Ask Robbo: Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your questions

When the AFL presented a worst-case scenario to players about its hubs plan, it was baffling. Mark Robinson believes there was an AFL agenda at play and it’s all to do with the salary cap. He explains why.

Did the AFL have an agenda when it spoke only about a worst-case scenario with players about hubs?

We may still be in the AFL shutdown but that doesn’t mean the footy news hasn’t continued to pile up.

In the past seven days we’ve seen:

– The AFL drop a bomb on players that they might have to spend 20 weeks in a hub

— A war of words between Eddie McGuire and the AFL Players Association over the hubs plan

— Developments out of Canberra that might mean we don’t need hubs after all

— An offer that could allow footy to restart in a month — with fans

— Debate over the future of the VFL

Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your big footy questions below.

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It is too risky to play footy in front of big crowds. Picture: Michael Klein

DARWN THE WINNER?

Richard: The Darwin offer is too good to refuse. I and many other fans would find a way to get up there just to see live footy again.

Robbo: Too risky. No one knows if we’ll have a spike again — it’s happening in countries around the world — and the risk of bringing the virus into the indigenous community is too great in my opinion. There are other options and I suspect the Gold Coast/Brisbane area is one out and one back and looking strong.

JUST CALL IT OFF

Andrew: What do you think of a Grand Final with no crowd? No parade. No one going to training sessions. No barbies in the car park. No pubs crammed with fans. No entertainment. No banners. No roar when the cup gets held up. No lap of honour. No celebrations on the night. No family day on the Sunday. What a hollow year it will be. Why not just call it off?

Robbo: No one likes all you listed there, Andrew. But that’s life at the moment, so suck it up.

UNLIKELY RESERVES

Roger: What’s your take on the state leagues, both for this season and 2021?

Robbo: All I know is there will be a major overhaul. Costs have to be reduced and the AFL will impose list cuts. How deep has not been made public by headquarters, nor has the formation of a Victorian state league from next year. I want reserve teams at AFL clubs, it’s part of the uniqueness of our game and it adds depth to the culture of footy clubs. But I will be disappointed, I’m sure. I fear the coronavirus has killed not only some VFL clubs but also community clubs across the country.

What will the VFL competition look like post-coronavirus? Picture: Michael Klein.

NO ASTERISKS

Mark: Should the 2020 Brownlow Medal and premiership have an asterisk next to them?

Robbo: No. Why ask that? Do the war years have asterisks beside their premiership winners? There will be competition and there will be a standout player. It might not be as conventional as other seasons, and we have to accept that. I’ll ask this: If St Kilda won this year’s premiership, or Melbourne, or Fremantle, do you think they’ll feel less worthy as other premiership teams? Again, if Richmond wins it, will it say it won three flags in four years or two and a half flags in four years? Every club will take the flag, as should every supporter.

STOP WHINGEING

Mark: Why are there potential complaints from players over spending 20 weeks away from home? International Aussie soccer and rugby players spend up to a year away from home.

Robbo: They do because they choose to play professional sport overseas, Mark. I hope all players enter the high-performance villages (which is what the AFL now wants to call the hubs), but I also accept their personal situations might make that undesirable. The players are being unfairly criticised. The AFL, in my view, threw the players under the bus with its proposal last week, and when it was made known some players weren’t keen to join the hubs, the public piled on. Can’t help think there’s an agenda by the AFL here. Could it be about the reworkings of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, which ideally has to be completed before next season starts? You watch, the AFL will want to reduce the salary cap for the 2021 season, which will present a whole new battleground between the AFLPA and AFL.

Did the AFL have an agenda when it spoke only about a worst-case scenario with players about hubs?

DARK ON DONS

Michael: Sir Les Patterson or Austin Powers’ teeth look much brighter than Essendon’s future. Who is more likely to win their 17th premiership, Carlton or Essendon?

Robbo: I find these type of questions ridiculous, Michael, no offence. How do I know? How does anyone know? There are too many variables to have an informed opinion. I tell you what, if Essendon drafts the likes of Patty Cripps or Nat Fyfe or Cyril Rioli or Alex Rance over the next two seasons, I’d say Essendon. And if Carlton did, I’d say Carlton. There’s also coaching, development, individual self determination by the player, luck, the draw and injuries.

BACK-UP PLAN

Peter: If one player tests positive for COVID-19 during the season, that player, his team’s playing group and the last opposition team and their group must quarantine for at least 14 days. What then happens to the fixture and the ability of the AFL to complete a fair, balanced season? Someone please explain the plan for this. What if it happens a week before the Grand Final?

Robbo: It’s been reported, but not extensively or with any deep explanation, that the AFL believes if a player tests positive, his team can continue to play. Don’t ask me why or how because, like you, I don’t have the information. Sorry, buddy, but that’s one for the medical profession to answer.

Is Carlton closer to a premiership than Essendon?

SPECIAL RULES

KW: More important things to worry about than the AFL … or the NRL for that matter. What is so special that, only NRL at the moment but AFL will soon follow, footballers are allowed to fly to and from another state when the general public can’t (unless urgent permission is given). I don’t count playing AFL or NRL as being urgent.

Robbo: Valid comment, KW. I read a story the other day about a woman in NZ being denied entry to Australia to see her dying sister (She has since been granted entry). Yet, the NZ Warriors get an exemption to fly in and out to play. You’ve got to be kidding. That said, the major sports give an outlet and connection for many Australians and governments believe sport is vitally important for the community. I agree with that.

OFF THE RECORD

Barry: Since the VFL turned into the AFL in 1990 and became a truly national competition, would it not be time to separate the VFL records from AFL records? Like, most GFs won in a row shared equally by Brisbane and Hawthorn. Victorian clubs and commentators hark back to VFL records, which have no relevance in a national competition.

Robbo: Agree completely and there has been a proposal from Geelong president Colin Carter, in part, to do just that. Recognise VFL premierships and recognise in a separate historical marker the national competition.

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Originally published as Ask Robbo: Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson answers your questions