Air Quality & Preseason Training

[Demonland 73,266]

I’m not in Melbourne at the moment but from what I’m reading the Air Quality on some days is pretty crap and with warnings for people to stay inside unless absolutely necessary what are you thoughts on teams training in these conditions especially at the high intensity of a professional sport. 

 The AFL has been forced to brief club doctors on Melbourne's smoky haze as air quality reached 'hazardous' levels on Tuesday.

Clubs eye air quality as 'hazardous' smoke haze hits Melbourne

[old dee 23,916]

Seems amazing that the AFL has to tell Doctors about air hazards!

[Jaded No More 68,974]

The air quality is horrible. Even the inside of the gym today was so smokey and I found it hard to breath, and I don't have any respiratory issues.

Can't imagine you would want to do a high intensity 3 hour workout in these conditions. Can't be good! 

[DEE fence 5,042]

The smoke from the "Australian bushfires is so severe it is expected to complete a circuit of the Earth, returning to the country's skies from the west."

Just wow, this floors me, Maybe get on a ferry to Launceston? A few weeks down there?

IIRC - we have players managing asthma type conditions, plenty of footy players do.

 

[FireInTheBennelly 4,099]

When's the Maroochydore trip? Can it be bumped forward? Big logistics job but might be the best option.

[Demon Disciple 12,313]

The skies haven't been too smoky recently. I found the Sunday & Monday last week to be way worse than the these past few days, where the air stank of smoke.

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

2 hours ago, old dee said:

Seems amazing that the AFL has to tell Doctors about air hazards!

A sports medico in Australia could probably go 30 years without having to worry about air quality impacting training, and even then they aren’t respiratory physicians, they’re unlikely to know safe limits. Wise from the AFL to take the initiative. 

 

[old dee 23,916]

4 minutes ago, DeeSpencer said:

A sports medico in Australia could probably go 30 years without having to worry about air quality impacting training, and even then they aren’t respiratory physicians, they’re unlikely to know safe limits. Wise from the AFL to take the initiative. 

 

Umm they are doctors charged with looking after their clubs players health and they have to told to make sure the air is ok to train in! My daughter's GP told her yesterday not to exercise outside.  Seems fairly strange  to me that a specialist sports doctor would not know.

[markc 975]

its shocking here near the city , cant see much past chaddy , just the smell outside is bad 

[Dame Gaga 2,453]

My doctor told me yesterday a lot of people are getting sick because of the conditions. They have been flat out, with unusual lung ailments presenting in patients for this time of year, (summer), such as lung and sinus infections usually seen in winter and the flu season.

Horse races have been cancelled. It's just not good for anyone. Probably best to stay indoors. That was my doctor's advice, anyway.

 

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,623]

The equivalent of playing water polo in the Ganges I'd say. It must be horrible for athletes to train in the current conditions we have. 

[Diamond_Jim 12,642]

 

28 minutes ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

The equivalent of playing water polo in the Ganges

Off to Dhaka next week where the air is about the same as here most of the year.

Dhaka sits on a magnificently wide river and men row you across the river for 50 cents if you want the whole boat or ten cents if you share. By comparison the Ganges is crystal clear.

[Burnsy 32]

Well, the AFL have a relationship with Fox Sports/News Corp who deny climate change is real so don't expect too much action.

Wish Gill would grow au pair.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,623]

11 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

 

Off to Dhaka next week where the air is about the same as here most of the year.

Dhaka sits on a magnificently wide river and men row you across the river for 50 cents if you want the whole boat or ten cents if you share. By comparison the Ganges is crystal clear.

The things you learn on DL eh?  It does surprise me a little though considering that Dhaka sees the water that has already travelled all the way through India. 

[pineapple dee 2,892]

The Indians are not really worried about the condition of the Ganges though many would probably wish it was a bit cleaner. The spiritual significance of the river overrides all other considerations. Fully 80% of the plastics in the worlds oceans comes from 5 rivers that flow through Asia.

[Superunknown 4,225]

1 hour ago, Burnsy said:

Well, the AFL have a relationship with Fox Sports/News Corp who deny climate change is real so don't expect too much action.

Wish Gill would grow au pair.

Au pair! Very good! 

[Superunknown 4,225]

15 minutes ago, pineapple dee said:

The Indians are not really worried about the condition of the Ganges though many would probably wish it was a bit cleaner. The spiritual significance of the river overrides all other considerations. Fully 80% of the plastics in the worlds oceans comes from 5 rivers that flow through Asia.

Fact-check on this please RMIT

 

in other news air quality Northern Rivers all ok I think sunny coast clear too. Come train in Ballina boys!

[DeeSpencer 26,091]

4 hours ago, old dee said:

Umm they are doctors charged with looking after their clubs players health and they have to told to make sure the air is ok to train in! My daughter's GP told her yesterday not to exercise outside.  Seems fairly strange  to me that a specialist sports doctor would not know.

Blind Freddy can tell you the air is awful and people should avoid exercise outdoors if it’s purely recreational. 

But the Essendon saga showed doctors get overruled when competitive edge is at stake and the tennis today showed dollars and schedules can overwhelm logic. 

The AFL medicos have probably done some research before the China games. Makes a lot of sense to send out a warning before a club takes an unnecessary risk. 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,949]

I would have thought there is plenty clubs can do as part of their pre-season which doesn't involve outdoor activity. It could be indoor gym or swimming, those lectures (for want of a better term) explaining the game plan that players always seem to complain about or simply some fun activities which help bonding such as playing table tennis. I believe it's an unnecessary risk to pursue outdoor training before the smoke clears.

[sue 9,151]

16 hours ago, old dee said:

Seems amazing that the AFL has to tell Doctors about air hazards!

As many have pointed out, any Doc would have already been onto this.  This is just the AFL getting involved in its favourite sport - bum covering.

Edited January 14, 2020 by sue

[Satyriconhome 10,880]

Training has been moved indoors today, on the bridge between Goschs and Botanic Gardens, can just make out east end of city buildings, looking east is even worse

[dpositive 1,767]

Surely some country sites that are smoke free alternatives.

i can't recommend NN Vic (we are generating the smoke still).

But the benefits of changing training routines is recognised with the scheduled trip North.

Nows the time to add real concern for health generating mutual commitment and respect.

Also provide country Dlanders to meet greet and contribute trading reports to relieve our dedicated Goschs watchers.

[old dee 23,916]

36 minutes ago, sue said:

As many have pointed out, any Doc would have already been onto this.  This is just the AFL getting involved in its favourite sport - bum covering.

Probably correct sue not sure how but I forgot that element.

[Diamond_Jim 12,642]

12 hours ago, Rab D Nesbitt said:

The things you learn on DL eh?  It does surprise me a little though considering that Dhaka sees the water that has already travelled all the way through India. 

This is the famous Rocket steamer that has plied the lower reaches of the rivers of Bangladesh since around 1880.

First class cabin is around ten dollars for a couple of days. Bangladesh makes India look orderly but it's a great place

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,949]

50 minutes ago, Diamond_Jim said:

This is the famous Rocket steamer that has plied the lower reaches of the rivers of Bangladesh since around 1880.

First class cabin is around ten dollars for a couple of days. Bangladesh makes India look orderly but it's a great place

I wonder whether it's safer to train outdoors in Melbourne today or travel on that boat (first class or not)!