Tigers told to prepare for weeks away (The Age)

[pmac21]

They would be mad to go back to Melbourne then go back to Perth a week later.  This weeks game should have been played in Sydney. 
Bombers looked after pretty well here. 

[Damo]

They would be mad to go back to Melbourne then go back to Perth a week later.  This weeks game should have been played in Sydney. 
Bombers looked after pretty well here.

It's an Essendon home game

[mightytiges]

Surely they'll bring the Eagles game forward a week and we have our bye in Round 14?

[one-eyed]

The AFL has confirmed it is looking at the option of shuffling/switching byes if it suits clubs and players.
Dogs v WC the obvious opportunity. Do Dogs play WC in Perth then come home for break?
@7AFL @7NewsMelbourne

https://twitter.com/Stevo7AFL/status/1400013941070200837

[one-eyed]

Caro on Footy Classified tonight said the AFL has proposed to both Richmond and West Coast for the Round 14 clash to be moved a week earlier and have the bye afterwards. However, both clubs are reluctant.

[one-eyed]

Hardwick believed most Richmond players would be prepared for an extended stay on the road if required to keep the season going

Vice-captain Jack Riewoldt, who has two young children, told Fox Footy on Tuesday he'd "probably lean to going home" instead of entering a lengthy hub stay.

"It's understandable but I think the vast majority of our group will be happy to play," Hardwick said.

"There's always going to be guys with circumstances such as young children, or large families back home and, and we can understand that from their point of view.

"I think the vast majority of guys would love to continue to play the game and do whatever is possible to play the game."

Source: AFL website

[one-eyed]

Dion's view:

With the Dreamtime game relocated to Perth and a clash with the Eagles in a fortnight, Prestia was asked whether he would want the bye in between those games moved in order to get a fortnight in Western Australia out of the way.

“For me it’s probably what we would be allowed to do in Perth. At the moment in Sydney we have a bit of freedom to still exercise on our day off and be able to train pretty normally and have meetings,” Prestia said.

“I don’t think it’s the same story if we go to Perth at the moment. I think it would be a pretty unfair preparation for us to stay in a hotel for a whole week over in Perth.

“I think most of the guys would be okay with it if we were able to have a bit of freedom and live life a little bit and not be stuck in the hotel for a week.

“I think most of the guys would be up for it, but at the moment we’ve been told our bye will be next week. We’ll have a couple of days off after the game. We don’t know yet what that looks like.

“At the moment it’s fly back to Melbourne, but it could be wait around in Sydney for a week. We’re getting told day by day and things change.”

https://www.sen.com.au/news/2021/06/02/dion-prestia-puts-full-support-behind-trent-cotchin/

[one-eyed]

AFL considers holding off bye for Tigers, Eagles in fixture shake-up

AFL exploring bringing forward Richmond's clash with West Coast by a week

By Callum Twomey
afl.com.au
4 June 2021

THE AFL is exploring bringing forward Richmond's clash with West Coast by a week and delaying both clubs' round 13 bye.

The Eagles and Tigers are due to have their bye next week and then open round 14 with a Thursday night clash at Optus Stadium on June 17.

However, with Richmond already set to be in Perth for Dreamtime in the West against Essendon on Saturday night, the League is looking at an option whereby it could flip the next two weeks and play the Eagles-Tigers game in round 13.

The change is not locked in but it is understood both clubs have been open to discussions about the switch, which would allow Richmond to play their next game while based in Perth instead of flying back two weeks later.

It would mean the Tigers and Eagles would have their bye in round 14, not round 13 as is currently fixtured.

The Eagles would have to agree to make the change as well given they have prepared for their bye to follow this week's trip to Sydney to take on Carlton at the SCG on Sunday.

The bye rounds, which start this week, have given the AFL less games to have to reconfigure as the League grapples with the fallout of the latest COVID-19 outbreak in Victoria.

https://www.afl.com.au/news/625410/afl-considers-holding-off-bye-for-tigers-eagles-in-fixture-shake-up

[one-eyed]

... Richmond are keen to flip their schedule and return to Perth next weekend to face the West Coast Eagles.

