No Oppo Supporters General AFL and other clubs discussion thread. **Opposition fans not welcome** Part 7

[Strapping Young Lad]

Spoon odds are out, and while I don't advocate for sports bet to get more customers, it goes to show that there’s most likely a lot of Cats and Dopers fans voting on the Bigfooty poll here.

 

[CHUBBSS]

Spoon odds are out, and while I don't advocate for sports bet to get more customers, it goes to show that there’s most likely a lot of Cats and Dopers fans voting on the Bigfooty poll here.

View attachment 1302578

Collingwood into hawks finals, thanks me later

 

[Cleavy]

I think an Essendon fan must moderate the Herald Sun comments, since they rejected me saying "media pumping up Essendon's tyres. same story every year!"

 

[Mitchell Madness]

I think an Essendon fan must moderate the Herald Sun comments, since they rejected me saying "media pumping up Essendon's tyres. same story every year!"

Essendon are literally sponsored by the Herald sun (4th level sponsor)

 

[Sicily]

Essendon are literally sponsored by the Herald sun (4th level sponsor)

Slobbo - say no more

 

[Accipiter]

Well :- news is a bit slow at this time of the year so thought I might throw some of my concerns for the 2022 season out there.

For seasons 20 & 21 the country has worked to supress the Covid virus to try and rid the communities of it, or at least to keep it supressed until we are all vaccinated. This has allowed us to protect our football-teams and work-places - which has enabled the AFL to manufacture two football seasons.

For season 22 the country's strategy will be to let the virus go, in which case many of us will get it. So is it far-fetched to think that it will infiltrate our footy teams throughout the year making it difficult for teams to field sides, or could it actually stop games going ahead if all the players are close contacts. With the virus in the community and teams travelling all over Australia I fear that it will impact this season far worse than it has for the past two years.

So with this in mind I think it could level the playing field significantly whereby the winner of the 22 GF may not necessarily be the best team, but possibly the last team standing (said somewhat TIC). I have heard it said on here that we will have a strong Box Hill team this season, so this could be of great benefit to the senior team.

 

[Brant]

Well :- news is a bit slow at this time of the year so thought I might throw some of my concerns for the 2022 season out there.

For seasons 20 & 21 the country has worked to supress the Covid virus to try and rid the communities of it, or at least to keep it supressed until we are all vaccinated. This has allowed us to protect our football-teams and work-places - which has enabled the AFL to manufacture two football seasons.

For season 22 the country's strategy will be to let the virus go, in which case many of us will get it. So is it far-fetched to think that it will infiltrate our footy teams throughout the year making it difficult for teams to field sides, or could it actually stop games going ahead if all the players are close contacts. With the virus in the community and teams travelling all over Australia I fear that it will impact this season far worse than it has for the past two years.

So with this in mind I think it could level the playing field significantly whereby the winner of the 22 GF may not necessarily be the best team, but possibly the last team standing (said somewhat TIC). I have heard it said on here that we will have a strong Box Hill team this season, so this could be of great benefit to the senior team.

IMO, games will almost certainly be delayed or rescheduled, if not abandoned (perhaps both teams awarded 2 points?).

It'll be a mess.

NBA have better functions to deal with it, but of course there's a much greater budget + lots less players to field a team. I like their ability to sign guys on a 10-day 'Emergency Contract' (or whatever it's called).

Doing so would wreak havoc within the State Leagues, but the ability to sign players to 2-game Contracts etc. if/when 'X+ Number' of regular players are out sure to COVID-19 protocols could support continuity.
*this should not be affected by the injury list - should be when players are unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols only.

I think it's one of those scenarios where almost anything implemented before the season will prove ineffective by season's mid/end & I don't think that's anyone's fault.

 

[Pessimistic]

Picked the worst time to have east coast reserves comp

 

[Yardie]

IMO, games will almost certainly be delayed or rescheduled, if not abandoned (perhaps both teams awarded 2 points?).

It'll be a mess.

NBA have better functions to deal with it, but of course there's a much greater budget + lots less players to field a team. I like their ability to sign guys on a 10-day 'Emergency Contract' (or whatever it's called).

Doing so would wreak havoc within the State Leagues, but the ability to sign players to 2-game Contracts etc. if/when 'X+ Number' of regular players are out sure to COVID-19 protocols could support continuity.
*this should not be affected by the injury list - should be when players are unavailable due to COVID-19 protocols only.

I think it's one of those scenarios where almost anything implemented before the season will prove ineffective by season's mid/end & I don't think that's anyone's fault.

