That's a wrap for a weird day in footy … and we have a whole strange weekend of matches to come, starting with the Pies v Dogs tonight. Stay with us for live coverage of every game and we'll be back at 7am Monday with another edition of AFL Daily.
AFL Daily: Carlton's horror tackle stat, rolling footy news for Friday March 20, 2020
Former Gold Coast Sun Jack Martin was a big positive for Carlton in its season-opening loss to Richmond, but the Blues' four-goal hero says there is one area the club must improve.
Carlton forward Jack Martin believes a lack of physicality hurt his side as the Blues recorded a shockingly low tackle count against Richmond in Thursday night’s season-opener.
Carlton recorded just 23 tackles for the match to Richmond’s 52, with nine Blues players failing to record a single tackle.
While quarter lengths this season have been reduced by 20 per cent to 16 minutes plus time-on, the Blues had ranked ninth for tackles last season, averaging 62.8 a game
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The AFL average for tackles last season was 62.5 per team, per game.
“They were harder than us but we were really happy with the response after quarter-time,” Martin said of the 24-point defeat.
“Guys came out and had a crack and we were thereabouts. But the game was over at quarter-time.
“To give them a six-goal head start in the first quarter, you’re just chasing all night.”
Martin joined the Blues over summer after six seasons with Gold Coast Suns and booted four goals from 17 disposals in an impressive debut in navy blue.
But the atmosphere at the MCG on Thursday night was not what he had been expecting when he put pen to paper with a big Melbourne club.
“Round 1 running out for Carlton you are expecting 90,000 and you get about 100 people watching,” Martin said.
“To be honest, it was weird. You could hear the guys up the other end. I’ve never played in anything like that. But you just try and get on with the job and play footy.
“I’ve loved my time since I’ve walked through the door (at Carlton). I’m excited about what’s ahead.”
Updates
Gary Ablett is taking extra precautions!
No risk for the 🐐 😷 @GaryAblettJnr pic.twitter.com/LLK6TrV5Lx
— Patrick Dangerfield (@dangerfield35) March 20, 2020
By Jon Ralph
Collingwood great Gavin Brown will attend Marvel Stadium tonight for son Tyler's debut.
Each club is allowed a maximum of 100 essential staff at games under strict rules to ensure the AFL abides by government regulations implemented because of the coronavirus.
Brown confirmed to the Herald Sun Collingwood had called to offer him and his wife Kerry two tickets to see their son play his first game.
Tyler's older brother Callum is also playing tonight.
GAVIN BROWN ALLOWED AT MARVEL TO WATCH SON'S DEBUT
By Jon Ralph
Collingwood great Gavin Brown will attend Marvel Stadium tonight for son Tyler's debut.
Each club is allowed a maximum of 100 essential staff at games under strict rules to ensure the AFL abides by government regulations implemented because of the coronavirus.
Brown confirmed to the Herald Sun Collingwood had called to offer him and his wife Kerry two tickets to see their son play his first game.
Tyler's older brother Callum is also playing tonight.
By Chris Cavanagh
Richmond and Carlton will prepare to play again as soon as they are called to if the AFL decides to shuffle its fixture and squeeze in more matches over coming weeks.
The Tigers are currently scheduled to meet Collingwood at the MCG next Thursday night, which would make for a seven-day break after they met Carlton in the season-opener on Thursday night.
The current Round 2 fixture has the Blues enjoying a nine-day break before meeting Western Bulldogs next Saturday.
However, the AFL has flagged the possibility of bringing matches forward to ensure they can play as many as possible before an anticipated shutdown of the competition due to the coronavirus epidemic.
“We’re not too sure,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said on Thursday night when asked if he had been advised of any planned fixture changes.
“We’re in a really delicate situation and difficult situation with the AFL trying to do the right thing by everyone to get these games up and going. Whatever happens we’ll cop and we’re prepared to play anytime, anywhere. We just love the fact that we’re playing.”
Carlton coach David Teague said he was of the understanding that quarters had been shortened to 16 minutes plus time-on to allow for games to be played on shorter turnarounds.
“I thought when I heard the games were shortened that every game was coming forward for that reason,” Teague said.
“I put a fair bit of energy into preparing for the side to play good footy and I focused on Round 1, now I’ll focus on Round 2. When and where that is, the guys will tell us.”
