Ask Robbo: Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your footy questions
The AFL needs to rewrite the fixture with fly in, fly out scenarios still up in the air when it comes to Adelaide and Perth clubs. Is this how the first round of the restart could look? Mark Robinson answers your questions.
Mark Robinson
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It appears the return of football might be just around the corner but there is still much to play out.
After another big week of footy news, including Adelaide players being caught breaking social distancing rules, Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson has answered your big footy questions.
Read them all below.
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Steve: Why not have two WA teams, two NSW teams and two QLD teams play each other first-round back? No interstate travel in week 1. Then in the following two weeks have two WA teams mix and match the two SA teams, and likewise QLD and NSW teams. WA and SA are virtually in the same boat concerning the virus as are QLD and NSW. Victorian teams can mix and match however they like for three rounds. After that if hubs are required then go from there?
Robbo: This is the 30th predictive draw sent to me to restart the season. Thanks for your suggestion. The issue is the border restrictions could be down when the AFL restarts so a fly in, fly out system could be in place. At the moment, there is no movement on the border front, so hubs for WA teams at least appear to be the best solution. Your “Week 1’’ looks solid. Don’t know about your “Week 2’’ scenario. To be honest Steve, I don’t know what the ideal solution is.
Sean: Can you give us Richmond supporters the truth as to why there is so much bias against us in the media? Always making excuses as to why we won those flags, like getting an unfair advantage of playing our home games at our home ground. It draws large revenue into our game to support clubs that are struggling, but those sides who are happy to put their hand out also complain about it as an unfair advantage. These sides’ fans and media never had an issue when Richmond used to lose on the MCG.
Robbo: Don’t let it worry you Sean. You won the flags, you won them fair and square. The AFL industry, made of clubs, media and fans, love to whinge and moan. It’s part of the theatre of our sport. Of course there are unique situations in our game, not least the fact there are only two grounds in Melbourne and 10 clubs in Victoria. But guess what? The history books record Richmond winning the premiership in 2017 and 2019. End of story.
Eastern Ranger: It’s not just AFL coaches, it’s CEOs, business owners, any organisation which has a figurehead … I’m a business coach and see this across the board where the top of the tree is a lonely place. Nowhere up the line to go and carrying all the responsibility with massive, massive scrutiny. The most prevalent slightly positive emotion felt is “relief”, when targets are hit and shareholders or banks and bills are met. But before you know it, the month or next round is here and the new challenge presents itself only to end with relief or grief!
Robbo: I agree with you. AFL coaching can be a lonely place and they do face weekly — and public — scrutiny. But other figureheads in business face similar challenges to perform, but they do it without the public scrutiny. Have read plenty this week about the pressure on AFL coaches, and what can be done to help them post footy. The question is does footy send them off tap or is it the individual make up of the person at play? I’m no expert, but I wouldn’t blame the pressure of coaching on a post-football breakdown.
Jamie: Ross Lyon has to be living on a different planet if he thinks an AFL coach is under more stress than anyone but the PM. Walk a mile in the shoes of any police, surgeon or ED nurse. The problem with people who have not left the football bubble is they don’t realise there’s a real world out here.
Robbo: Ross Lyon was quoting a research paper, I think, when he said that. In the next breath, he indicated that the pressure was part of the job and that you go into it with “your eyes open’’ to it. I’m not going to put the coaches on the pressure pedestal. Yes, it has to be tough, but it also provides a wonderful life. We shouldn’t compare coaches with police, or a doctor operating on a three-year-old, or a fireman saving people. They each have a unique set of pressure.
Andrew: Gil, please respect AFL members’ feedback. All 18 clubs members are telling you the same. Get the AFL out of China at all costs. Decouple and win.
Robbo: The China bashing is alive and well. Did you hear David Koch on Fox Footy Live on Saturday? He gave a pretty good perspective. He gave Mick Malthouse an almighty clip, but at the same time put a reasonable discussion about China.
Jack: I’m a Cats fan but I think Hawthorn 2014 were the most complete team I’ve ever seen. Stars on every line and played the most complete team game on Grand Final day in 2014. Team of the decade easily.
Robbo: I did the rankings for all 32 teams and I had the Hawks of 2014 as the No.1 seed. Plenty went wrong for the Hawks that year, so as well as having “stars on every line’’, they also showed they had ticker. Injuries galore, the coach was sidelined for five weeks and they had lost Franklin to Sydney. Enormous year. As for Franklin, what did you make of the Lewis and Roughead revelation that Franklin wanted to stay but the relationship between Franklin and Clarkson forced Franklin’s hand? The next interview with the coach will be interesting.
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