Mega Thread COVID-19 Carlton & the AFL - NO POLITICS/NO RELIGION/NO CONSPIRACIES ETC

[Elmer_Hauser]

AFL cuts fixture back to 17 rounds but Round 1 may still be played this weekend

AFL cuts back to 17 rounds, but one positive corona test would mean ‘tools down’

www.foxsports.com.au

Yikes. Hope Pendles is okay

 

[HBF]

Realistically, we need to shut down ALL contact as much as is practical.

Not just large gatherings, but ALL gatherings.

Obviously we can't have everyone going into solitary confinement. There are limits. Some people need to get care, supplies, medicine etc. Kids can't be left to fend for themselves etc.

But right now, you should only be in contact with people when you NEED to.

Playing footy is not a need.

Spot on!

 

[ferrisb]

This was for the USA

I know.....But coronavirus doesn't know where it is.

(for the most part) a containment measure announced by a health organisation is going to applicable to most jurisdictions.

I think the differences in edicts between countries has more to do with differences in political will than underlying risks.

 

[MrsEddieBetts]

The players do have families. Children, spouses, parents. If one player gets infected and it spreads then all their families are at risk, for our entertainment.

 

[Stamos]

No, I say that like the cost is irrelevant in this instance.

Costs are never irrelevant.

What should the speed limits be set at?

The measures to control covid-19 are about mitigation, ensuring that the spread is slow enough so that our healthcare system doesn't get overwhelmed. It's not an existential threat though.

The question is, will playing football behind closed doors mean that the spread will overwhelm the healthcare system, or not?

 

[Gethelred]

The thing that worries me is, can all the clubs & the AFL wear the costs of a non-season?

Could be as much as $420M lost in tv rights to the AFL. I'd guess that CFC will probably lose in the $8-12M, significantly more if memberships are (partly) refunded.

Last year we had total revenue of $71.1M with a profit of $6.3M. In that we had $16.1M of 'club hospitality venue costs' while receiving $13.9M from the AFL, $19M from 'club hospitality venue revenue', $15.6M from 'membership, gate receipts and consumer' and $1.8M from merchandise. There's also another $13M in 'partnerships, events and commercial' which could be effected by a non-season.

The AFL have already advised clubs to 'find' $5M in their budgets for this year. They have a $120M fund set aside for protection, however even if it was divided evenly among the 18 clubs with none going to the AFL themselves, that $6.6M won't cover the losses each club will experience.

The NRL reportedly will last 3 months before going broke if their season is canned. We're in a much better position, but it still could get very ugly. Wouldn't surprise me to see all clubs (plus the AFL, broadcasters and other affiliated businesses) forced to make redundant a bunch of staff from admin, membership, marketing, etc.

If the comp continues, even behind closed doors (no gate/venue profits) and for a reduced number of games, we as a code are in a much better position than a straight up cancelled season, as you'd assume there's still the ~$2M per game in broadcast rights coming in.

You would assume that at some point government would want to step in and protect key interests, of which football is one. It'd be outrageously popular, for one.

Costs are never irrelevant.

What should the speed limits be set at?

The measures to control covid-19 are about mitigation, ensuring that the spread is slow enough so that our healthcare system doesn't get overwhelmed. It's not an existential threat though.

The question is, will playing football behind closed doors mean that the spread will overwhelm the healthcare system, or not?

The question becomes, if the comp goes ahead and a single player or support staff is infected, do they have the right to sue the club/competition for reckless endangerment?

 

[HBF]

Everything I am reading from a players point of view is suspending the season.

 

[Stamos]

I know.....But coronavirus doesn't know where it is.

(for the most part) a containment measure announced by a health organisation is going to applicable to most jurisdictions.

I think the differences in edicts between countries has more to do with differences in political will than underlying risks.

I think the point is that the virus is much more widespread in the US than it is here.

Measures taken need to match the location.

 

[bigm386]

I am really hoping Gil goes after this, the way the AFL is handling this is actually providing clarity on how much of a bush league the AFL is.

 

[Elmer_Hauser]

If Round 1 goes ahead (which according to latest reports it will) players should have the option whether to play or not (in my opinion)

 

[HBF]

If Round 1 goes ahead (which according to latest reports it will) players should have the option whether to play or not (in my opinion)

We'll know more tonight if round 1 goes ahead after the players meet.

 

[CJMB]

You would assume that at some point government would want to step in and protect key interests, of which football is one. It'd be outrageously popular, for one.

The NRL asked for assistance and was quickly denied for being pretty low down the pecking order.

I am really hoping Gil goes after this, the way the AFL is handling this is actually providing clarity on how much of a bush league the AFL is.

I'm not sure what else he's meant to do right now. Straight up cancel the season? That probably puts the AFL close to half a billion in the hole and we (along with other surviving clubs) would maybe lose up to $15M or more.

It's a really tough place to be. At the end of the day his role is to protect the competition, so cancelling the season and jeopardising the comp's future is probably their plan Z...

 

[KnobHead]

Pendles has reportedly gone into quarantine with flu like systems.
Hope he’s alright.

Anyone check the number of Italian deaths last night? 368 in one day. One day.

Footy can wait until the globe can get this under control.


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[footyfan1978]

Everything I am reading from a players point of view is suspending the season.

