Preview OFFICIAL PREVIEW AFL ROUND 17 - Brisbane Lions v Essendon Sunday July 10th 1.20pm @ the GABBA

[On the quiet]

Interesting how COVID affects different folk. After avoiding it for 1,000+ days in Melbourne I tested positive in Fiji of all places, and was subsequently isolated away from my family (Mrs, kids and my parents). We’d spent the previous week in very close contact, as you do on holidays. None of them got it off me. My symptoms were mild (minor sore throat, bit of a dry cough), which were gone within a few days (warm and humid weather maybe helped). Still had to isolate for 7 days. Copped a cold last weekend which has been harder on me than COVID was.

Aside from being apart from the family for the second week of our fourth time booked holiday which totally sucked, isolation in Fiji was OK as I wasn’t overly sick, I had a balcony overlooking the ocean, had beer and meals delivered to me each day, and I had a VPN enabling me to watch the footy and racing.

I am sure if any of them had the flu they would be unavailable to play so I don't see what difference that would make.

In addition to that, if I were the opposition, I would be pretty unhappy with us playing covid positive players knowing how infectious it is.

That's the point I am making, AFL cannot change the COVID policy this year, so COVID positive players cannot and should not play in 2022.
Are you seriously suggesting that an AFL or professional sportsperson has not played with the Flu...

As 'M Malice' stated in their post, ...they are all young fit individuals who have good dietary habits + all of them fully vaccinated... hardly in a group that would be normally at risk of a worrying health outcome from a dose of Covid. Time for them to join the rest of the community(except for high risk settings like hospitals and aged care) and live with it, as has typically been done with the seasonal Flu > if you have bad enough symptoms you isolate from the group and not play, individual health decision not one size fits all.

So my post was referring to moving forward and the AFL COVID policy in 2023 and beyond. Unless a really serious strain develops as M Malice stated above, time to start living with it. We already allow unvaccinated international arrivals and non vaccinated domestic travel and virtually the QLD public service has relaxed vaccination requirements regarding employment in a number of departments.

 

[Squizz89]

Wasn’t Fagan also out earlier this week? Not sure if he’s recovered?

He came out of quarantine today I believe and was due back.

 

[Hollow Knight]

**** this.

 

[martinson]

In a funny way I'm looking forward to this match. Excited to see who comes in and where we shuffle players.

Maybe I won't bs so joie de vivre about it if we get done by a few points.

Fwiiw myself and the wife have just tested positive. No doubt she got it off her hairdresser. Lots of headaches , no energy at all ,got the shakes a couple of times ,now just fluey with a sore throat and runny nose on the 4th day. Fingers crossed recover from here. It's not ideal so far but I've had plenty of worse colds and flu.

 

[Gibbo_88]

Lets hope this is the change next year the AFL makes and starts treating it more like the flu as you said. Unless a really dangerous strain develops. I think the AFL has to be consistent with the COVID policy for the rest 2022, it would be unfair to change it now. Not that Eagles are in finals contention but they were affected with availability earlier in the year. The H&A fixture is already compromised with not playing each team twice.

I am looking forward to seeing some of the young guys and the energy they bring, and at the GABBA we are hard to beat.

Terrible idea. Every city would experience a peak in winter and you'd have multiple rounds where teams are effected more than we are now.

 

[CarterS]

In every crisis there is an opportunity... For some depth to stand up, who knows who we may need in the finals. Someone may have the game of their life and stamp themselves in the 22 for the balance of the year.

 

[martinson]

In every crisis there is an opportunity... For some depth to stand up, who knows who we may need in the finals. Someone may have the game of their life and stamp themselves in the 22 for the balance of the year.

What's interesting to me is that both Sharp and Madden I had as not up to it this year so would love to see how they go and hopefully they step up.

I had Lohmann way ahead of both but it's probably a positional/role thing.

 

[Nunez]

R.I.P Brisbane.

Flagbane, we hardly knew ye

 

[Gibbo_88]

That's the point I am making, AFL cannot change the COVID policy this year, so COVID positive players cannot and should not play in 2022.
Are you seriously suggesting that an AFL or professional sportsperson has not played with the Flu...

As 'M Malice' stated in their post, ...they are all young fit individuals who have good dietary habits + all of them fully vaccinated... hardly in a group that would be normally at risk of a worrying health outcome from a dose of Covid. Time for them to join the rest of the community(except for high risk settings like hospitals and aged care) and live with it, as has typically been done with the seasonal Flu > if you have bad enough symptoms you isolate from the group and not play, individual health decision not one size fits all.

So my post was referring to moving forward and the AFL COVID policy in 2023 and beyond. Unless a really serious strain develops as M Malice stated above, time to start living with it. We already allow unvaccinated international arrivals and non vaccinated domestic travel and virtually the QLD public service has relaxed vaccination requirements regarding employment in a number of departments.

