COVID-19

[The Bedge]

so what's going to happen from here - will the finals series get pushed out for a few weeks, will it be a top 4 finals series or potentially miss a couple minor round games? it's going to be very interesting to see what happens - i'm not a huge fan of a top 4 finals series as you can see what can happen finishing 5th - walkerville winning the granny last year. Modbury to finish 5th too would hurt cause they are a genuine chance come finals after knocking of flinders park & golden grove.

I say relax and dont think about it right now - dare say we will get an update once JK and his posse work through requirements and logistics.

He's been pretty good and maintaining regular comms, so i'd expect something this evening if not tomorrow morning.

From memory though, was mentioned we have capacity to play through to the Oct long weekend - so if we start next weekend, should still be able to fit the last 4 games + finals in.

.. aaaand snap, email update arrives.

Best thing about this AdFL regime - they're so consistent and generally (try to be) transparent it's predictable.

[The Bedge]

As you are no doubt aware, the State Government has announced the state-wide lockdown will end at midnight tonight with the following taking effect from 12.01am Wednesday 28 July.

 Sport training to recommence though at this stage we are unable to confirm any restrictions around training, as well as any other Return to Play Protocols.
 Competition to resume 7th August
 Home and Away Fixtures will be adjusted in the coming days to reflect the current position however the missed matches will be reconfigured at the back of Round 18.

The State Government is also reviewing events with COVID Management Plans, as well as spectator allowances at events/sporting matches. We expect more information on this either later this week or early next week.

Other mandatory and strong recommendations regarding mask wearing from today include:

 Mandatory masks in public indoor spaces
 Mandatory masks in certain school settings
 Strongly recommend masks in workplaces and in any other indoor environments
 Masks must be worn by persons delivering player treatment (i.e.: trainers, physios, doctors etc)


FINALS
Our position on establishing integrity of a 14 or 15 round competition for the women’s and 18 for men’s competitions with a true Home and Away fixture has been well documented.
Clearly though the composition of a finals structure is needing ongoing consideration understanding for those likely to participate have it at front of mind. However, those contingencies are all in place and will be determined by any number of factors being:
 Further disruption of any form
 COVID Management Plan Requirements
 Any other ongoing requirements from SA Health and or SAPOL that as we have come to learn, can be imposed at the drop of a hat reflective of the challenges at the time

We continue to be fed information by the relevant authorities to assist us with our planning without solid commitments so it is prudent to forewarn all that The League has many hoops to jump through and we will offer the present-day positions as they come to hand.
In short, there is a significant level of planning and consultation with SA Health & SAPOL to play out before we can get anywhere near identifying which of our contingency plans will materialise relevant to finals and if we learned anything from the lessons from 2020 and even the last fortnight is not to get too far ahead of ourselves. We cannot underestimate the caution the authorities will assume given jurisdictions such as NSW have had circa 190 new cases today alone.
Be patient on this one – we’ll get there.

[Brodlach]

JK and the league haven’t been good with their communication…



…really they have been magnificent!

[DOC]

As I understand it, finals format will be

Final four.

Sep 4
1v4 and 2v3. Winners to GF losers out

Sep 11 Grand Finals.

[JesseWhite]

As I understand it, finals format will be

Final four.

Sep 4
1v4 and 2v3. Winners to GF losers out

Sep 11 Grand Finals.

Where have you heard that? Would be surprised if it went that way...

[Lightning McQueen]

As I understand it, finals format will be

Final four.

Sep 4
1v4 and 2v3. Winners to GF losers out

Sep 11 Grand Finals.

Where have you heard that? Would be surprised if it went that way...

Nothing has changed as per yet, it will be re-assessed if we lose any more weeks.

Current state of play is that rounds 15 & 16 will take place after rounds 17 & 18.

Finals will be Sept 4, 11, 18 & 25.

The only current grey area is Div 1 where there is still two games to complete round 14, given that top plays 3rd and 6th play 8th (both still very much in the finals hunt) they will be imperative in the finals makeup. The best case scenario in my feeble mind is to hold these games off until after round 16 and see if they are dead rubbers or not, it's still not ideal obviously, especially if it cost someone a medal.

[Fools Gold]

So local league Grand Finals on the same day as the AFL Grand Final? Seems like an bad decision

[The Bedge]

Any of you blokes actually read the update yesterday?

AFL grand final day is off the table, 3 weeks finals series max to be decided.

Options:
Top 3 over 2 weeks
Top 4 over 2 weeks
Top 4 over 3 weeks
Top 5 over 3 weeks

Probably need to play Sat/Sun GF’s.

