How coronavirus will restrict how you watch 2020 AFL season as clubs brace for fan lockouts
AFL clubs are bracing for fans to be locked out of matches due to the coronavirus threat. This is how the virus will impact on how you watch or listen to footy.
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AFL players have been cautioned about going to restaurants and other busy places to help combat the increasing threat of contracting coronavirus.
On a dramatic day in world sport, the NBA cancelled its season and AFL clubs went into full lockdown to protect their stars from the deadly virus.
While the league is still hopeful its Round 1 matches will go ahead as planned, early-season games will almost certainly be played in front of empty stands.
Club sources were on Thursday certain there would be “significant disruption” to the 2020 season.
Melbourne moved its men’s training program to Casey Fields and AFL umpires were advised to train on their own.
The developments came as Essendon players were urged to consider their interaction and movement in public spaces.
Bombers’ coach John Worsfold said players should take “reasonable” precautions, including staying home where possible.
“We are similar to a lot of other clubs, which (means) limiting the contact you have with external people to whatever degree is reasonable,” Worsfold told the Herald Sun.
“We are just giving some precautions to the players, like when you are away from the club, you have to be careful of the environment you go into.
“If that means you don’t have to go out to a restaurant, then don’t go out to a restaurant.
“Economically, it is going to have a big impact on people, but we have to take some of those precautions.”
As the Herald Sun revealed on Monday, all clubs will discourage contact between players and fans and have shut their training sessions to the public.
Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield said players were becoming more careful with their activity away from the club, including considering who they came in close contact with.
The Players’ Association president said the players were preparing to play in Round 1 as per normal, but admitted a huge cloud of uncertainty hung over the 2020 season.
“It’s hard to say (what will happen), because 24 hours ago it was completely different,” Dangerfield said.
“Once you start to see different things overseas (such as the NBA suspending the season) it starts to have a bit of an impact on what could or should happen here.
“But we don’t know, as players and as clubs. We will still plan for what was always going to happen in Round 1, and I still think it happens.
“But whether there is an adjustment who knows. It is difficult to ascertain what the future holds.”
Like everyone, Dangerfield said, the global health crisis was impacting players’ daily movements.
“You do limit the time that you spend either socially interacting with people outside your immediate friendship network or work network,” he said.
“But time will tell with how strict and stringent we all need to be with that.”
Unannounced doorstop interviews, for example at scanning centres and at the airport, will also be strongly discouraged as part of a new AFL media policy to safeguard players.
AFL umpires were also advised to train on their own, or maintain their distance from others in small groups, to protect the whistle blowers from person-to-person transfers.
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“As a precautionary measure we have advised AFL and AFLW umpires of alternative training arrangements for the time being,” an AFL spokesperson said.
They will be coached online and over the phone.
Melbourne players will drive up to 50km to train at their Casey Fields base after the club made the call to separate the men’s and women’s teams training.
Demons football and administration staff with roles across multiple programs will be allocated to one — either AFL, VFL or AFLW.
The drastic measures were communicated to staff in Tuesday as the club looks to protect its players from the rapid spread of COVID-19.
“We know this is a challenging time for our supporters and we will continue to keep you updated with the relevant information as it comes to hand,” Dees chief executive Gary Pert said.
“We feel that these measures will give both programs the best chance for their environment and individuals to remain healthy, and the best chance for them to perform.
“Segregating our programs and reducing the people involved in each program reduces the risk of the virus presenting within the program, as well as the potential impact if someone was to become infected.
External visitors have been banned from AFL club football departments, and non-essential club staff have been urged and equipped to work from home.
The Herald Sun revealed the AFL had taken steps to maintain media access to players and coaches this season to ensure fans remain connected to their clubs.
The potential that games will be played in front of empty stands has forced the league to act on a new set of guidelines to ensure fans continue to see and hear from the game’s stars in the media.
The press conference will be held in a controlled manner where the players and coaches will be sat behind a desk to maintain space between them and reporters.
Only the host broadcast staff will be allowed into the clubs’ change rooms.
Newspaper and radio interviews will be conducted either over the phone, or in a clean studio.
AFL Players’ Association chief executive Paul Marsh said he would continue discussions with league bosses in the coming days.
“Right at the moment, we are looking at every single scenario,” Marsh said.
“There are questions we can’t answer at the moment, but we are taking a very agile approach.
“It is a day to day proposition.”
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Originally published as How coronavirus will restrict how you watch 2020 AFL season as clubs brace for fan lockouts
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