I just hope they are playing at either Metricon or the Gabba and not in Cairns, that way me and the family can see a few games.

 

 

Had to happen. It’s good news. QLD - Gold Coast is best outcome and safer for now.

???
 

Winter escape. 21-22c most days on the GC. Beautiful.  Good for the much needed skill sessions.

 

In all probability the other States (bar NSW ) will not open up to Victoria for a long while.

Get ready for cricket to abandon Victoria.

I know they have said the tennis will be in Melbourne but they will be tempted to move it north or west if the money is right.

The "New Normal" sucks

While being away from home can have its challenges, at least the players and any members of their families with them should be pleased that they will be in a location that will be far safer than Melbourne (an probably Sydney) with respoect to the possibility of catching the coronavirus.

I seriously don't get the AFL's aversion to Darwin/NT. It's not a stretch to imagine Covid will continue its march up the Eastern seaboard and catch up with the league in Queensland soon enough.

Meanwhile, the Territory ticks every box. I've been stuck here since the international borders closed. Basically not a single case of community transmission the entire time. Low density tropical living with little pollution - three aspects that have been suggested as delimiting spread. Life goes on almost as if normal, compared to what I hear from friends interstate.

Conditions for footy are currently perfect. It's not sticky at present. TIO is in good shape, and would probably attract more spectators than in QLD. Job losses here have been comparatively light and there's still disposable income. It's neutral territory with a good spread of fans. Plenty of accommodation, and the players can just get on with it. 

I would go to three games a week - and if they can't get a full paid audience in, it could still be a marketing/development bonanza. Free entry to anyone under 18. Get the indigenous kids in. Broadcast the matches and our culture around the world. I'm assuming the NT government would be inviting and willing to chip in for promotional benefits. 

For mine, if they set up here now with a commitment to play out the season, it would create a true carnival atmosphere and grant some actual legitimacy to the season, rather than all this week-to-week scrambling and revised fixtures. 

Edited July 15, 20205 yr by Skuit

 

Boys should try get setup around either Yeronga Devils or Mt Gravatt.

Both are decent sized grounds, close to the Gabba. Also on the southside so shorter trip to Metricon (~one hour).

48 minutes ago, 3Dee said:

Boys should try get setup around either Yeronga Devils or Mt Gravatt.

Both are decent sized grounds, close to the Gabba. Also on the southside so shorter trip to Metricon (~one hour).

Need accomodation for 100 people. Have to accommodate some families.  Imo Gold Coast is more likely setup. 

1 hour ago, Skuit said:

I seriously don't get the AFL's aversion to Darwin/NT. It's not a stretch to imagine Covid will continue its march up the Eastern seaboard and catch up with the league in Queensland soon enough.

Meanwhile, the Territory ticks every box. I've been stuck here since the international borders closed. Basically not a single case of community transmission the entire time. Low density tropical living with little pollution - three aspects that have been suggested as delimiting spread. Life goes on almost as if normal, compared to what I hear from friends interstate.

Conditions for footy are currently perfect. It's not sticky at present. TIO is in good shape, and would probably attract more spectators than in QLD. Job losses here have been comparatively light and there's still disposable income. It's neutral territory with a good spread of fans. Plenty of accommodation, and the players can just get on with it. 

I would go to three games a week - and if they can't get a full paid audience in, it could still be a marketing/development bonanza. Free entry to anyone under 18. Get the indigenous kids in. Broadcast the matches and our culture around the world. I'm assuming the NT government would be inviting and willing to chip in for promotional benefits. 

For mine, if they set up here now with a commitment to play out the season, it would create a true carnival atmosphere and grant some actual legitimacy to the season, rather than all this week-to-week scrambling and revised fixtures. 

No Tassie either. We’ve just ticked over 60 days with no cases. Perplexing.

9 minutes ago, Nasher said:

No Tassie either. We’ve just ticked over 60 days with no cases. Perplexing.

I know which one I would choose between NT and Tas in July but your point is still valid Nasher. Why do you think the AFL is reluctant to follow that path, or do you think they've tried and been told they're not welcome? Definitely the NT was vocal about being open to it a couple months back. Are crowds allowed in in Tas? How well do you think the matches would be attended there? 

