Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has labelled a scenario that would see AFL clubs stay in quarantine hubs for up to 20 weeks as “complete rubbish”.
AFL Players’ Association boss Paul Marsh delivered the AFL’s season reboot plan to the playing group on Tuesday.
Players remain concerned about the thought of being situated in hubs and away from family for extended periods.
McGuire, who also sits on the AFL’s coronavirus task force, believes unnecessary panic has been allowed to set in among the players.
“Worst case (scenario) and complete rubbish, I would have thought,” McGuire told Nine News about players being in hubs for 20 weeks.
“There is more chance of me being in the Carlton cheer squad from that happening.
“I actually feel really angry that so many of the players have been geed up. Their partners, already under stress, have been further stressed.
“That is not only a worst case scenario, that is a doomsday scenario.”
With state borders a chance to re-open in coming weeks, McGuire believes that would cancel out the need for hubs.
(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
Hub set-ups would be split into two blocks, beginning with an eight-week period consisting of a compact training schedule followed by five weeks of matches.
Marsh stressed that was only a starting point in negotiations.
“The players want to do everything that they reasonably can to play but the world has shifted significantly here,” he told SEN Breakfast on Wednesday.
“We’re all of the understanding right now that the hubs are the only way we’re realistically going to get the season started, given the border closures in South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.”
Marsh said players’ individual circumstances relating to families and loved ones were a priority for the AFLPA.
Many are hopeful they will be allowed to take their families into the hubs, and AFL Media has reported senior players have threatened to stand themselves down over the issue.
Adelaide’s Rory Sloane, Steele Sidebottom of Collingwood and North Melbourne’s Todd Goldstein are among the leading players who have publicly expressed concerns about families being excluded.
However, the cost of allowing family members to join the hubs is a stumbling block for the AFL, which is already facing its biggest financial crisis because of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The AFL’s position is that they have an issue with bringing families in, but from our perspective it’s a significant issue for the players with families,” Marsh said.
(AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)
He confirmed the AFL had proposed lists of 32 players per club to be accommodated within the hubs and said there would be provisions for players on the larger official club lists to move in and out.
Meanwhile, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley queried whether having players and staff in hubs for an extended period was the right thing to do and said he would understand if any opted out.
“There would be players in our organisation – and staff – that would not make the decision to come and I would not look dimly on that at all,” Buckley told SEN.
“You’re not going to get 100 per cent buy-in with this.”
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
That goes completely against the agreement with AFLPA that they get 30% of their salary if no games are played.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Me too!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'd probably rather endure a decade of no footy than a season of AFLX tbh. Wait, maybe I'm being a bit dramati- Actually no it's the truth.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
If we are left with only AFLX I’m out for sure!
Birdman
Roar Rookie
If the season doesn't happen, the industry may well be a bust. Might have to brush off the AFLX format at this rate :sick:
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Yes, that's right. Lazy reporting really but I suppose everyone looks to the reigning premiers because we're awesome!
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Seems this year is the ideal time to trial any rule changes they've been brainstorming.
DTM
Guest
I posted this on another thread. “The Hubs” don’t need to be in the same place for the whole time. If, for example we re start at the end of June with 2 hubs of 9 teams – based in Perth and Adelaide, then players would be in these locations for approximately 10 weeks. The first 4 weeks would be quarantine and training then 8 games over say 6 weeks. This takes us to early September where we’ve had 9 rounds of footy. All the players could then relocate to Victoria for the last 8 rounds over 6 weeks – allowing for a further 2 week period of quarantine (if still required), the 17 games would be completed by mid November. Special consideration would need to be given to the NSW and Qld teams who would spend the most time away – perhaps some or all of their games against each other could be played before or after entering the hubs. For the Victorian, SA and WA teams it would be fair as all players would be away from home for just 10 weeks (until finals).
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Players with young kids won’t want to go without them. 20 weeks you could miss your child’s first steps or words. Wouldn’t blame them for pulling out.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
At least Eddie is back to being well insulated for such a location Fabian.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
Didn’t the media report most of the negative reaction was from Richmond players? Tigers might have to field their reserves side.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It is just possible the AFLPA leadership and Gilligan are way out of their depth and floating scenarios to gauge reaction. Gilligan has done this before floating that idea of trialling new rule changes for those sides out of finals calculations toward the end of the season. He puts it out there and let’s the media and all us commoners do the market research on the idea.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
That depends. What is a small percentage? What if, across the board, the opting out rate within individual clubs ranges from between 10 and 50%. A distinct possibility. I can see some farcical games occurring in that scenario. To go ahead in such a situation would be, in my opinion, treating players with contempt. I also think the 'play or go away' option puts undue pressure on individuals. Nup. For me it's one in, all in or not at all.
Paul2
Guest
@Truetiger I'm assuming that the vast majority of players will willingly enter a hub (assuming this is the only way of getting the season going), so clubs won't have a problem fielding a team. I might be wrong about that, but I doubt it. Is it really think it's treating players with contempt to provide them with the option of playing in the hub scenario while also allowing those who don't want to opt out at no (or significantly reduced) pay? If hubs are the only way of having a football season, surely we not going to pull the pin altogether because a small percentage of players don't want to partake due to family reasons.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
I agree we should start from the bottom up, getting ppl out socialising with other parents, playing sports or supporting their local comps us better for communities and business than empty stadium AFL games imo. If this forces Kennedy to retire or even Hurn, Jetta etc so be it imo if clubs have to choose between talented 21 yo or guys over 30 or trade one say 25-28yo to take Goldstein's spot then they'll do it with the possibility of lists being shrunk.
Wayne
Roar Guru
It was more an example where you have a smaller cluster of teams together. If you keep the 2x WA teams together, they have already played each other, so no need to keep them together.
The Brazilian
Roar Rookie
Yeah, fair enough. I don't buy into getting it up and running at any cost to 'save' or 'rescue' the financial viability of the comp. I would prefer they start at the other end when safe to do so . . . junior footy when it is deemed safe, then local footy, etc. Easier for crowds to maintain social distancing. AFL games without crowds does nothing to excite me. One round of it was more than enough. Will Kennedy play on next year if this year is a bust?
ScottyJ
Roar Rookie
Yeah Eddie is somewhat of a politician the way he scouts around answering direct questions. Self promotion and the promotion of his club is always forefront in Eddie's mind no doubt. I don't buy into much of what he says.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Maybe it won't be worth watching or maybe the players who are closer to retirement will consider it an option, who knows just play it next year when a treatment is actually quite likely.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Eddie is missing the point that a pandemic could easily become doomsday very quickly.