1 hour ago, durango said:

I worked as the trainer for the MFC for 10 years and did some time with the property steward and although they have multiple balls once a ball has been used the ball becomes part of the training stock so the AFL will run out of match balls and will be forced to use training stock which on wet days will get very heavy because the leather will crack allowing more moisture into the ball.

So your answer is yes, they have multiple balls per game.

In NRL (I think) they are dunking the balls in disinfectant, wiping them and putting them back into play.

The AFL will have hundreds, possibly thousands of new balls. If they must reuse balls, under the current situation, my guess is they will. So be it.

If they are to play, it's about harm minimization. 

The season will end prematurely after at least one club is affected by the virus. Lock it in.

16 minutes ago, bingers said:

The season will end prematurely after at least one club is affected by the virus. Lock it in.

Thanks Sandra

 

Eddie speaks:

 

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronavirus/2020/03/19/afl-coronavirus-hunt/?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=PM Extra - 20200319

Some late rule tweaks. 

Runners will be allowed on the ground after goals, as per the 2019 season, in order to share messages from coaches to players.

However they’ll now also be allowed twice a quarter for a maximum of 90 seconds, during live play.

They’re also not allowed to be on the ground during the final three minutes of any quarter, except after goals - so it’s just those two-a-quarter runner uses that aren’t permitted.

The league has also confirmed a 17-game season for every club, with each match containing four quarters of 16 minutes plus time on. Quarter and three-quarter-time will last eight minutes, while half-time will last 20 minutes.

Last minute negotiations between AFL and TV moguls........even if we get to play one round, that will give the rabble something to talk about and look at for the next month at least and then we will adjust the contract and phase something back in....ok guys?

last minute negotiations between AFL and Insurance Companies........no one at the game no one going to know nothing, sort of like trees falling in the forest, no one there to hear all the coughing and spitting OK?

I've pulled this across from the game day thread as I think it's probably more suited to here...

4 hours ago, Axis of Bob said:

I'll watch the game but,  to be honest,  I don't really care about it at all.  I just figure we shouldn't be playing the games this all this week and the empty grounds will just remind me if that constantly. 

I'm very disappointed in the league officials for their lack of leadership. The whole country, indeed the world, is correctly imploring for social distancing whilst the AFL tries to wring a few dollars out of a ruined early season. 

The AFL has tried to craft an image where it takes the lead on social issues, but it'll be a lot harder to get credit for taking the high ground now and into the future. 

 

1 hour ago, Axis of Bob said:

I certainly would not be having a go .... I'm reluctant at the best of times. This is a time where everyone across the board is just going to have to do what they can. 

Gil obviously hasn't done it on his own, but nearly everyone involved has an interest in the games going ahead. Clubs, players, staff, broadcasters etc.  That's why it takes leadership to step in and do what's right despite the incentives not to. 

It's a bloody tough spot to be in, I agree. There are no good outcomes to the choices. I just think that is harder to see out into society from inside the AFL bubble than vice versa, and the AFL's decision is a result of that. 

 

1 hour ago, Forest Demon said:

I think Gil has done well. I think it's understandable that most industries try to continue, based on the government's current rules and recommendations. If that changes and the AFL has to stop next week, so be it, but that isn't the case yet.

It is a tough spot to be in but I feel they have probably taken the easier decision.

Unfortunately hindsight is going to be a wonderful thing here.

We can all be experts in 12 to 18 months time.

To me it makes sense to put the season on hold but I can understand why it's going ahead.

We're only at the tip of the iceberg at the moment and people saying it will be a mental release to watch some footy whilst right are going to have to find some resilience going forward.

It's going to get a lot worse and there will be no footy.

It's the goodwill that might be more important than playing now.

The players voted to play 22 games, they're good footballers but not very strategic thinkers.

There is no way they were ever going to play 22 games and finals...

There is also no way they will be able to keep their current contracts.

It's not going to be sustainable.

This goes for all in the AFL bubble.

