Nathan Buckley says footy plays important role in providing normality to society in tough times
As the AFL chose to plough ahead in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said players had a "social responsibility" and hailed the game as being able to provide normality in times of crisis, such as these.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley says AFL players have the power to deliver much-needed joy and distraction for the community amid the devastating coronavirus crisis.
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The league on Wednesday declared after marathon crisis talks that Round 1 would go ahead, starting with Thursday night's traditional Richmond-Carlton season-opener at an empty MCG.
Clubs have strongly voted in favour of playing Round 1, but remained in the dark, less than 24 hours before it was due to start.
While no player has tested positive to the virus, there remains the possibility it could be transmitted on the field through saliva and sweat.
Sports medicine expert Dr Peter Larkins said players would have to be mindful of their on-field hygiene and tackling techniques.
Buckley said the game’s stars wanted to play because it was their “livelihood and “passion”.
He said they were aware of their powerful ability to lift spirits across the country during a difficult time.
“Maybe we provide a little bit more normality,” Buckley said.
“There might be a bit of a social responsibility in there.
“It’s not a situation that we have ever anticipated, but we know that football has always been an important part of the fabric of Melbourne, let alone the southern states and the rest of Australia.
“Maybe it becomes an even more crucial part in times like this.”
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Richmond coach Damien Hardwick backed the AFL’s decision makers, who have reduced matches to 16-minute quarters, plus time on.
“It’s an extraordinary set of circumstances we are in, but we have some really good people in charge who will make some good decisions if they need to,” Hardwick said.
Hardwick and Carlton coach David Teague both said they had spoken to their players about there being no spectators instead of the usual crowd of 90,000 for the season-opener.
“We’ve always been thoroughly invested that the game will go ahead and our guys will be well prepared,” Hardwick said.
“We’re looking forward to it and, funnily enough, I think the people of Australia are looking forward to it as well.”
St Kilda champion Nick Riewoldt applauded the AFL’s decision.
“If we could go on, in an industry that employs thousands of people - a $1 billion dollar industry - and we could keep it moving forward relatively safely, then we had a responsibility to do so,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy.
Clubs have activated stringent protocols, including washing gym equipment after every weights session, to try to safeguard players.
But Larkins said it was extremely difficult to bulletproof them entirely from contracting the disease from another infected player on the field.
“Whether it is a handshake, a tackle, or two blokes clashing heads in a contest, the theoretical risk (of transmission) is there,” Larkins said.