Opinion
The AFL will either be hailed as a pioneer or as a foolish organisation in the near future, depending on the outcome of its decision to go ahead with the 2020 season, albeit in truncated form.
The decision, reported to have been taken after consultation with Australia’s chief medical officer Dr Brendan Murphy, comes as many global publications outline the manner in which countries like Singapore and Taiwan managed the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
These two countries, along with places like Hong Kong and South Korea, imposed strong social isolation measures right at the start and have managed to keep the level of infections down. The same was the case with China, where the disease broke out first.
The AFL, and indeed Australia to a large extent, is instead throwing youngsters into a game where there is close physical contact and the chance for infection on a grand scale.
This is an almighty gamble, and while I am no doomsayer, it is somewhat beyond the odds on which one would indulge in a mild flutter.
Are we to take it then that Australian rules football is a bigger matter than life or death, as The Age’s veteran sports commentator Greg Baum put it?
One of the quotes attributed to Gillon McLachlan from Wednesday’s announcement that the season would go ahead is, “It’s going to be a long year. It’s going to be a long journey in what is an unprecedented time. We can’t lock ourselves in our house.”
AFL Chief Executive Officer Gillon McLachlan. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
But this precisely what the government is asking people to do: avoid all unnecessary contact with others and stay at home.
On the other side of the ledger, watching AFL, either in person or on the telly, is often the only thing that some people enjoy. One can’t blame them or make fun of them; that is the reality for many sports fans who live vicariously through their favourite teams.
But – one always comes back to that word – coronavirus can kill. Indications are that the elderly are more likely to die as a result of an infection, but nothing is certain. It is too early to make definitive statements as scientists know little about the virus.
The die is now cast, though. AFL games will begin on Thursday evening. Let’s hope for the best while also preparing for the worst.
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.
Charlie Cameron escaped his one-game ban by arguing he had an 'exemplary' record. But AFL360 has found proof that while he has not been…
How good to see Ben Cousins back and looking fitter and healthier than ever!
The former Collingwood president said it 'wouldn't be beyond the pale' for the AFL to add weeks to Finlayson's three-game suspension, after the Power…
After near-perfect tipping scores across the board in Round 4, the going was significantly tougher last weekend - a slew of upsets made 5…
Going into Round Six, some teams are absolutely flying, some look lost and the others, well we don't really know what to make of…
There’s no disputing that the AFL competition is tough and season 2024 is no different. Coming into Round 6 there are two teams left…