The Tigers have spent the week training in Sydney but will play Essendon in the Dreamtime clash at Optus Stadium on Saturday night. They are then due to have their mid-season bye but are open to shifting this and remaining on the road, bringing forward by a week their clash with the Eagles, slated to be held as a Thursday-night opener for round 14.

If the AFL makes the move, the Tigers will return to Sydney to train next week, and then head back to Perth to take on the Eagles.

Tigers skipper Trent Cotchin had been in doubt to face the Bombers because of his ill daughter in Melbourne but arrived with his teammates in Perth on Friday. However, he could also be in doubt for the Eagles’ clash should that go ahead.

The Eagles, who will face Carlton at the SCG on Sunday, had been preparing to have the week off and will also need to agree to any switch.

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/tigers-open-to-fixture-swap-as-chaos-continues-amid-victoria-s-lockdown-20210604-p57y0m.html

[Andyy]

Why can't they just stay in Perth? Why bother flying back and forth??

[Tiger Khosh]

Why can't they just stay in Perth? Why bother flying back and forth??

Because I think they would be stuck in hotel quarantine the entire week, only being allowed out to train and play whereas they have more freedoms in Sydney.

[Andyy]

Why can't they just stay in Perth? Why bother flying back and forth??

Because I think they would be stuck in hotel quarantine the entire week, only being allowed out to train and play whereas they have more freedoms in Sydney.

Hmmm OK. Hopefully that doesn't disadvantage them too much. At least they might play WCE after a game at O already and be familiar with the surface.

[one-eyed]

We may have a 5-day break if we play next Thursday night. For the Eagles it would just be a 4-day break.

From Tom Morris on Fox Footy:

The league is still working through plans which could see Richmond’s clash with West Coast, currently scheduled for the Thursday night of Round 14, brought forward to Round 13 so the Tigers can then return to Victoria for their bye week.

According to Foxfooty.com.au senior reporter Tom Morris, that game could replace Port Adelaide hosting Geelong, because there are questions over the Cats getting in and out of South Australia on the same night.

“Richmond are still waiting to hear what they‘re going to do. They’re weighing up whether to fly to Sydney after this weekend’s game (against Essendon), and then fly back to Perth and play West Coast on Thursday night next week (June 10),” Morris said on Fox Footy’s Saturday Countdown.

“That means their bye, which is due to be taken in Round 13, would be brought back to Round 14. So that game West Coast and Richmond, if it is next Thursday, that would effect Geelong vs Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

“But there’s every chance that game can’t be played on Thursday night either because Geelong can’t get in and out of Adelaide on the same night - it’s meant to be starting at 7:40pm.

“So that match, according to Port Adelaide this morning, is every chance to be played on Saturday afternoon, just pushed back two days. The other option for Geelong and Port is to meet in Sydney.

“The AFL’s weighing all of this up as we speak ... what’s fair, the integrity, the broadcasters and also who can get to the ground are all being considered at the moment.

“The AFL could have an answer as soon as this evening.”

POTENTIAL NEW ROUND 13 FIXTURE (All times EST)

Thursday June 10

West Coast Eagles v Richmond, 8:10pm at Optus Stadium

Friday June 11

Sydney Swans v Hawthorn, 7:50pm at the SCG

Saturday June 12

Port Adelaide v Geelong Cats, 1:45pm at Adelaide Oval

Fremantle v Gold Coast Suns, 4:15pm at Optus Stadium

St Kilda v Adelaide Crows, 7:25pm at Cazaly’s Stadium

Sunday June 13

North Melbourne v GWS Giants, 3:20pm at Blundstone Arena

Monday June 14

Melbourne v Collingwood, 3:20pm at the SCG

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-news-2021-afl-round-13-fixture-covid-news-victorian-outbreak-port-adelaide-vs-geelong-west-coast-vs-richmond/news-story/2a7f85f0a98b7092a7944bec16ab2fc2