The AFL has pondered the idea of having quarantine hubs in isolated areas to recommence the season, with Tasmania, Western Australia, Northern Territory, and Victoria thrown up as potential locations.
The hubs would see players and teams move to isolated areas in the hope of playing games in clusters.
Victoria being the home of most clubs means it would be surprising to see the MCG and Marvel stadiums inactive. With the two stadiums and training facilities in Richmond’s Punt Road Oval, Melbourne’s Gosch’s paddock, and Collingwood’s Olympic Park in close proximity to each other, teams would have easy access to train, making it an attractive possibility.
Not to mention the hotels in and around a quieter Melbourne city could strengthen the chances of a quarantine hub.
It is a difficult decision to make, particularly with Victoria having the second-highest amount of COVID—19 cases in the country.
“We will have to roll with the times. It’s one of those things this year,” Geelong captain Joel Selwood said on Footy Classified
Selwood’s teammate, AFL Players Association president Patrick Dangerfield, was less confident with the quarantine hubs.
“We’ve said we’ll do what we can as players,” he said on SEN.
“I think you’d find you’d have players that would be more than willing to do that and you’ll have some that would be vehemently opposed.”
Dangerfield raised a good point about a potential proportion of players being against the quarantine hubs. There is only a certain amount of time teams can last together.
Patrick Dangerfield (AAP Image/Stefan Postles)
Recent communication between the AFL and clubs has been to get the season going, potentially as early as the start of June – a date that is looking increasingly unlikely.
If the league can work out a plan to get the season resuming early, the integrity of the game must be upheld above all else. The last thing this season’s champions will want is a premiership with a big asterisk on it.
As hard as it is, the AFL should aim to have a season that follows the morals and principles of a typical season. This could look like three or four-day breaks between games instead of five or six, finals that hold the same format as a regular season, and all teams playing each other at least once.
Changes like these might have to be made to ensure the grand final winners are worthy.
AFL general manager of football, Steve Hocking said “The agility and flexibility and open-mindedness to what they are going to face is going to be critical to land the premiership.”
While “flexibility and open-mindedness” are commendable, Hocking should ensure that football is the winner, not the team who can cope with the quarantine hub the longest.
If the AFL gets to a point where a reasonable season cannot be completed, a season without a premiership will be on the agenda. They are not easy to win and should not be handed out if a fair and justified season cannot be produced.
It will not be anyone’s fault. It will just be the circumstances we live in. Hopefully, the season does not get to that point but the threat builds.
Another factor will be finding stadiums. With the T20 World Cup scheduled to start on October 18, the AFL may be under time pressure to fit the season in.
Bear in mind, cricket also needs time to prepare pitches and put drop-in pitches into the grounds. That could take up to an extra fortnight from the AFL having access to major stadiums.
The AFL might even have to fork out to get stadiums that cricket would have already locked in. The use of club grounds, such as Collingwood’s Victoria Park and Carlton’s Ikon Park, might be the best option.
Seymorebutts
Guest
The AFL has been in operation now for 30 odd years, one would imagine that they could at least get that one thing right, i.e., teams get the same amount of recovery time ;-)
Seymorebutts
Guest
If they play 17 rounds, i.e. all the rides once, it will be legit and no one will complain.
Max Hatzoglou
Roar Pro
What a brilliant idea Peter. I'm all for it if the AFL can't get over 15 games in.
Peter
Guest
If they are not going to award the premiership cup then don't bother having an isolated 'season' this year. I'd rather see them play 12 games this year, a two month break and 22 games next year, all counted in a single 'super season'. 34 games across 2 years, every club plays each other twice.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It depends on the AFL announcing a valid season and premiership on the line. Once done, game on.
Max Hatzoglou
Roar Pro
Agree, the AFL should be better in making sure that interstate teams get the same rest vic teams do or at least closer to. Money’s a big factor in this I’d say. The AFL would make sure they get a big game scheduled on a certain day over making sure teams get the same amount of rest. If that’s accurate, it shouldn’t be like that.
Max Hatzoglou
Roar Pro
So if it was a normal AFL premiership being awarded with the same fixture and everything, that would purely mean that there would be much more substance in it. I dont know about that. I would of thought that more would people would be annoyed that the shorter unique season was still an AFL premiership season rather than something else.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Only because the AFL's Vic-bias was there first.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The National competition delivers.
Seymorebutts
Guest
Agreed, they have plenty of grounds AFL standard over in Perth.. Joondalup, Perth Oval, Leederville, crikey, they could even have a few at Lathlain Park where the Eagles train now ;-)
Seymorebutts
Guest
Its not the travel, its the inconsistencies non Melbourne footy fans object too. If everyone plays on the same break fine, but when your team is on the road, and they have had a days less rest in 4-5 games in such a tight comp the fans will rightfully get annoyed. The last 4 Grand finals the Eagles have played in their opponents had an extra day to recover, if that happened to a club like Collingwood you would never hear the end of it. Melbourne clubs dont have to play in Tasmania which has been a graveyard for non Melbourne based teams, if the AFL are so keen on playing footy down there then Richmond or the Pies should also have to play down there.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
That cup though Max would have about as much substance a preseason cup.
Martin
Roar Rookie
I would suggest the best chance of getting the season up and running would be to have all 18 teams located in Perth for the next seven months. Perth has the best timezone for television viewing with a two-hour advantage. You have the potential to broadcast three or possibly four games (with a stretch) on a Saturday, for example, 10 am, 1 pm, 4 pm and 7 pm. That leaves five or six games for Friday and Sunday. Another benefit is should, down the track, the Chief Medical Officer lift the restrictions on having spectators at the ground then Optus Stadium has a capacity for 60 thousand spectators. Any cricket matches could be moved back to the WACA, after all, I think we would all agree Aussie rules football is our national game and should take precedence. Seventeen rounds is a must, but if necessary I would suggest a top four final series.
Max Hatzoglou
Roar Pro
You're right Peter but as you are saying Richie Tiger, it won't compare well to a 22 or 17 game season. I think if it gets to the point where the AFL can only fit in a shorter season of fewer than 12 or so games, I think they should introduce a special cup for the season that doesn't fall under an official AFL premiership but something different for this unique season. If they were to award an official AFL premiership even with a 12 or so games season a team undeserving of winning it could and it could look bad on the competition.
RT
Roar Rookie
Peter, I know what you are saying and I agree it could (easily) be done fairly. I just don't feel a 9 game season can compare with a 22 (or 17) game season in other respects. e.g. the gruelling nature of a longer season.
PriddisJunior
Roar Rookie
Careful Marty, your non-vic bias is showing :silly:
Peter
Guest
A 9 game season could be done fairly in my opinion by having a Group stage (or conferences) then a finals stage. 2 x groups of 9 comprised each of 4 x top 8 teams from 2019 and 5 x bottom 10 2019 teams (also 4 x interstate, 5 x vic in each). Play each team in your group once, add in the already played round 1. Top 4 of each group go into finals. I dont see any difference to the NFL which is a 32 team comp but has a 16 game season. No asterisk required.
Paul2
Guest
Well, there you go. I'd say that it could also be postponed to 2022, but the BCCI is not in the habit of accommodating others.
RT
Roar Rookie
Except there is already a 2021 T20 World Cup scheduled for India! This is replacing the ICC Champions Trophy so having 2 in 2 years should be a one off.
Paul2
Guest
Yeah, I reckon there's at least an even money chance that the T20 WC gets postponed to 2021 (to either before or after the 2021 AFL season). You'd think they'd want to a guarantee months in advance that international travel etc will be permitted, but that's a guarantee that may not be available.