SEN may well close up shop, I can't see them making it through a close down (they were reliant on this season to pull them through) and other media outlets/people will suffer.

Will FOX keep paying their high priced presenters if nothing is happening, history says no.

Club CEO's will take a hit, they will have to...some may retire early.

Will Cook and Pert have the energy to rebuild the game. They've done well out of it but will they give back now or move on into retirement.

We can kiss goodbye to the training ground/facility but then again what we have may be good enough if we make it through.

A lot of the backroom stuff may go back to volunteers and elected officials.

Anyway, starting to ramble a bit now.

Over...

Edited March 19, 20205 yr by rjay

CHARTER FLIGHTS, MASKS ON PLAYERS FOR COVID-19 AVOIDANCE

Fremantle players have been spotted wearing masks at Perth Airport, one of the many measures AFL clubs are taking to avoid coronavirus while travelling this weekend.

Six clubs are flying interstate - Fremantle, Geelong, Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney and Port Adelaide - and all have taken or will take charter flights to avoid exposure.

They’ll also be housed on dedicated floors at their hotels.

 

 

 

23 hours ago, DubDee said:

take that COVID! you self-replicating mofo

Viruses cannot self replicate

6 hours ago, Sir Why You Little said:

36 players plus officials having prolonged close contact 

exactly how the virus is exchanged

as is being in confined area with infected people 

as others have said people still in work and schools still open

contact sport is not increasing the risk

2 hours ago, rjay said:

I've pulled this across from the game day thread as I think it's probably more suited to here...

 

 

It is a tough spot to be in but I feel they have probably taken the easier decision.

Unfortunately hindsight is going to be a wonderful thing here.

We can all be experts in 12 to 18 months time.

To me it makes sense to put the season on hold but I can understand why it's going ahead.

We're only at the tip of the iceberg at the moment and people saying it will be a mental release to watch some footy whilst right are going to have to find some resilience going forward.

It's going to get a lot worse and there will be no footy.

It's the goodwill that might be more important than playing now.

The players voted to play 22 games, they're good footballers but not very strategic thinkers.

There is no way they were ever going to play 22 games and finals...

There is also no way they will be able to keep their current contracts.

It's not going to be sustainable.

This goes for all in the AFL bubble.

SEN may well close up shop, I can't see them making it through a close down (they were reliant on this season to pull them through) and other media outlets/people will suffer.

Will FOX keep paying their high priced presenters if nothing is happening, history says no.

Club CEO's will take a hit, they will have to...some may retire early.

Will Cook and Pert have the energy to rebuild the game. They've done well out of it but will they give back now or move on into retirement.

We can kiss goodbye to the training ground/facility but then again what we have may be good enough if we make it through.

A lot of the backroom stuff may go back to volunteers and elected officials.

Anyway, starting to ramble a bit now.

Over...

Doomsdayers everywhere, borrow swyls' soapbox.

11 minutes ago, drysdale demon said:

Doomsdayers everywhere, borrow swyls' soapbox.

A well considered comment...not.

How about you make a constructive comment for once rather than just snipe everyone else on the site.

Take what I said to pieces, do your best.

Edited March 19, 20205 yr by rjay

Just a thought as there will be no crowds there will be no membership tents to buy memberships and pickup scarfs.

why doesnt Melb donate the scarfs to salvos etc to give to the homeless. No need for the club to waste postage sending to members. (All clubs do the same? Even  the interstate clubs)

similarly the beanies if they arrive for the mnd game should be given to  homeless . Id be happy to donate the $25 to mnd foundation 

 

This season could be open to a tanking affair of a completely different kind. What chance a team performing really poorly and sitting on the bottom of the ladder gets a player infected to end the season and pick up a No 1 draft pick in the process. Just a thought. 