TIGERS, BLUES PREPARING TO PLAY BEFORE CURRENT FIXTURE STATES
By Chris Cavanagh
Richmond and Carlton will prepare to play again as soon as they are called to if the AFL decides to shuffle its fixture and squeeze in more matches over coming weeks.
The Tigers are currently scheduled to meet Collingwood at the MCG next Thursday night, which would make for a seven-day break after they met Carlton in the season-opener on Thursday night.
The current Round 2 fixture has the Blues enjoying a nine-day break before meeting Western Bulldogs next Saturday.
However, the AFL has flagged the possibility of bringing matches forward to ensure they can play as many as possible before an anticipated shutdown of the competition due to the coronavirus epidemic.
“We’re not too sure,” Richmond coach Damien Hardwick said on Thursday night when asked if he had been advised of any planned fixture changes.
“We’re in a really delicate situation and difficult situation with the AFL trying to do the right thing by everyone to get these games up and going. Whatever happens we’ll cop and we’re prepared to play anytime, anywhere. We just love the fact that we’re playing.”
Carlton coach David Teague said he was of the understanding that quarters had been shortened to 16 minutes plus time-on to allow for games to be played on shorter turnarounds.
“I thought when I heard the games were shortened that every game was coming forward for that reason,” Teague said.
“I put a fair bit of energy into preparing for the side to play good footy and I focused on Round 1, now I’ll focus on Round 2. When and where that is, the guys will tell us.”
VIDEO: ROBBO ON WHAT IT WAS LIKE AT AN EMPTY MCG
What was it like at the MCG last night as Richmond and Carlton did battle in front of zero fans?
Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson explains.
By Michael Warner
Urgent pay cuts across the AFL industry will be discussed in a telephone hook up of club CEO’s and league chiefs this afternoon.
Clubs are already making substantial savings in their club operations but will be asked to impose wage cuts of up to 20 per cent for the majority of staff as soon as next week.
The game’s 18 senior coaches have already committed to a 20 per cent pay reduction.
Pay cuts for the game’s 850 players are also imminent, but have not been discussed by the league and the AFL Players' Association in any detail.
The AFL’s focus has been on staging matches this weekend to guarantee the flow of revenues into the game.
The league is also yet to detail the extent of pay cuts to its own army of staff at AFL House, including its highly-paid executive.
Clubs receive quarterly or monthly dividends from the AFL depending on their financial situation.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has warned of losses of "hundreds of millions of dollars" if the majority of the season is lost to the coronavirus crisis.
Clubs will also be briefed on a new policy flagged by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan about a 30-day shut down of the industry if a single player or club staff member tested positive to Covid-19.
McLachlan had previously said that the isolation period would be just 14 days.
PAY CUTS IMMINENT FOR ALL PLAYERS, AFL, CLUB STAFF
By Michael Warner
Urgent pay cuts across the AFL industry will be discussed in a telephone hook up of club CEO’s and league chiefs this afternoon.
Clubs are already making substantial savings in their club operations but will be asked to impose wage cuts of up to 20 per cent for the majority of staff as soon as next week.
The game’s 18 senior coaches have already committed to a 20 per cent pay reduction.
Pay cuts for the game’s 850 players are also imminent, but have not been discussed by the league and the AFL Players' Association in any detail.
The AFL’s focus has been on staging matches this weekend to guarantee the flow of revenues into the game.
The league is also yet to detail the extent of pay cuts to its own army of staff at AFL House, including its highly-paid executive.
Clubs receive quarterly or monthly dividends from the AFL depending on their financial situation.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has warned of losses of "hundreds of millions of dollars" if the majority of the season is lost to the coronavirus crisis.
Clubs will also be briefed on a new policy flagged by AFL boss Gillon McLachlan about a 30-day shut down of the industry if a single player or club staff member tested positive to Covid-19.
McLachlan had previously said that the isolation period would be just 14 days.
Our photographer Michael Klein took some ripper shots last night. How will the game be remembered?
A great front page of today’s @theheraldsun that we can look back on in 20 years time and say I remember that night. @superfooty @mcg #eerienight #coronavirus #lockout #nofans pic.twitter.com/0OmAXZjSR7
— Michael Klein (@kleinyheraldsun) March 20, 2020