Footy to Return

[Stig]

AFL should cancel the year
End of story
They have no money
FACTS are 80 % of AFL staff have been laid off . They want to continue with “ hubs “ at a huge cost
I am sure space cadet Steve Hocking thought of the word “ hub “ as well ‍
Unfortunately the AFL like spending money which they don’t have
The game is based on crowd interaction and this therefore generates gates receipts etc
Without gate receipts they will get themselves into a bigger financial mess
Yes Channel 7 and co are pushing for it to go ahead as they now have no Olympic Games and they are as well in a financial mess
Cancel season

 

[zgod]

If it does go ahead I would expect the likes of Houli and maybe even Cotch and Jack consider pulling the pin.

 

[Stig]

If it does go ahead I would expect the likes of Houli and maybe even Cotch and Jack consider pulling the pin.

And others you will find
Players didn’t sign up for this , it’s not the army or navy ‍
AFL want to reduce list sizes as they have little money
Then they want to spend money on Hubs
Really ‍
Remember they have lost there major sponsor in Virgin as well

 

[Sintiger]

It should be an option and I’m sure the AFLPA will make it a non-negotiable.

Even then if families come what happens to a player's partner or the partner of any of the officials or coaches who has a job? Is she meant to give it up for 4 months?
What if you are a coach and you have a wife with a job and 3 school aged kids at home?
There are more people involved than just the players

 

[TrialByVideo]

The money they are borrowing will be used on the Hubs .

Think I read it's gonna cost $215K per day..... x 21 weeks = 147 days = $32 million roughly
If they take a few families lets round it up to $40m
Broadcast rights are $415m per yr for 26 rounds (inc finals) so we'll call it $16m per round.
5 rounds @$16m already lost = $80m
21 rounds @$16m including first round = $336m - $40m for the hubs = $296m.
As I say..... very rough numbers but I can see why they're prepared to torch some cash to honour the contract.

Competition will be completely stuffed for years to come if they don't play this season!

 

[Tigers of Old]

He's a sneaky *smile* Barrett.
Made it sound in that AFL article that it was only Richmond players who were vocal against the hub concept (sans families) to try discredit us.
There would be players from all clubs who feel the same way.

 

[graystar1]

I understand the desire, and financial need, to resume the season, but it is looking farcical at this stage.

Shortening the game and reducing list sizes is something the AFL want to slip through and we should be vigilant about trying to stop them. Why do they want to change the game every second minute? It seems to be quite popular as it is.

The smaller lists will mean no reserves/VFL. So you won't have fringe players who are experienced in the game plan. If having unaffiliated state league sides is such a good idea how come West Coast just created a WAFL team a year or two ago? For no apparent reason I suppose.

As Tigers of Old said, we are in a state of emergency, this season might just be a write off.

The idea of a 20 week hub is patently absurd. Put them all in a hub for that long and watch the virus come in and wreak havoc. The hub idea has so many flaws, did people not read that Sports Illustrated article that was linked here? What happens if someone in the hub gets infected and has permanent health issues, or a member of their family gets sick or even dies. Do they sue the AFL?

Not a fan of the hub idea at all. Hopefully the state of emergency is lifted soon and the restrictions are lessened. Then a shortened season running later than usual would still be possible with full length games. Start in June, 16 more rounds, finals in October (ok, maybe Grand Final in November, don't want to give Collingwood the prospect of an October GF!).

DS

You have summed it up perfectly David.

Have a sneaking suspicion this is yet another off the cuff recommendation by "I want to keep my job," SH.

If we want the game to remain as it is as at yesterday, then for god's sake just cancel this year altogether and boot up for 2021.

If SH gets his way then I fear he will stuff up the game completely.

Then again maybe it is not him, but the conglomerate of Adolf, SH and BS.

Hubs are madness.