This could be true but if the AFL say we going ahead anyway they just get players willing to play possibly if taking it to nth degree.
So every player that says that do not want to play goes on inactive list in circumstances and every club gets more players to top up for these circumstances. Of course if VFL, SANFL and WAFL players do not want to play either, then the AFL come to a dead end.
Be interesting to see outcome in coming days.

I think they got a conference today so should know more in next 24 hours.

 

[happydude]

I am really hoping Gil goes after this, the way the AFL is handling this is actually providing clarity on how much of a bush league the AFL is.

This.

I get the broadcast is a big $ for the AFL but healthy players is their product and the AFL doesn't seem to be looking after it's product.

5 game sin 3 weeks is bullshit and is the AFL scrambling here.

Postpone the season.

 

[Just Kreuzing]

Cannot see the season getting underway Thursday.

 

[Gethelred]

The NRL asked for assistance and was quickly denied for being pretty low down the pecking order.

Yes, but I don't care about the NRL, ergo they don't matter.

In all seriousness, government should be the ones who bear the brunt of costs in this situation. I can see why they would reject such a thing early on in proceedings - after all, we're what, 3-4 months into this thing, with an expected duration of about 18 - but over time, the implosion of sport would wreak havoc on this countries culture and sense of self, belonging.

Not to mention the degree to which hospitality will tank, the economic consequences for government if the AFL and the NRL go bankrupt.

 

[footyfan1978]

Pendles has reportedly gone into quarantine with flu like systems.
Hope he’s alright.

Probably is ok. Kane Richardson, sore throat, no real problem, Ferguson similar. Any of us that got a sore throat or something going to be a bit cautious in circumstances. But cricketers that been flying are more at risk than footballer domestically, I would think, right now anyway.

 

[Coona Blues]

This was already debunked as several NBA and football players have it. Being a healthy athlete doesn't make you immune.

Immune no. At risk of mortality, almost certainly no.

I am not in Melbourne or any other major city, so am not qualified to judge many aspects. BUT, while public transport is transporting workers, shoppers
and school kids around, it is singularly hypocritical to enforce total closure of the game. It is an industry with economic and social benefits. Surely
players will continue to train, and thus gather regardless of competition. Risk of disease communication surely remain. Life must go on, at very least
in a limited capacity.

The only relative negatives I can come up with are in regard to medical staff cross overs or availability and subsequent injury assessment and management
impacting medical facilities. (Also the logistics and mitigation of risks of clubs travelling interstate). I find some of the vehement and aggressive comments on here reprehensible as there are so many unknowns. Clubs have the opportunity to put measures in place, as do players to ensure the continuity of the game. Their ability and inclination to do so are paramount in any decision making process.

As I have touched on before, I am still in the (hopefully) final throes of severe respiratory illness and am at risk, along with my octogenarian parents. I do not take the virus threat lightly and largely isolate myself and my child. My wife however works in a Food Works store and has plenty of public contact (circumstances, mobility and ageist perception have precluded me from working for ten years). Our daughter goes to kindy and between them they bring home every bug in creation. Bottom line, we need food on the table (and toilet paper), we must run the gauntlet and through life's needs I am almost certain to have to fight the bug in the foreseeable future. I hobble around with our grocery shopping requirements so have decent exposure there, I have stopped taking the little one with me however and am trying to source masks should the prevalence here grow.

Footy, under stringent controls surely offers so much in terms of morale to so many. There are risks involved with living for all of us and it is next to impossible to completely control. We have no crystal balls. We are told it is about flattening the line with case numbers, particularly for the at risk. I am having trouble seeing how footy behind closed doors, but in the media for a large percentage of the public to digest threatens this line.

 

[HaydossJ]

Cannot see the season getting underway Thursday.

Agree, no chance

 

[Jeremias]

The question is, will playing football behind closed doors mean that the spread will overwhelm the healthcare system, or not?

This is absolutely not the question in this instance.

The question is whether these athletes, club staff, event staff and their families are at heightened risk for the event going ahead.

If they are, then there should be no further questions.

 

[KnobHead]

I think the point is that the virus is much more widespread in the US than it is here.

Measures taken need to match the location.

But Stamos, that’s at this point in time.

Think it’s worth looking at where we were a month ago, to where we were last week, to where we are now ... to where we might be in a week’s time and beyond.

This thing is escalating rapidly. Globally.

And there’s no vaccination yet.

Footy is not the be all and end all.






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[footyfan1978]

If Round 1 goes ahead (which according to latest reports it will) players should have the option whether to play or not (in my opinion)

Of course they will. Lets say Marc Miurphy says, I'm not playing in circumstances. The AFL would put every play that takes up the option, to suspend their activity as footballer to be on Inactive list and AFL will find top up players for every club that has players go on Inactive list.

 

[Stig O'Hara]

FYI, the CDC just recommended no gatherings of >50ppl for the next 8 weeks

There goes the argument 'athletes are healthy, it's safe to play footy'...

Gil can still play horsey polo.......right??

 

[HBF]

This could be true but if the AFL say we going ahead anyway they just get players willing to play possibly if taking it to nth degree.
So every player that says that do not want to play goes on inactive list in circumstances and every club gets more players to top up for these circumstances. Of course if VFL, SANFL and WAFL players do not want to play either, then the AFL come to a dead end.
Be interesting to see outcome in coming days.

I think they got a conference today so should know more in next 24 hours.

Jack Riewoldt, Trent Cotchin, Jack Ziebell and a few others have all alluded to the fact they would prefer the season to be delayed.