I go for the Atlanta Hawks. We has four of our five starters missing for a few games and then played Chicago with 12 on the roster unavailable. Absolutely stuffing up our season. They also had protocols in place where the teams weren't allowed to practice so the guys coming from G-League were learning the plays in game!

I'd like the AFL to at least have some plan that is released to the teams so that they can do some sort of planning. (Knowing it could all change)

 

[Mercy Seat]

I hope we’ve seen the worst of it but every sporting league is being severely affected, there’s no reason to think we won’t be as well. It will be interesting to see what happens with the aflw which starts next week…

 

[Simon Crawshay]

Except it’s not like the common cold which is what the last 2 years have been about. Omicron looks less severe but delta is also still in the community and there will be new variants.

I hope we’ve seen the worst of it but every sporting league is being severely affected, there’s no reason to think we won’t be as well. It will be interesting to see what happens with the aflw which starts next week…

I would be interested to see the hospitalisation/fatality rates for someone who gets the omicron strain who is fully vaccinated (including 3rd shot). I have a feeling it would only be marginally higher than influenza.

Really if this omicron strain becomes the dominant strain world wide and most if us get it (which looks likely) it is probably a blessing in disguise that will let covid19 transition from a pandemic to endemic.

From what I have read it appears that getting omicron will give even better protection from future (possibly more dangerous) strains of the virus than getting vaccinated.

Will still probably play hell with the AFL season but they will be cutting quarantine times to under a week soon (for asymptomatic cases) which means players could potentially get the virus at the start of the week, quarantine for 5 days, return a negative test in day 5 and be right to play the following weekend (ie not miss a game).

Just my 2 cents worth on the subject

 

[B&GBlood]

I would be interested to see the hospitalisation/fatality rates for someone who gets the omicron strain who is fully vaccinated (including 3rd shot). I have a feeling it would only be marginally higher than influenza.

Really if this omicron strain becomes the dominant strain world wide and most if us get it (which looks likely) it is probably a blessing in disguise that will let covid19 transition from a pandemic to endemic.

From what I have read it appears that getting omicron will give even better protection from future (possibly more dangerous) strains of the virus than getting vaccinated.

Will still probably play hell with the AFL season but they will be cutting quarantine times to under a week soon (for asymptomatic cases) which means players could potentially get the virus at the start of the week, quarantine for 5 days, return a negative test in day 5 and be right to play the following weekend (ie not miss a game).

Just my 2 cents worth on the subject

What you say is reasonable but the problem with Omicron is it is much more contagious. While it is thought to be less nasty it will still be deadly for some. The “infectiousness” means more people will get infected and that means more people will end up very sick or dead. It will overload the hospitals and people will go to ground as much as they can to avoid getting it. I do not expect games to be having big crowds and will expect a lot of disruption to games.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

What you say is reasonable but the problem with Omicron is it is much more contagious. While it is thought to be less nasty it will still be deadly for some. The “infectiousness” means more people will get infected and that means more people will end up very sick or dead. It will overload the hospitals and people will go to ground as much as they can to avoid getting it. I do not expect games to be having big crowds and will expect a lot of disruption to games.

Some people might stay at home to prevent getting it but I think also a large percentage of the population would be like me and think that getting omicron whilst being triple vaccinated a very low risk and potentially not a bad long term outcome (ie increased long term immunity to the virus in all its forms).

It's interesting that even with the big increase in case numbers in Melbourne and Sydney the hospitalisation rates are staying steady. This is actually a very good sign and once the new anti viral drugs start being rolled out hospitalisation and fatality rates will drop even more.

I am no fan of Sco Mo but he is right in that now we all need to take responsibility for our health and make our own judgement calls on our risk profile. If you think it is too risky to go to the footy fair enough but I am willing to take that risk given we will all get covid sooner or later (probably sooner).

 

[Crankyhawk]

Some people might stay at home to prevent getting it but I think also a large percentage of the population would be like me and think that getting omicron whilst being triple vaccinated a very low risk and potentially not a bad long term outcome (ie increased long term immunity to the virus in all its forms).

It's interesting that even with the big increase in case numbers in Melbourne and Sydney the hospitalisation rates are staying steady. This is actually a very good sign and once the new anti viral drugs start being rolled out hospitalisation and fatality rates will drop even more.

I am no fan of Sco Mo but he is right in that now we all need to take responsibility for our health and make our own judgement calls on our risk profile. If you think it is too risky to go to the footy fair enough but I am willing to take that risk given we will all get covid sooner or later (probably sooner).

Sydney hospital numbers going up although still currently well down on the previous peak

 

[Hawkboy62]

I pity the poor AFLW players. Their season seems untenable.

Optimistic about the AFL season.

 

[Delecate Des]

Nup, we are screwed!

