The leaders of the AFL made the wise and timely decision to shut down the competition.
This protected those engaged in the AFL industry, and assisted in slowing the spread of COVID-19.
The same leaders now have an obligation to get the AFL up and running again as quickly as possible. They need to do that to protect the incomes of those employed in the AFL industry, and to provide the service promised to paid-up AFL members.
So, how do we get AFL up and running again in a safe and timely way?
The obvious answer is Tasmania. Tasmania’s new case numbers for COVID-19 are rapidly decreasing. Tassie intervened early and well to limit the spread of the virus, and although it is early, the results look promising.
With all new arrivals going into quarantine for the last week, it is conceivable that there will be negligible transmission of the virus in Tasmania within another two to three weeks.
So how does that help?
Could the entire AFL follow Hawthorn down to Tassie? (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
The AFL should immediately transfer all of its teams to Tasmania. Each team could be housed in a separate hotel in Tasmania, which would be dedicated to servicing that team.
Each team would have to go into quarantine for the first two weeks after arrival. Separation of each team into small groups during the isolation would mean that if a player or official had arrived in Tasmania with COVID-19, only the small group not the entire team would then require longer isolation.
So the human resource needed to get the AFL up and running again would be housed in Tasmania and out of isolation in two weeks.
If the number of cases of COVID-19 in Tasmania was negligible in two to three weeks, it is conceivable that some restrictions on holding events might then be lifted. Indeed, the Australian racing industry demonstrated over the weekend that it is possible to safely run events involving large numbers of people.
There are many quality football grounds in Tasmania able to host an AFL match. With these measures it is quite possible that we will be watching AFL again in about a month.
Not only would this secure the income of players and officials, ensure the viability of clubs and the league, and provide a much needed stimulus to the Tasmanian tourism industry (on which Tasmania’s economy relies), but it would also provide an incredibly useful and powerful outlet for those supporters around Australia who may well remain in relative isolation for another three to six months.
Victoria and New South Wales will take much longer to emerge from this crisis than Tasmania, and having nine games of AFL each weekend to watch would be a much needed boost.
Redb
Roar Guru
Dreaming. Even if the games resume and that it is way too early to call, crowds most definitely will not be back for sometime, 6 months, the whole of 2020? As you state, there is no vaccination (and probably not for 12 months plus), mass gatherings will be the last restriction to be lifted.
Marty
Roar Rookie
I would have the thought the Tasmania authorities have got enough on their plate atm without having to worry about an influx of several thousand people just so we can watch the footy. Don’t get me wrong, I love the footy as much as the next person, but how about a but of perspective here people. Are we seriously suggesting that we put unnecessary strain on the Tassie health system during an international pandemic because we’re getting a bit bored?
Vicboy
Roar Rookie
How about sending people 70+ to Tassie and the rest of us go back to work. If test positive with no symptoms - isolate on the now many empty cruise ships. Symptoms - hospital and then cruise ship. Same principle - virus can’t swim!
Mick Jeffrey
Roar Rookie
Can almost assure that some restrictions will be well and truly gone by the end of May, particularly given the way most of the country are tracking. Any decisions will need to be reviewed at Government level if things stabilise (which appear to be the case, and which was the goal of curve flattening, it was never about eradication which won't happen even with a vaccine). If not there will be a revolt on the streets almost guaranteed (people even with the best of intentions of leaders can't be expected to be hold up for 6 months unless something much bigger than a virus was about to happen), and the whole thing would have been for nothing. Plus if US experts are saying their crisis will likely be over by mid-June, and Australia is in a far better position than the US is, even with the prospect of the cooler months, everything will be back to probably where they were at the start of March sooner rather than later, being Level 2 with a few elements of Level 3 restrictions with regards to international travel more than interstate commiting, with normality coming a bit further down the line. Politics aside, if games were to be held for TV audiences only then I'd imagine grounds like North Hobart would become a viable option given the comparable size to the SCG. Apart from that I'm not sure KGV (Glenorchy) or the TCA (Hobart) would be fine for TV purposes. In terms of accommodation, I'm not privy to what's available in Launceston that would be suitable, but from my experiences of going to Hobart can more than 5-6 teams be effectively housed in suitable motels figuring that there's only 3 that I can think of (Grand Chancellor, Travelodge at the airport, Wrest Point) that would have enough rooms to house that many at the standard required for the length of time wanted to house them. Most of the motels are good enough for punters like us (for example many would try to book the Tower Motel, which is about 3 drop punts and a couple of torps from North Hobart), but maybe not for them.