Complete speculation, but I think they would get at least 6000 paid into each and every match here, and then as I said can fill it up with targeted freebies. Would need promotion, but if the AFL and NT government embraced it - say like a carnival-style cricket world cup - then I think it would go gangbusters.  

Edited July 15, 20205 yr by Skuit

On another note - how good would it be to see an AFL game for premiership points played on Tiwi ! Send Essendon and Hawthorn there and the place would explode. 

Edited July 15, 20205 yr by Skuit

26 minutes ago, Nasher said:

No Tassie either. We’ve just ticked over 60 days with no cases. Perplexing.

Aren't your borders still close to everyone? Or did I miss something? 

2 hours ago, Skuit said:

I seriously don't get the AFL's aversion to Darwin/NT. It's not a stretch to imagine Covid will continue its march up the Eastern seaboard and catch up with the league in Queensland soon enough.

 

AFL may be holding that card out, as a possibility of 'last resort'. Who knows, Gil and the team may already be casting for the sequel Aussie rules On the Beach. Much prefer the original movie to the locally re-made for TV version (2000). Plus, 1959 was a very good year for the Demons. Meanwhile if a mysterious nuclear powered submarine turns up in Darwin Harbour, it'll be game on.

Edited July 15, 20205 yr by Tarax Club

7 minutes ago, Tarax Club said:

AFL may be holding that card out, as a possibility of 'last resort'. Who knows, Gil and the team may already be casting for the sequel Aussie rules On the Beach. Much prefer the original movie to the locally re-made for TV version (2000). Plus, 1959 was a very good year for the Demons. Meanwhile if a mysterious nuclear powered submarine turns up in Darwin Harbour, it'll be game on.

Was in fact down there today, and didn't see a single unaccountable periscope. 

2 minutes ago, Skuit said:

Was in fact down there today, and didn't see a single unaccountable periscope. 

So all periscopes were from known & contained outbreaks ?

1 minute ago, Go the Biff said:

So all periscopes were from known & contained outbreaks ?

To be honest, I just saw some fish and other non-periscope stuff. 

Off to Queensland...  lucky bastards.

I suspect once the dust settles from this COVID debacle there will be a mass exodus of Victorians moving up there.

31 minutes ago, Skuit said:

On another note - how good would it be to see an AFL game for premiership points played on Tiwi ! Send Essendon and Hawthorn there and the place would explode. 

Self-quote. From the SBS: "Welcome to the Tiwi Islands, two small islands about 80km north of Darwin, where AFL isn't just a passion but a way of life . . . The Tiwis have the highest participation rate in AFL of any other community in Australia: about 900 of the Islands' 2600 population play, a staggering 35 per cent." 

Are any of our players at risk of pulling out?

5 minutes ago, Fat Tony said:

Are any of our players at risk of pulling out?

Yes. Read between the lines and Goodwin has been promoting the rhythm method. 

So am I right in thinking that we are still playing Hawthorn this Sunday in NSW?

56 minutes ago, GoGetRossLyon said:

Off to Queensland...  lucky bastards.

I suspect once the dust settles from this COVID debacle there will be a mass exodus of Victorians moving up there.

I said to the goodly wife a month ago... you know I’ll rarely ever need to go back into the office, I can work from home 90% of the time.. lets move North, it’s a better lifestyle for the kids... we’ve been looking for places every since. 

3 hours ago, 3Dee said:

Boys should try get setup around either Yeronga Devils or Mt Gravatt.

Both are decent sized grounds, close to the Gabba. Also on the southside so shorter trip to Metricon (~one hour).

I would say the Southport sharks would be perfect. AFL quality ground and size, gym and a newly constructed 100+ room hotel on site. 

 

3 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

I said to the goodly wife a month ago... you know I’ll rarely ever need to go back into the office, I can work from home 90% of the time.. lets move North, it’s a better lifestyle for the kids... we’ve been looking for places every since. 

Couldn't recommend it enough... I grew up on the Mornington Peninsula and early adulthood lived in Prahran. 

I moved up here 6 years ago for family reasons and couldn't be happier... Weather is great, people are generally nicer, way less traffic, doesn't smell like [censored] everywhere you walk. 

The storms in summer take a bit of getting used to though...