The Hub Plan

[Demonland 73,482]

 

[Half forward flank 1,022]

One of the most stupid plans of all time. Why would Tassie people want want to be putting up their hands to have six teams and officials the minute they are free of this virus. Please show the modelling that says Tassie and WA will be out of lockdown before other States.

[TeamPlayedFine39 8,525]

[tiers 2,875]

All sorted out. See Lightning Premiership thread.

[Rab D Nesbitt 8,767]

I tend to agree with Gerard Whateley on this one. It's all starting to smack of desperation and is only about saving the broadcasting deal now no matter how they try and dress it up. It all goes to show how close to the wind the AFL actually sails really but thankfully they can at least borrow at a low rate on the back of now owning the docklands stadium to try and ride out this sh@tstorm. At least we're not in the shoes of the NRL which really is a case of all fur coat and no knickers. 

 

[La Dee-vina Comedia 17,015]

The story attributes the plan to a guy called Julian McCrann, described as "a Poll Manager at research company Roy Morgan". What I didn't see is anything that says he prepared it for the AFL or that the AFL has considered it. I reliase Eddie McGuire mentioned it and Eddie is part of the AFL's crisis committee, so it is quite possible the AFL has done so.

I'm all in favour of the AFL looking at all options and assessing them. I can see why this one has been prepared and it has some logic in that it recognises the State-based nature of lockdown rules. I'm not convinced, though, that the benefits outweigh other problems. However, if Victoria comes out of lockdown earlier than predicted and can become one of the "hubs", it could work. That's not a pro-Victoria comment for the sake of it, but because with 10 of 18 teams based in Victoria, it is pivotal to any model. 

[John Dee 445]

This is just the AFL flying kites

[Queanbeyan Demon 6,935]

Bring the game to Canberra with the Granny played at The Brad Haddin Oval in Queanbeyan. The Dees would s*#t it in.

[At Least I Saw a Flag 5,315]

The season's done and dusted.

[tiers 2,875]

6 minutes ago, bingers said:

The season's done and dusted.

+1.

[Diamond_Jim 12,687]

22 minutes ago, bingers said:

The season's done and dusted.

It should be but the AFL won't give up.

I could see spectatorless games being played from August (assuming things don't go pear shaped generally). They will try to limit travel so we may see some form of hubbing but Tasmania... no way The logical hubs are one interstate where all the non Melbourne clubs would be based and then one in Melbourne. That would give you seven rounds before the interstate hub had exhausted itself. You could then move four of the Melbourne teams to the interstate hub and 4 of the interstate teams could come to Melbourne giving you another 4 or 5 rounds. By this stage you are almost at the end of October and have played 12 rounds.

The 17 round season would be possible but other than possibly the finals series it would all be spectatorless which would be considered by many as pointless.Another issue is would the media companies still pay big dollars for such a compromised season..

PS: I don't think it's possible before August because public sentiment will not countenance contact sport at a time of "distance isolation" and even if we see relaxed restrictions the distancing policy has another few months minimum to go.

Edited April 7, 2020 by Diamond_Jim

[Bring-Back-Powell 15,246]

That asterisk next to this year’s premier just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

[Whispering_Jack 31,131]

And what happens with the results of Round 1 where a club like Melbourne had the most difficult of road trips v WCE in Perth while others had much easier home games against lesser opponents?

Does that round count?

 It might only be one round but in a reduced season, if it does count, then Melbourne would be massively disadvantaged in a draw that was supposed to favour it because of its lowly position in 2019.

I don’t believe this is going to happen anyway - just as I think the opening round should have been called off in the first place.

[Demonland 73,482]

 

[Moonshadow 17,678]

Is this the Binman Model???