AFL 2020 coronavirus updates: Eddie McGuire on Collingwood drama
The AFL and AFLW playing groups have made their feelings known about the 2020 seasons with the onus now on the league to decide.
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The AFL has pushed the decision on whether its season will start on time with Thursday night’s Richmond and Carlton match at the MCG until Wednesday.
Here’s the latest news as the coronavirus outbreak continues to rock the footy world:
AFL PLAYERS READY TO PLAY BALL
AFL players association boss Paul Marsh says both the AFL and AFLW playing groups want to go ahead but they do have concerns.
“They are prepared to play as soon as they get the green light,” Marsh said.
A plan from AFL CEO Gil McLachlan stated the league would go ahead with a 17 game season, but Marsh says the players have urged the league to consider playing a full 22 game season.
“Based on the information available as of now, both playing groups are prepared to play this week as scheduled,” Marsh wrote.
“Given the rapidly changing situation, it is imperative that the AFL, clubs, AFLPA and government continue to share all available information to ensure that players, their families and the broader community won’t be placed at an unreasonable risk as a result of games being played.
“The AFLW players’ favoured position for the season structure is to progress with an eight-team, three-week finals series featuring the top four teams from each conference.
“Players want to play their role in delivering the strongest outcome we can for the game we all love.
“Please note, this situation is changing rapidly. As such, we are in constant communication with the AFL as we try to work on firm answers for this weekend’s matches.”
Marsh says players have urged the AFL to consider a 22 game season @FOXSportsNews
— Julian de Stoop (@JDESTOOP80_FOX) March 17, 2020
EDDIE MCGUIRE: ‘IT’S GOING TO BE HORRIFIC’
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has opened up on the impact coronavirus restrictions have already had on his football club.
The Nine star says the coronavirus — even in a best-case scenario — will have a “horrific” impact across the entire AFL industry.
He said clubs will be forced to take measures after losing out on millions in forecast ticket sales, sponsorship and gameday revenue.
It comes as Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann revealed on Tuesday his club was looking at a $5 million loss should his team’s 11 home games be played behind closed doors in empty stadiums.
McGuire said players may have to absorb some of the costs after reports the AFL Players Association was still considering a reported proposal for players to take a 20 per cent pay cut on the 2020 season.
“You can’t give money you haven’t got,” McGuire said on SEN Radio in response to players being asked to take a pay cut.
“Even if we get 17 games and have a final 20, we’re not going to get near the money we need that we’re losing in match receipts and sponsorships and everything else. So on our best day it’s going to be horrific, there’s no doubt about that.”
However, McGuire said his club’s members left him with a tear in his eye after the club recorded a membership sales spike on the day it was announced that fans were to be locked out of AFL games, but purchased season memberships anyway.
“It brings a tear to your eye, it really does,” he said.
“This is the most heartbreaking thing we’ve ever faced and we haven’t even got into it yet.”
PENDLEBURY GIVEN ALL CLEAR
Scott Pendlebury had the potential to stop the AFL season before it got started but after experienced flu-like symptoms the Collingwood skipper’s coronavirus test has come back negative.
Pendlebury was one of up to four Collingwood players kept away from the club in recent days because of illness as the AFL deals with the unfolding coronavirus crisis.
But he will return to training on Wednesday ahead of the Magpies’ Friday night clash against the Bulldogs.
All Clear!
— Scott Pendlebury (@SP_10) March 17, 2020
Any AFL player who tests positive for coronavirus will force the competition to be shutdown for at least 14 days, possibly longer.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he expected more players to soon undergo tests for coronavirus.
“(Pendlebury) is one of three or four of our guys that have had cold symptoms and have had that checked up,” he told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“I’d reckon that would be a consistent scenario across the 18 clubs.
“Pendles himself basically had a bit of a runny nose and was diligent in presenting that to the doctor and there was enough there to warrant getting a test.
“While the focus is on one player at the moment, I’ve got little doubt there are other people in football programs that are in the same situation.”
