First to Fourth Years Return Monday 7th December 2020 (for 2 weeks)

Five Years plus Return Wednesday 6th January 2021

Yet still nothing on list sizes. At least Dangerfield knows how long his holiday is.

Why do senior players get almost 3.5 months off if not in finals?    that leaves the coaches with 2.5 months to train. get ready for the changes to game plan, learn new roles etc.

I'm all for the players getting a break but this seems over the top.  Dec should at least be fine for people to train if they wish and attend meetings etc.  

It puts a lot of pressure on the players to stay fit in their own time during this off time. 

48 minutes ago, Clintosaurus said:

Yet still nothing on list sizes. At least Dangerfield knows how long his holiday is.

I know, what a joke this is.  it is playing with player's careers.

I would also be interested in how much the AFL admin is being downsized if lists have to be.  the biggest drain on the AFL is all timewasters in AFL HQ.

24 minutes ago, DubDee said:

Why do senior players get almost 3.5 months off if not in finals?    that leaves the coaches with 2.5 months to train. get ready for the changes to game plan, learn new roles etc.

I'm all for the players getting a break but this seems over the top.  Dec should at least be fine for people to train if they wish and attend meetings etc.  

It puts a lot of pressure on the players to stay fit in their own time during this off time. 

yes, i'm sure epl, nba, mlb etc don't get a 3.5 month break. they are after full time professionals on big dosh.

a constrained pre season is going to lead to another compromised and unpredictable season next year (along with the other covid restrictions) 

Appears to be a rational well thought decision by the AFL given the rigours on players and their families during this COVID year. Rather than the annual racketing up of the rapacious all consuming beast, tame overwhelming and often unrealistic expectations to a more appropriate human dimension. Refresh and re-invigorate.

I just hope the club is back home both training and playing in 2021??

20 hours ago, deebug said:

I just hope the club is back home both training and playing in 2021??

Perhaps neither....

It comes as the AFL floats the possibility of setting up training hubs for the 2021 pre-season, likely to begin at the end of November.

In a normal year, clubs begin pre-season training in mid-November, however with a later grand final, this year to be played on October 24 at Brisbane’s the Gabba, it’s likely to be pushed back.

The AFL is expected to make an announcement on the 2021 pre-season in the coming days.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/the-afl-has-given-qld-a-60m-boost-as-league-considers-spending-more-time-in-the-state-in-2021/news-story/2e6b887d47fdcd733b294b33d8aa39a9