Edited March 19, 20205 yr by Rab D Nesbitt

 

10 hours ago, AshleyH30 said:

This is just my opinion, but I don't see the AFL getting far beyond round 1. The rate of infection is increasing exponentially at a rate of about 20% per day with confirmed cases doubling every 3-5 days (and that is only cases that meet their criteria for testing. The total number of cases could 10, 100, or even 1000 times more).

With the rate of infection, we'll have the same as the UK this time next week, the schools will be closed (should be closed now), and probably within 2-3 weeks of that we'll be in full lockdown.

The government has no true indication of how far this virus has spread as they can't test for it as they only have a limited number of tests. 2 People at my work have come down with a severe fevor, and are told they can't be tested.

About a month ago I had a fever (over 40 degrees) combined with a pretty swollen throat (but not infected and wasn't too sore), chills, body/muscle aches, fatigue, headaches for 4 or 5 days etc and was the worst I have felt since I had glandular fever. GP did a swab test for flu which came back negative but I was off work for a week and so was everyone in my team who had it as well (I caught it off someone in the team and it went through almost all of us). Did I have coronavirus? I dunno maybe ?‍♂️

Edited March 19, 20205 yr by Dr. Gonzo

3 hours ago, Pennant St Dee said:

as is being in confined area with infected people 

as others have said people still in work and schools still open

contact sport is not increasing the risk

School, work, supermarkets - essential services

Professional sports - non-essential luxury entertainment

The point is not to eliminate exposure, chances are a majority of people are going to end up contracting the virus at some point. The point is to slow it's movement through society so the public health system isn't overwhelmed and people die because they can't get treatment. Any non-essential activities should be reduced or eliminated to reduce the chances of infection and slowing the spread. But it will spread now that it's here, I don't think we can put the genie back in the bottle. Borders should've been locked down a month ago but then again a month ago I was laughing at people who were worried about this. I thought it would be another SARS/Avian flu deal. The effects on health and the economy are beyond what I imagined it would be and for Australians it is going to get worse before it gets better.

21 hours ago, AshleyH30 said:

This is just my opinion, but I don't see the AFL getting far beyond round 1. The rate of infection is increasing exponentially at a rate of about 20% per day with confirmed cases doubling every 3-5 days (and that is only cases that meet their criteria for testing. The total number of cases could 10, 100, or even 1000 times more).

With the rate of infection, we'll have the same as the UK this time next week, the schools will be closed (should be closed now), and probably within 2-3 weeks of that we'll be in full lockdown.

The government has no true indication of how far this virus has spread as they can't test for it as they only have a limited number of tests. 2 People at my work have come down with a severe fevor, and are told they can't be tested.

I believe I heard Dr.Norman Swann on ABC's excellent Coronocast podcast:

https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/coronacast/

That data from China suggests that about 80% of infections were undiagnosed.  If that's the case in Australia our current infection tally is 700 (diagnosed) x 5 = 3,500.

25 million / 3,500 = approximately 1 in 7000 Australians are currently infected.

Approximately 400 AFL footballers participating in R1.  Likelihood that one is infected is approximately 1 in 18.  You can make up your own mind whether it is reasonable or not to go ahead with the football.

Edited March 20, 20205 yr by Fifty-5

AFL will shut up shop for at least 30 days if a player contracts COVID-19.

?UPDATE ?

If an AFL player contracts COVID-19 the league will not suspend for 14 days. The hiatus will be much longer >>> League boss says AFL would shut down for 30 days if player tested positive to COVID-19

Can we please at least try to contain this thread to AFL & MFC news and comments relating to the Coronavirus?

If you want to talk about Coronavirus in General and Other Sports please do so in the following thread: https://demonland.com/forums/topic/47746-coronavirus-other-sports/

 

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

Can we please at least try to contain this thread to AFL & MFC news and comments relating to the Coronavirus?

If you want to talk about Coronavirus in General and Other Sports please do so in the following thread: https://demonland.com/forums/topic/47746-coronavirus-other-sports/

 

This post is AFL related.

1 hour ago, Fifty-5 said:

This post is AFL related.

My apologies. I'm only human.