Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your questions on footy’s big issues

Most experts left Essendon out of their predicted top eight before the season — but a lot will change by the team footy restarts. Where does Robbo have the Bombers now? Mark Robinson answers that and more in this week’s Ask Robbo.

The AFL has postponed a restart decision. Picture: Getty

As the AFL continues to plot its return date, it’s been another big week of talking points.

Will the 2020 season resume in hubs, and if so where?

Could all 18 clubs end up playing in Victoria?

The Sydney clubs think they could host a hub in New South Wales, but the AFL has pushed its decision about a return.

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson has answered the best 10 reader questions on a range of topics below.

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The AFL has postponed a restart decision. Picture: Getty

Leigh: Is the AFL being enormously conservative or is the NRL being rogue in its approach? Or is it somewhere in the middle?

Robbo: The AFL is listening to the health experts and the NRL restart date has not yet been approved by the experts in NSW. Rogue? Maybe. From afar, the NRL seems intent on starting as soon as possible. Conservative? I don’t agree. The AFL is following all the protocols.

Scott: Why are people not asking more about the AFL’s decision to buy Marvel Stadium early at significant cost? And why are they not asking more questions about the folly of GWS and Gold Coast, both regions where sport has struggled and profitability has been non-existent?

Robbo: Marvel Stadium was the key asset behind the AFL’s ability to draw a half a billion loan from the bank, so owning that was a plus. And your next point is yet another drive-by for GWS and Gold Coast. Those teams will be long-term assets as football grinds itself into the northern markets. There’s been mistakes, but you have to think long-term, Scott.

Graeme: Richmond, West Coast, Collingwood (and I’m assuming other clubs) all had expenses of more than $90 million last year. How can that be justified to play 20-plus games a year?

Robbo: It won’t be justified anymore. Footy department expenditure will drop by about $70 million across the board next year. Before the virus, footy clubs were chasing excellence and advantage with the AFL’s blessing, hence the lofty turnover. But if the clubs need to cut costs drastically, so then does the AFL. We haven’t heard yet what the AFL plans to do to reduce costs. It’s been all about the clubs thus far.

Football department spend will be slashed. Picture: Michael Klein

Paul: Do you think clubs should give something back to their members, as in maybe a football jumper (if you spend $1000 a year on your membership)?

Robbo: I’m not sure what the clubs are planning to reward the faith of fans, but there will be something. A free jumper would be too costly. Fans should be proud they stood by their clubs through this period. I would like to see the players officially welcome fans back to the game when crowds are allowed to attend. A lap to honour them would be nice.

Ken: I’d love to know why some (maybe all) AFL clubs are not paying the staff they stood down JobKeeper yet. Surely the $500m loan the AFL secured could go towards assisting those staff in a time of need? They want members to essentially donate this year’s memberships to the clubs, but don’t display the same compassion towards their very own staff.

Robbo: I don’t know the financial arrangements of stood-down staff, but I’m confident clubs are doing the best they can. The clubs are sensitive to the job cuts. Every CEO I’ve spoken to said the staff bloodletting was a horrible experience. We focus on footy, but there are tens of thousands of others who have been stood down without pay. Should they be paid, too?

Troy: You had Essendon outside your top eight. With a Round 1 victory and Daniher, Hooker, Heppell, Stewart and McKenna now likely to play bigger parts in the season, do you think they can make it?

Robbo: Of course they can make the finals, but I had other teams ahead of them. And yes, they did beat Fremantle, but it wasn’t exactly a blockbuster performance. At this time, I’m happy with my decision to leave them out of the eight.

Jake Stringer celebrates Essendon’s thrilling win on the final siren in Round 1. Picture: Michael Klein

Michael: As a Geelong supporter, when I die I want the club to bury me, just so it can let me down one last time. So why is Geelong so dominant in the season, but come finals the Cats go out in straight sets?

Robbo: A touch macabre from you Michael, but point taken. There’s a host of reasons why they have stumbled in finals: not good enough, a game plan suited to their narrower stadium, not bigger grounds, or can’t handle finals pressure. But the Cats give their fans a shot at the title every year, which is more rewarding than being a Carlton/Fremantle/St Kilda/Essendon supporter.

Simon: If we cut the interchange rotations immensely, along with no behind-the-goal footage for set-ups, wouldn’t that allow a more free-flowing game?

Robbo: It was David King’s suggestion to cut behind-the-goal vision for exactly the reason you offered. It’s an idea, but how would clubs be policed if they kept using it? As for rotations, if quarters stay at 16 minutes plus time-on, they could easily be cut.

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Originally published as Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your questions on footy’s big issues