Damien Hardwick would be prepared to take Richmond to an interstate hub in order to reboot the AFL season.
The Tigers’ dual premiership coach admits it has been difficult to navigate training schedules without an official end date for the competition’s coronavirus shutdown in sight.
But he believes the defending premiers could be up and running for competitive matches with as little as two weeks’ serious training.
“As long as everyone’s off the same start point, I think we’ll be okay,” Hardwick told ABC’s Offsiders on Sunday.
“I can’t see us going into a three or four-week training block to start the season.
“I think our players would (need) two weeks maybe and then get the game up and going.”
The AFL is considering all states and territories as possible bases for isolation hubs as it attempts to restart the 2020 season after putting it on hold last month.
Clubs would likely be kept in hubs for a minimum of six weeks, which could consist of a three-week training block and three weeks of matches.
Most states have already declared their interest in hosting a hub, with Queensland and Western Australia both firming as potential bases after announcing on Sunday that some restrictions would be lifted in the coming week.
But WA Premier Mark McGowan declared the state will not pay to lure the AFL after showing its commitment to the competition already through the building of Optus Stadium.
Leading football figures in New South Wales and South Australia have pushed their states’ cases, while interest in using Tasmania as a base has seemingly cooled.
“I think we just want to get the game up and going and we’re prepared to do (anything),” Hardwick said of the prospect of moving his team interstate for an extended period of time.
“This is me speaking. We haven’t had the real conversation with our players as such because a lot will depend on the AFLPA and their decision-making.”
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has told clubs he will be in a position to announce plans for the competition from May 11.
The more cautious approach is in contrast to the rival NRL’s timeline, with rugby league’s premier competition set to resume on May 28.
Hardwick applauded the NRL’s “aspirational-type leadership” in setting a return date but said he understood why the AFL was yet to follow suit.
“As soon as we get that date, that will make things a lot easier and give us a lot more certainty to plan for that,” Hardwick said.
“That’s the one thing we haven’t got at the moment and that’s really challenging from a mental aspect.
“We’re working heavily with the government and the AFL are doing a great job in making sure that the environment is safe.
“But from a coaching and playing point of view, we’d love a date as soon as possible. That way we can get started.”
RT
Roar Rookie
Closer to 0.2 km. Not that the players live at Punt Rd.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Just as well. Glad I could impress you in however limited a way... I prefer to consider myself a 'philosopher' of football. How far is it from Punt Road to the MCG again? 2.2 kms, I believe As opposed to Perth to Victoria? The 40000 km swing for 10 away games compared to the 17.6 km roundabout for Richmond's 'neutral' games,you mean?
RT
Roar Rookie
Wow, talk about twisting things around to discuss the subject you want to discuss. Like a polly. Impressed. Anyway, Richmond had 13 home and away games at the MCG last year, 8 of them (9 if Geelong weren't so sooky) were neutral in terms of home ground advantage, as opposed to West Coast with 10 true home ground advantages of their 12 games at Perth Stadium. West Coast definitely get a better deal for home ground advantage, but worse for away games of course. Swings and roundabouts. Point is, there are different ways to look at things.
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
Talking about Richmond? The AFL inflicting seven straight home games on their opponents,though, was fine. Are the soft toys afraid of eight trips out of the graden state? Come on,surely even the Tiggers could handle that over two years? Eagles will take seven consecutive games at home to start ,or finish the season, thank you..
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
At home nonetheless! Woeful, Larry.
RT
Roar Rookie
Nah. If your team is no good, there is nothing to look forward to (or false hope) for next year. We can't inflict that on fans.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
It's exactly that attitude that has teams beaten before the game is even played! Embarrassing is being beaten by a non-finalist in R23 with a top 4 spot on the line.
RT
Roar Rookie
Richmond had only 13 games at the MCG last year - 10 home and 3 away. I agree it was unnecessary to have so many in the back half of the season, but if it was the other way around then people would complain about the dream start setting them up for the season. Anyway, they flogged Brisbane in Brisbane in the first week of the finals, so it wouldn't have mattered. People will always find an excuse and have a whinge, but part of sport I guess is the feeling of injustice and not what could have been but what should have been. Just ask Collingwood about the 1979 Grand Final or that night Grand Final they should have won and many others.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Awwww, shucks. You mean you really find no humour in Britney, I mean Buckley, and his boys. Nathan's 'monotone tone', for want of a better phrase, in defeat is gold.
RT
Roar Rookie
Embarrassing excuse.
RT
Roar Rookie
I've only ever seen him dressed in Collingwood colours.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Hey Larrikin, we beat the Tigers after they’d won 13 in a row or some such at the G in a preliminary with Mason Cox the star. Surely that means everyone is gettable.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I bet you still don’t want to see an image of him wearing a Tiger jumper.
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
the reason most footy supporters dislike Richmond is the bias handouts given to them by there mate Gill. how could Richmond possibly lose a GF when they don't leave home for 2 months. Embarrassing
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I like Stewie Dews idea of the hub on the Gold Coast. Nice and warm, plenty of available unused accommodation. Grundy would look awesome with a tan. I guess it’s not PC to have the meter maids so perhaps the players could do it in between games. Give them a project too like building a Trump wall to keep out us ageing Victorians?
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
I agree Matt, rivalries gain traction from significant games and finals wins. The Tigers were in the doldrums for so long the rivalries they had have dissipated. Even their GF wins haven’t engendered any new rivalries. Look at Carlton v Collingwood now with the Blues out of action for so long. Carlton or Collingwood v Richmond could resurface with sustained time at the top. Would you call WCE v Swans a rivalry after the epic battles the previous decade?
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
He's important but he is being put forward with Sutton as the only opinion that counts for the AFL which we both understand is not the case, I'd be horrified if reporters from WA weren't taking the opinions of all that count in the decisions being faced into account, I read alot and listen to alot of varying opinions as sure your aware so I'm also sure why in such times you'd understand why such simplistic reporting frustrates.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Not soon enough JT and if you think it was then C'mon mate have a view of Pell history when he was the patron of Richmond.
RT
Roar Rookie
I don't listen to them enough to have heard them talk about Andrews so I don't know the context. But I can guess. The majority of teams are from Vic and Vic has the strictest isolation rules so the two factors mean what Andrews says is pretty important in all this.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
The Richmond Football Club officially cut Pell loose over a year ago. His subsequent acquittal hasn’t changed their stance one bit. He’s still gone. As it should be.