney and we could potentially be flying out as early as today, but I haven’t actually heard that [for sure],” Kingsley told SEN SA on Thursday morning.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-preparing-to-fly-to-sydney-for-crows-clash-20210527-p57vjj.html

[one-eyed]

Gill said Richmond staying in Perth for Dreamtime/Round 12 and then Round 13 wasn't set in and is only an option at this stage.

[georgies31]

Why wouldn't we stay in Sydney instead of moving us around everywhere.

[Knighter]

Why wouldn't we stay in Sydney instead of moving us around everywhere.

Because we are Richmond and we must be screwed every chance they get.

[one-eyed]

Richmond CEO Brendon Gale says the Tigers are steeled in case the whirlwind interstate trip drags out for weeks.

“Their expectation is, ‘let’s be cautious, let’s be conservative, let’s anticipate we’re on the road for a couple of weeks’,” he said on SEN Breakfast.

“It’s not based on any concrete evidence or direction from the AFL, it’s just being cautious.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/05/28/lets-be-cautious-clubs-wrapping-their-heads-around-a-return-to-hub-life/

[WilliamPowell]

I have to say I don't understand why Adelaide could not come to Melbourne

they coould have easily flown into Sydney and then onto Melb

they stay in Melb as they play C'wood next week.... yes it's supposed to be a Crow's home game but if they can't get back into Adelaide because of the border restrictions imposed by their govt, so be it

[mightytiges]

Looks like the whole list is up in Sydney. Photos of Stack and Cumberland up there.

https://www.aflphotos.com.au/galleries/results/?q=collection:AFL%202021%20Media%20-%20Richmond%20Depart%20Melbourne%20270521

[mightytiges]

I have to say I don't understand why Adelaide could not come to Melbourne

they coould have easily flown into Sydney and then onto Melb

they stay in Melb as they play C'wood next week.... yes it's supposed to be a Crow's home game but if they can't get back into Adelaide because of the border restrictions imposed by their govt, so be it

Gill was asked this morning about how Collingwood would play in Adelaide next week. He basically avoided answering it and said they are just focussing on getting through this round.

[one-eyed]

WA Police in talks with Western Bulldogs, Richmond Tigers about border permission.

https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/wa-police-in-talks-with-western-bulldogs-richmond-tigers-about-border-permission-ng-b881885345z

The Western Bulldogs will spend next week in quarantine in Perth ahead of their round 12 clash against Fremantle.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/bulldogs-off-to-perth-as-demons-take-things-day-by-day-20210528-p57w8l.html

[one-eyed]

Richmond has moved from Homebush to Coogee where we'll spend the week before flying over to Perth on Friday.

Vision here: https://twitter.com/7NewsMelbourne/status/1399287663786561542

[one-eyed]

AFL facing fierce player blowback if extreme hub call made

Tom Morris
Fox Sports
June 1st, 2021

A mass player exodus from at least three Victorian clubs is a live possibility if the AFL is forced to implement long-term hubs again in 2021.

The league has told clubs it will exhaust every possible option before considering long-term hubs for a second consecutive season - welcome news to some players at Essendon, Carlton and Richmond, who would seriously consider leaving their teams and returning to Victoria if their trips were extended beyond two or three weeks.

The issue is in sharp focus at these three clubs because they have a bye in Round 13 and would prefer to return home to spend time with family next week, even if Melbourne is in a lockdown.

And while the Tigers, Blues and Bombers are hopeful, the AFL will not confirm for at least a few more days.

Foxfooty.com.au understands there is a range of perspectives among players and the AFLPA is working closely with representatives. Some are nonplussed, others would prefer to come home if given a choice, while a minority would almost certainly choose family over football.

Club CEOs have been informed there will be no long-term hubs in 2021, but if NSW locks its borders to Victoria there is an awareness that the AFL may have no other option.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2021-round-12-fixture-latest-covid-news-players-quitting-hub-strike-impact-on-season-venue-changes-date-and-times-for-games/news-story/e29b937b95f90bc4f2abfd8d53e3a66a

[georgies31]

And then we had the afl and media have go at us when we said we want home game at the G for maximum crowds the marvel stadium game cost us big time now biting us back.

[one-eyed]

Jayden Short was interviewed on 7news and he said they've been told there won't be a hub. They want to come home during the bye.

[one-eyed]

Jack on 360 just said if the AFL announced that clubs needed to go into any form of hubs then he would have to go home given he has a toddler and a baby.

[one-eyed]

The AFL has agreed to a deal with the players’ association that no club will have to spend their bye weekend away from home if they don’t want to.

Richmond, for instance, who play Essendon in the Dreamtime match at Perth’s Optus Stadium on Saturday, are due for a bye the following week.

The Tigers’ round-14 clash, however, would see them return to Perth to play West Coast on the Thursday night.

The AFL has offered Richmond different scenarios, including pushing their bye back a week and staying in Perth to instead play the Eagles a week earlier in round 13.

But Tigers players may vote to return home to their families when they were scheduled, in which case the league would allow them to. The problem, however, is the players would have to then do a seven-day hard quarantine in Perth when they return to face West Coast.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/afl-agrees-to-byes-at-home-as-covid-fixture-negotiations-continue-20210602-p57xam.html