 

[Blackhawk42]

South African cases went from 26 000 a day to 5000 a day once Omicron started to explode. It appears as though this particular variant could have a shorter shelf life. The 2022 AFL season is years away in Covid times. Doesn't mean there won't be some distruption, however trying to predict exactly what the impact will be is impossible right now.

 

[Steven Tyler]

I hope we’ve seen the worst of it but every sporting league is being severely affected, there’s no reason to think we won’t be as well. It will be interesting to see what happens with the aflw which starts next week…

First time I’ve seen the words “interesting” and “AFLW” in the same sentence

 

[B&GBlood]

Some people might stay at home to prevent getting it but I think also a large percentage of the population would be like me and think that getting omicron whilst being triple vaccinated a very low risk and potentially not a bad long term outcome (ie increased long term immunity to the virus in all its forms).

It's interesting that even with the big increase in case numbers in Melbourne and Sydney the hospitalisation rates are staying steady. This is actually a very good sign and once the new anti viral drugs start being rolled out hospitalisation and fatality rates will drop even more.

I am no fan of Sco Mo but he is right in that now we all need to take responsibility for our health and make our own judgement calls on our risk profile. If you think it is too risky to go to the footy fair enough but I am willing to take that risk given we will all get covid sooner or later (probably sooner).

You could right, it might depend on age and health. I am closer to sixty and will no put myself or my wife at undue risk. Through the last two years we have been very careful and limited our interactions in public spaces, that is not gunna change. Our biggest risk is exposure via adult children who live at home. RATs are ready to go but will need more and it is gunna cost a bomb.

 

[Simon Crawshay]

You could right, it might depend on age and health. I am closer to sixty and will no put myself or my wife at undue risk. Through the last two years we have been very careful and limited our interactions in public spaces, that is not gunna change. Our biggest risk is exposure via adult children who live at home. RATs are ready to go but will need more and it is gunna cost a bomb.

Yes it's a case by case basis from here in in really.

As an example my dad didn't come up to our place in Melbourne for Christmas this year from Gippsland just to minimise risk for his health (he is 80).

I am mid 40s, in reasonable health and I have to interact with the public on a daily basis for my job anyway so I don't see any benefit for me personally in limiting my exposure by not going to the footy, etc.

 

[xmarksthespot]

South African cases went from 26 000 a day to 5000 a day once Omicron started to explode. It appears as though this particular variant could have a shorter shelf life. The 2022 AFL season is years away in Covid times. Doesn't mean there won't be some distruption, however trying to predict exactly what the impact will be is impossible right now.

I'm not sure I'd look to South Africa (on its own) as a reliable data set. There's a much higher prevalence of COVID-19 already in the community, plus testing is very expensive over there. Right now London and New York appear to be the new Omicron epicentres, so I'd be looking for data from there to assess caseload to hospital/death attachment rates.

 

[Blackhawk42]

I'm not sure I'd look to South Africa (on its own) as a reliable data set. There's a much higher prevalence of COVID-19 already in the community, plus testing is very expensive over there. Right now London and New York appear to be the new Omicron epicentres, so I'd be looking for data from there to assess caseload to hospital/death attachment rates.

It's just one example, but it's worth noting for now. The theory that it may burn itself out faster despite the South African stats still exists.

March is a while away.

My wife and I have a holiday booked to South Australia in late February but we currently have no idea if it will happen or not. A lot can change between now and then with how fast it's all moving.

 

[Beandip]

It's just one example, but it's worth noting for now. The theory that it may burn itself out faster despite the South African stats still exists.

March is a while away.

My wife and I have a holiday booked to South Australia in late February but we currently have no idea if it will happen or not. A lot can change between now and then with how fast it's all moving.

Could also be valuable progress against the pandemic if Omicron is more virulent but less dangerous than Delta; as it will outcompete Delta and increase antibody production with less risk. I heard something suggesting that a similar situation was a tipping point for the Spanish Flu.

 

[The hands of stone]

Happy new year all ( getting in early )

Thanks for all the banter and discussion prior , during and after games.
Thanks to everyone who contributes training reports , videos , stats , media updates .
Makes someone like me still feel really involved and up to date .
We dont always agree but we all want the same thing , success for the mighty hawks .

We are lucky to support a great club and its also great to be involved and part of this supporter board .

Cheers

 

[Nugett]

Not living in either Victoria or New South, where pre Covid I’d plan on flying in for a game at least once. I won’t be doing that, especially now that the borders have opened up bar WA. The inconvenience of having to fly back, self test/quarantine just isn’t worth it. So hoping there is a game at the Gabba or Metricon this year.