[The Bedge]

So local league Grand Finals on the same day as the AFL Grand Final? Seems like an bad decision

Not that it’s happening, but you saying you wouldn’t rock up if your team was playing?

[Lightning McQueen]

As I understand it, finals format will be

Final four.

Sep 4
1v4 and 2v3. Winners to GF losers out

Sep 11 Grand Finals.

Where have you heard that? Would be surprised if it went that way...

Nothing has changed as per yet, it will be re-assessed if we lose any more weeks.

Current state of play is that rounds 15 & 16 will take place after rounds 17 & 18.

Finals will be Sept 4, 11 & 18.

The only current grey area is Div 1 where there is still two games to complete round 14, given that top plays 3rd and 6th play 8th (both still very much in the finals hunt) they will be imperative in the finals makeup. The best case scenario in my feeble mind is to hold these games off until after round 16 and see if they are dead rubbers or not, it's still not ideal obviously, especially if it cost someone a medal.

Oops, sorry Bedge, I've fixed my error.

Top 5 to be a hybrid finals and trimmed back to 3 weeks.

[Lightning McQueen]

So local league Grand Finals on the same day as the AFL Grand Final? Seems like an bad decision

Not preferred, I stuffed up the fine print.

[Sticks28]

How would that work? Top 5 to be a hybrid finals and trimmed back to 3 weeks.

I hope it would be top 5 - would be guttered if it's a top 4 finals series

[JesseWhite]

My current assumption is it will be a top 4 mcintyre style for divs 2 to 7

4th September
Qualifying: 1 v 2
Elimination: 3 v 4

11th September
Prelim: LQ v WE

19th September
GF: WQ V WP

Div 1 is where it gets tricky, reckon a Friday Night before the GF with a similar format as above is an ok solution. Who knows how it will play out though.

[The Bedge]

How would that work? Top 5 to be a hybrid finals and trimmed back to 3 weeks.

I hope it would be top 5 - would be guttered if it's a top 4 finals series

Week 1 - Semi Finals
(a). 2 v 3 (SF2)
(b). 4 v 5 (SF1)

Week 2 - Preliminary Finals
(c). 1 v Loser SF2 (a)
(d). Winner SF1 (b) vs Winner SF2 (a)

Week 3 - Grand Final
Winner (c) vs (d)

[JesseWhite]

How would that work? Top 5 to be a hybrid finals and trimmed back to 3 weeks.

I hope it would be top 5 - would be guttered if it's a top 4 finals series

Week 1 - Semi Finals
(a). 2 v 3 (SF2)
(b). 4 v 5 (SF1)

Week 2 - Preliminary Finals
(c). 1 v Loser SF2 (a)
(d). Winner SF1 (b) vs Winner SF2 (a)

Week 3 - Grand Final
Winner (c) vs (d)

Is this a joke?

[The Bedge]

Is this a joke?

Certainly not, and I like it.

Minor Premier gets (deservedly) an easier run to the GF.
2nd and 3rd still need to win an extra game to make it.
4th and 5th still play KO.

Considering also it keeps a 5 team finals series I'd support it. It's been a tough enough season, let alone turning around now 4 weeks out and effectively ending the hopes of a side because you've cut the top 5 back to top 4 when it's been out of their control.

[Lightning McQueen]

How would that work? Top 5 to be a hybrid finals and trimmed back to 3 weeks.

I hope it would be top 5 - would be guttered if it's a top 4 finals series

Week 1 - Semi Finals
(a). 2 v 3 (SF2)
(b). 4 v 5 (SF1)

Week 2 - Preliminary Finals
(c). 1 v Loser SF2 (a)
(d). Winner SF1 (b) vs Winner SF2 (a)

Week 3 - Grand Final
Winner (c) vs (d)

Is that actual or your interpretation?

[The Bedge]

Is that actual or your interpretation?

Actual

[Lightning McQueen]

Is this a joke?

Certainly not, and I like it.

Minor Premier gets (deservedly) an easier run to the GF.
2nd and 3rd still need to win an extra game to make it.
4th and 5th still play KO.

Considering also it keeps a 5 team finals series I'd support it. It's been a tough enough season, let alone turning around now 4 weeks out and effectively ending the hopes of a side because you've cut the top 5 back to top 4 when it's been out of their control.

The more I play around with it, the more I like it.........................and the format.

[The Bedge]

The more I play around with it, the more I like it.........................and the format.

Personally I wouldn't be against if that was the format moving forward every year - get back a week each season, wrap up finals series a little quicker.

Maybe they could stagger the formats - say D2, D3, D4 the normal 5 team, 4 week system and D5, D6 and D7 the 5 team 3 week system.. then the AdFL would get their staggered GF's each week for 3 weeks as well (given D1 play a week later).