 

[Tigaman]

If the Hubs goes ahead one does expect the all forms of the Media to be Hubbed as well. TV crews should not be able to turn up at a venue ,cover the game then just mix with the public , whilst players, team officials etc are quarntined in Hubs. What about Eddie ?. If Maggots hubbed outside of Olde Melbourne Town will Eddie & likes be allowed to

 

[graystar1]

If the Hubs goes ahead one does expect the all forms of the Media to be Hubbed as well. TV crews should not be able to turn up at a venue ,cover the game then just mix with the public , whilst players, team officials etc are quarntined in Hubs. What about Eddie ?. If Maggots hubbed outside of Olde Melbourne Town will Eddie & likes be allowed to

Very good questions Tigaman. Remember though, Eddie Everywhere is a powerful figure in the AFl and everywhere else for that matter

 

[taztiger4]

where does the 20 weeks bit come from ?,I just cannot grasp it, 17 week season ,

we've already played rd 1 so 16 shorter games could be done in 12 weeks with a 5 day break between each game

a normal 23 round season is done & dusted in 23 weeks

 

[123cups]

He's a sneaky **** Barrett.
Made it sound in that AFL article that it was only Richmond players who were vocal against the hub concept (sans families) to try discredit us.
There would be players from all clubs who feel the same way.

It’s only sneaky if you expect him to be a reporter. You’re very generous I see!

 

[Wildride]

where does the 20 weeks bit come from ?,I just cannot grasp it, 17 week season ,

we've already played rd 1 so 16 shorter games could be done in 12 weeks with a 5 day break between each game

a normal 23 round season is done & dusted in 23 weeks

I think they're including finals up to the grand final - so two lots of 8 plus max 4 finals. The 8 weeks of playing might also include a quarantine period of 2 weeks each.

 

[zippadeee]

Everyone this year will be playing for the Clayton's Cup almost as bad as the 1991 season when the GF was played at VFL park.
Snooooze fest

 

[spook]

Aren't hotels empty? Isn't the AFL full of big swinging *smile* wheeler/dealers? How hard would it be to approach a hotel and come to an accom for free sponsorship arrangement?

 

[TygerTyger]

They should cancel the 2020 premiership season (which makes Tigers the reigning premiers for another year) and have an extended "preseason" comp starting in August (or whenever) if they need the income. Call it the "Corona Cup" or "Marvellous Escorts X-Rated Cup" or some such, run a couple of different conferences to minimise flying desired.

This way we get to see some games, coaches can experiment / shuffle personnel as needed, and generally treat it as a pre-season. They can play some at regional venues who need income and exposure (remember the bushfires) ... Mallacoota has a nice oval, good fishing on the lower lake and a nice point break past Bastion lookout. Betka inlet is great for little kids.

 

[Stig]

AFL should consider this
2020 season starts September with Finals in Jan 2021
Start 2021 season middle of April and get rid of bye rounds in 2021
Bye round is kept for 2020 season to coincide with Xmas Break

 

[Ian4]

If they go ahead and continue with this ridiculous hubs idea in Melbourne and SE QLD, surely they would send the Melbourne teams up north and the interstate teams here to minimise home ground advantage?

Putting An asterisk on it already?

Imagine winning the flag in front of no one? how hollow would that be?

If the Hubs goes ahead one does expect the all forms of the Media to be Hubbed as well. TV crews should not be able to turn up at a venue ,cover the game then just mix with the public , whilst players, team officials etc are quarntined in Hubs. What about Eddie ?. If Maggots hubbed outside of Olde Melbourne Town will Eddie & likes be allowed to

good point, but more and more live sports are being called from an outside studio. last NBL season, I believe the majority of the games were broadcast from a studio in Melbourne. They do the same with the A-League for Asian Champions League games and the recent Olyroos Qualifiers.

 

[Tony Braxton-Hicks]

And I'm saying that as someone who has put his hand up to go into a hub if needed.

I spoke briefly with a club doc and he won't be giving up his private practice to go into a hub. He said other docs are in the same boat and also that players aren't happy.

 

[Tass]

Putting An asterisk on it already?

Yep

Everyone this year will be playing for the Clayton's Cup almost as bad as the 1991 season when the GF was played at VFL park.
Snooooze fest

The Wizard Cup had more credibility

 

[Baloo]

As a club we've been the leaders in embracing, caring and love for each other, our familes, in totality. It gave us something special which was the driving force behind two premierships. If the idea of hubbing is going to cause problems and undue stress on their families, you can understand why we might be the most vocal. Our players are a lot more dialled into the family aspect so they'd struggle to do something to make it harder for their, and everyone else's, families.

What helped us win 2 flags is the same thing that's making us resist the hub. We should back our boys here.