AFL JOKER’S PAY CUT SOLUTION
AFL players are yet to agree to pay cuts despite reaching a consensus to support the season starting as scheduled, Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn says.
“From all reports, all 45 guys that we have obviously have health concerns but are understanding that footy is the answer at the moment,” Gawn told RSN927 radio on Tuesday.
“So Round 1, we want to go ahead and that’s what I expressed to the PA (AFL Players’ Association) yesterday.
“There’s no one holding back from a Melbourne point of view because we’ve got a dream start. We get to go to Perth to play West Coast who are one of the better teams in the comp and I think Perth are lower down on the coronavirus cases at the moment, so it might be safer over there and they also have no crowds, which I mean, I think that’s an interesting case because Optus (Stadium) is absolutely booming with the crowds, so it’d be quite unprecedented.”
Gawn said there was no agreement on a player pay cut yet but if it happened he joked two teammates should chip in most.
“What we’re going to do is we’re going to corner Steven May and Jake Lever and just obviously show them the amount of games they’ve played because they’ve got their money and hope they’ll be able to help out a few of the younger boys,” he joked.
May and Lever joined the Demons on big deals but were limited to eight games each in injury-affected 2019 seasons.
CARO SLAMS NRL BOSS
Footy Classified panellist Caroline Wilson has slammed Australian Rugby League Commision chairman Peter V’landys after his failed cash grab for his embattled code amid the coronavirus crisis.
V’landys made an impassioned plea to the Federal Government for funding as the NRL faces financial pain caused by playing games in empty stadiums — and a potential suspension of its season.
“Our money will only last so long and once its extinguished we are in big trouble,” V’landys said.
“An Australia without rugby league is not Australia. The government has to assist us in this crisis because it is not of our own doing.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison responded by saying the NRL was not at the top of the priority list for public funds, but Wilson went even harder on Monday night.
“Peter, that was scaremongering at its absolute worst,” Wilson said. “I know the NRL clubs don’t have the membership support enjoyed by the AFL but that was no excuse.
“At a time when people are falling ill, potentially dying, businesses are going under and people are losing their jobs, to open the conversation by demanding public money demonstrated a lack of grace.
“Your behaviour reminded me of those selfish panic merchants who have stripped supermarket shelves and have highlighted the worst of Australia’s response to this terrifying plague.”
“He opened the conversation by demanding public money at a time when … Australians are terrified of the financial results that are going to occur to them,” she added. “He made (AFL CEO) Gillon McLachlan look like a towering leader.”
PLAYERS FACE 20 PER CENT PAY CUT
AFL players will be forced to take pay cuts as the entire industry braces to “tighten their belts”.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said every sector of the league will suffer financially as a result of COVID-19. Players will reportedly be asked to take pay cuts of up to 20 per cent during a shortened season.
“We’ve obviously had those discussions with the PA (AFL players association) to say there’s going to be an amount of pain to be felt right across the industry,” McLachlan said.
“Everyone will have to tighten their belts. It’s clubs, it’s the AFL and that obviously includes the players.”
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he would be happy to give up some of his wage for the sake of the AFL.
“We should find a fairly consistent skim … whatever percentage off the top that’s going to help fill the hole,” Buckley told Nine’s Footy Classified.
WHAT’S BEEN DECIDED SO FAR
AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan announced Monday the 2020 fixture would be slashed from 23 rounds to 17.
Richmond and Carlton are due to open the season behind closed doors at the MCG on Thursday night, but that remains in limbo.
McLachlan said if one player tested positive for coronavirus then the AFL will shut down completely for at least 14 days, possibly longer.
State leagues, including the VFL, SANFL, WAFL, NEAFL and TSL – as well as their associated women’s competitions – have been postponed until at least May 31.
The AFLW has two rounds to go before finals and the future of its season is expected to be decided on Tuesday.
All 18 teams will play each other once in the coronavirus-affected program, with the first four rounds of games to run as scheduled before a new draw is created for the rest of the competition.
— with AAP
Originally published as AFL 2020 coronavirus updates: Eddie McGuire on Collingwood drama