On 21/06/2020 at 12:08, layzie said:

Yeah the war years were rough but was anyone here around for them?

It is absolutely true that there have been compromised seasons but let's not pretend we're comparing apples and apples. Pre draft, pre salary cap, pre equalization, pre professional game list goes on.

I think that’s the point. We might all mentally put an asterisk next to the 2020 premiership, but in 30+ years time, nobody will care and the 2020 premier will be written in to history in the same way as all the others.

Not that we’re going to win anyway, but I’d rather cop a bit of stick from other supporters for a compromised premiership, where the “compromised” bit gets forgotten in time, than not have it at all.

  On 21/06/2020 at 09:49, monoccular said:

So we don’t get to play a depleted Bummer side where others from next week onwards may.   We will no doubt be rescheduled midweek after their ‘rested’ players return and we have had a hard weekend.  
Once again we are screwed by the Bummers and the AFL looking after them. 

Is "paranoia" the correct word to describe this post?

  On 21/06/2020 at 12:58, Redleg said:

In its current format, our game today.

It will be replaced in a timeslot that impacts us both for that game and the following one, you can be sure.

Also the team make up will be different and again I am sure we won't get the benefit of a depleted Bombers side like Carlton and other teams might.

I am not whingeing, merely stating that this is such a compromised season as to be treated differently in the AFL records.

If people disagree that is their right and if they say we just follow the rules, then what would they say if the season was abandoned next week and the AFL said that the team on top of the ladder is the Premier.

Assuming the AFL changes from Premiership points to percentage of games won (to accommodate what will have become the abandoned game) I would say we should have won both our games by sufficient margins and been on top of the ladder.

  On 21/06/2020 at 09:33, praha said:

I remember when the Spurs won the 99 NBA Championship, a season cut short by player lockout. Only a 60 game season I think. There was an asterix next to it for a long while until the Spurs won again I think 6 years later. Ultimately became one of the best teams of this century so far. 

I'd go all out for this year's flag, and use it as a launching pad to a strong decade. I mentioned in another thread that I can see one of Richmond Collingwood West Coat and GWS falling down and missing finals this year, may well end up being 2-3 of them.

This year's flag is up for the taking. It may well be the easiest AND hardest flag you could win.

I'm not an NBA fan but I'm with you 100%.

The lack of crowds might make some games "easier" but so many other aspects of this season are harder on the players.

Whoever wins it this year will be able to build self-confidence into what will hopefully be a "normal" 2021 season. There will be better sponsorship opportunities, better fixturing opportunities, exposure in a media which needs something to talk about. There are a number of reasons why there is plenty to play for this year, if we can get a full season in.

Honestly winning this year would be harder than almost any other year in history. 

While the draw is compromised (when is it not?), this will also be the first time in a long time where each team plays each other once, thus making it more even.

Given the nature of this season, this would be a massive mental victory for whoever manages to win, and I would take nothing away from the premiers. Nor would I be happy to put a question mark next to our name, if we won it.

  On 21/06/2020 at 11:32, Dr. Gonzo said:

1916 Fitzroy won the spoon and the flag in a 4 team competition.

that's ok because it wasn't the filth, essendrug or carlscum

  On 21/06/2020 at 21:37, Nasher said:

I think that’s the point. We might all mentally put an asterisk next to the 2020 premiership, but in 30+ years time, nobody will care and the 2020 premier will be written in to history in the same way as all the others.

Not that we’re going to win anyway, but I’d rather cop a bit of stick from other supporters for a compromised premiership, where the “compromised” bit gets forgotten in time, than not have it at all.

The problem I have with that position is that the premierships MFC won well before I was born mean little to me,  with or without war-time asterisks.  Only ones which I 'participate' in mean anything.  Thus I don't take any comfort from the fact that in 2085 no-one will notice that the 2020 was compromised.  What would any of us rather - surprisingly learning MFC had actually won 13 premierships in the past or winning one around now?

I am ambivalent on the question of whether a club should try to win it this year versus using the season as an opportunity to develop the list and tactics.  I guess I'd try and take a middle way and if the stars align towards season end, start focussing on just winning.

  On 21/06/2020 at 21:37, Nasher said:

I think that’s the point. We might all mentally put an asterisk next to the 2020 premiership, but in 30+ years time, nobody will care and the 2020 premier will be written in to history in the same way as all the others.

Not that we’re going to win anyway, but I’d rather cop a bit of stick from other supporters for a compromised premiership, where the “compromised” bit gets forgotten in time, than not have it at all.

Definitely a good way to look at it!

If we win, its legit.

If not, then it's an asterisk.