Gecko
Roar Pro
Doc your idea is well worth debate, and you're getting a good mix of responses.
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Funny how Gecko proposed something similar on The Roar about a week ago, and was condemned by everyone. He suggested places like Kangaroo Island, which admittedly aren't as practical as this article, but nevertheless was attempting to stimulate debate. Roar followers condemned like a pack of sheep on the tunnel-vision basis it was irresponsible. Interestingly, a week later, a lot of people seemed to have changed their tune. I am keen to explore and debate any idea that re-ignites this year's footy season, although I can understand why some Carlton supporters might not be. :silly: Great article Doc, great to have you join The Roar community.
Redb
Roar Guru
People still don't get it. Stage 3 is likely to be around for 3-6 months, restriction of 2 people. End of story. Whilst Tassie might feature in some extra games IF the season resumes in 2020, the AFL wont be able to play anywhere until these restrictions are lifted, hopefully asap. The cost of transport alone puts Tassie out of the picture, the AFL will be looking to minimise costs not increase them.
Mathew bowerman
Guest
Other people do it all the time for work
Docs Dropkicks
Roar Rookie
Everyone would have to serve quarantine - and games would only start once restrictions started to lift in Tassie (when they were confident there was no community transmission).
Docs Dropkicks
Roar Rookie
On the gravel oval - would teach them to stay on their feet!!
Docs Dropkicks
Roar Rookie
Hi Col. tassie has a number of quality grounds that are at least of the standard of Ballarat and Canberra (for example). Most are in Hobart and Launceston- but others could be used in Devonport, Burnie and Ulverstone. And lots of people travel for work. All we would need is 18 hotels able to cater for about 100 people (and partners). This would return full income to about 2000 AFL players and other employees, keep afloat Tassie’s tourist industry, and provide a great distraction to millions of football followers - reducing boredom, depression and domestic violence.
DTM
Guest
I like this concept even better. However, I'd drop Melbourne - too many cases there. Tassie is better and they deserve the attention. I'd even go so far as to say we really only need the teams playing each other once so 5/6 weeks would be enough then 2/3 week break and rotate teams. Then another 5/6 weeks, a 2/3 week break then do it again. Home and away could be finished by end of Sept, then finals in Oct/Nov.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
I don't think it will happen either. The optics of allowing footy to continue while the rest of the country locks down will be too much for authorities to agree. But it's interesting to speculate. As for how you would isolate them from residents, they would taken by bus from their hotel directly to the ground and back. So add bus drivers to the list of people needed to isolate.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Great idea. you would double the population of Tasmania overnight.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
How would you keep all those people isolated from the people living around those grounds, plus with all the restrictions the Government has introduced it just can’t happen.
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
You would potentially need only 2 grounds - UTAS and Blundstone are already used. 4 or 5 games each ground every weekend. If that's too much wear and tear on the grounds, maybe some more byes need to be built into the fixture
Mango Jack
Roar Guru
I doubt you could include partners. A lot of players have young kids so if partners come, so do they, then the numbers (and risk) snowballs.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
They are contracted and have agreed to take a pay cut. The clubs are still demanding they maintain their fitness so they are entitled to be paid for that. If they were relocated that would mean 48 – 50 players from each club plus coaches, medical staff and others. Add to that umpires, television crews etc. You could be talking about 2000 people needing to be isolated and needing to be catered for with accommodation, food etc. Can’t think of anywhere with 2 or 3 first class football grounds that could achieve that.
RT
Roar Rookie
On the flip side, maybe it is not fair of the players to ask to be paid when there is no revenue coming in. If it came to it, I would relocate for a few months to keep the income coming in.
peter ostle
Guest
Dear Trevor, my answer was in part in jest. I do not see as a viable solution the moving of a league totally to one location in order to restart the league. I was going to add Belarus, or Sweden. I understand you point about China as it kept quiet due to politics at the start, and although Jinping has told people to not game the numbers of cases I think he is saying this because he knows it is going on.