I reckon you're onto something here, they should also change the rules so we can have 15 on the bench because then there will be enough rotations for everyone to play half the game because that's how much rest everyone will need when the whole team gets it. Hopefully they don't film all the players coughing up phlegm and blowing out snot rockets on the sideline.

 

[bato]

Dev replaces Andrews in the extended lineup.

Strange how he wasn’t originally named.

 

[StevoJenkins]

Dev replaces Andrews in the extended lineup.

Strange how he wasn’t originally named.

Might be that he tested negative after testing positive last week.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Might be that he tested negative after testing positive last week.

So you’re saying there is a chance we have a full squad by Sunday?!?

 

[martinson]

Might be that he tested negative after testing positive last week.

His form hasn't been that good the last 2 matches he played.

 

[LongBombFromOutside50]

Best of luck on the weekend gents. Would be great to see 4 teams equal first on the ladder.

With Rich, Coleman and Zorko out, who will be taking the kick ins? And who will be the main distributor from the D50?

 

[martinson]

Best of luck on the weekend gents. Would be great to see 4 teams equal first on the ladder.

With Rich, Coleman and Zorko out, who will be taking the kick ins? And who will be the main distributor from the D50?

Good question.

Hopefully not Answerth ,Adams or Andrews.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Good question.

Hopefully not Answerth ,Adams or Andrews.

Andrews is out dude.

 

[Jackywats]

Best of luck on the weekend gents. Would be great to see 4 teams equal first on the ladder.

With Rich, Coleman and Zorko out, who will be taking the kick ins? And who will be the main distributor from the D50?

It worries me a little. Both adams and starc have taken kick ins in the past. Lester too.

 

[martinson]

Andrews is out dude.

Yeah I know.

But I couldn't resist the 3 A's.

Had a nice ring to it.

 

[StevoJenkins]

Best of luck on the weekend gents. Would be great to see 4 teams equal first on the ladder.

With Rich, Coleman and Zorko out, who will be taking the kick ins? And who will be the main distributor from the D50?

Starc, Lester or Carter Michael (If he plays). Bailey is also an option, but it's debatable if will actually play in the backline at this point. Has only played there less then a handful of times historically.

 

[DERRINALPHIL]

I reckon you're onto something here, they should also change the rules so we can have 15 on the bench because then there will be enough rotations for everyone to play half the game because that's how much rest everyone will need when the whole team gets it. Hopefully they don't film all the players coughing up phlegm and blowing out snot rockets on the sideline.

No I want to see those shots (or snots)

 

[martinson]

Maybe we're going to be on tenterhooks as to who runs out right up to the match on Sunday.

Preferably this could've occurred against Melbourne when we played them.

However we get to find a few things out.

Neale's in for a busy day. You'd think they'd be confident of having a win if they stop him.

 

[Mighty Lions]

That's the point I am making, AFL cannot change the COVID policy this year, so COVID positive players cannot and should not play in 2022.
Are you seriously suggesting that an AFL or professional sportsperson has not played with the Flu...

As 'M Malice' stated in their post, ...they are all young fit individuals who have good dietary habits + all of them fully vaccinated... hardly in a group that would be normally at risk of a worrying health outcome from a dose of Covid. Time for them to join the rest of the community(except for high risk settings like hospitals and aged care) and live with it, as has typically been done with the seasonal Flu > if you have bad enough symptoms you isolate from the group and not play, individual health decision not one size fits all.

So my post was referring to moving forward and the AFL COVID policy in 2023 and beyond. Unless a really serious strain develops as M Malice stated above, time to start living with it. We already allow unvaccinated international arrivals and non vaccinated domestic travel and virtually the QLD public service has relaxed vaccination requirements regarding employment in a number of departments.

Most clubs at the highest level would not play someone who has the flu. In saying that, I am seriously saying that for sure there have been times where a player has played with the flu but it's not a common occurance at the highest level of the game. Treating Covid like the flu is dangerous. Covid is many times more infectious than the flu hence why I believe that should a club knowingly play a player who is covid positive in 2022, 2023, .... the opposing club and AFL would come down pretty hard on them without a doubt..............SERIOUSLY.
Treat Covid the same as the flu at your own peril. If I test Covid + again, I will isolate for 7 days no matter how good or bad I feel. If I have the flu, I probably wouldn't isolate but I would be aware of what I have and treat it with the respect it deserves depending on how I feel.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

Maybe we're going to be on tenterhooks as to who runs out right up to the match on Sunday.

Preferably this could've occurred against Melbourne when we played them.

However we get to find a few things out.

Neale's in for a busy day. You'd think they'd be confident of having a win if they stop him.

They might stop our productive Neale, but they won’t stop our Lester on Sunday

 

[Dalions]

Good question.

Hopefully not Answerth ,Adams or Andrews.

3kz might get his wish with Lester the General down back.

 

[martinson]

3kz might get his wish with Lester the General down back.

Lester to Matho to Fort....GOAL.