Gillon McLachlan announced today that footy will be back on June 11. You can obviously catch all of the news around it on AFL.com.au or other sites, but the main things we need to know as Fantasy coaches are outlined below.
Normal round-by-round competition
Apart from the resumption date for round two, Gill saying that we would be having a ‘normal’ round-by-round competition is music to ears of us Fantasy coaches. When it was floated that games would be played every day of the week and the possibility that rounds would be thrown out the window, Fantasy would have been a much different beast. No need to think about double game weeks (for now) and we will be, generally, looking at a Thursday-Sunday round as we see for around a third of the season anyway. We can thank the broadcasters for that.
Fixture announcement
There is currently no fixture as yet. It will be announced over the next week. It has been suggested that the first four-to-six rounds will be put out there and all games will be announced in 4-6 round blocks. The first one is likely to announce 4 weeks of games due to the Queensland hub. It might get hard to plan ahead for grabbing players with a good fixture but we do know that each club will play the others just once.
QLD Hub
Due to border controls, we will see the SA teams (Adelaide and Port Adelaide) head to the Gold Coast to set up a training camp and they will stay there indefinitely once the season starts. The WA teams (West Coast and Fremantle) will head there in the week leading up to June 11. These four teams alongside Brisbane and Gold Coast will play each other over the opening month. It would have been the opening 5 rounds, but Port played the Suns in round one. If their stay is to be extended, the next group of games would feature the Sydney teams and possibly Melbourne clubs. More will be known after the first block of the fixture is announced next week.
One thing is for sure, the Eagles (and Lions) will have it pretty good early on.
Quarter lengths to remain at 16-mins
Although I can’t find a direct quote, it is believed that the quarter lengths will remain at 16-minutes. This means we have to get our BCV calculations happening. Remember 80 is the new 100. Multiply your “Coronaball” score by 1.25 to get the equivalent to the number we are used to.
No extended bench
It was floated that we could possibly have benches of 6 (or even 8) rather than the usual 4, but from Gill’s words, it looks as though it will stay at 4. This isn’t confirmed, just what it seems like.
Changes to Fantasy
At the time of writing, it looks like Fantasy Classic will be staying as is. An extra trade was given in the lockdown period (up from 2 to 3). There hasn’t been any word from the official channels around any change from this. We will hunt out info and hopefully chat to any changes on the podcast next week. We are aiming to record on Monday evening. Hopefully we get back to normal from here! There has been suggestions of unlimited trades. This looks unlikely. Another suggestion has been to have 3 trades for the first few rounds if we can’t get a few more ahead of round 2. This, along with 3 trades each week for the shortened season, will be discussed by the big dogs. Also, if you didn’t notice before, breakevens have been updated to reflect the shorter quarters.
As for Fantasy Draft (and Classic leagues), we’re told that if leagues weren’t on ‘flexible’, they will be updated for a 17 round season.
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Warnie
May 16, 2020 at 8:39 am
FYI – We will have a new podcast on Monday night.
Bexta
May 16, 2020 at 8:44 am
Can’t wait boys ?
Bexta
May 16, 2020 at 8:48 am
Rocky back playing full time footy in Qld
And we know how good he plays up their
Lock and load the pig ?
Great unique at moment
Bexta
May 16, 2020 at 8:59 am
Thursday night games
Friday Saturday Sunday games
Monday podcast
Tuesday trade discussions with friends
Wednesday teams announced and trades done
Back to normality (play on)
Marcus
May 16, 2020 at 11:15 am
Good stuff guys. let’s get back to being competitive LOL
oco
May 16, 2020 at 11:58 am
Really don’t understand why it is still 16 minute quarters, can someone tell me why?
Warnie
May 16, 2020 at 12:37 pm
Probably because they made the call on it prior to the season starting. Also, gives them flexibility if they need to cram games later in the season. The other one, and probably the biggest, is that I reckon we’ll be seeing Thursday night games every week of the year. To facilitate that, clubs will have shorter breaks than they have in the past. A bit of a trade off there. Broadcasters will want that and the AFL needs to bow to their requests.
Marcus
May 16, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Thanks Warnie I was thinking the same thing but what you say makes sense. Can I ask where do we go for Breakevens as I’ve been going to footywire but I don’t think they are giving Rnd 2 Breakevens?
Warnie
May 16, 2020 at 3:53 pm
Haven’t seen anywhere else there are breakevens. I don’t specifically hunt them as I have the Fantasy Coach subscription. They have been updated there for the shortened quarters.
Marcus
May 16, 2020 at 6:01 pm
Found Break Even’s. Look out baby I’m on my way from misery to happiness. Especially after a perthitic score in the first Rnd. I took my side for a training camp in the Break and now
Go FANTASY LOL.
Marcus
May 16, 2020 at 6:09 pm
Sorry Warnie I was getting a bit excited I haven’t found them. BUGGER my team haven’t arrived back from camp yet
Katter's Kebabs
May 17, 2020 at 6:25 am
Need 2 extra trades for the first round back, maybe week after as well
thebopper58
May 17, 2020 at 9:04 am
Warnie
You’ve been playing this game for quite awhile like others so testing people’s memories
Can anyone recall the year where we were given a free hit round1 with unlimited trades to the commence of the season????
Many could be facing doughnuts when the game recommences
Under the extremely strange circumstances we’re all playing under, surely the powers to be would want people to continue to play and allow trades to cover doughnuts
KK suggestion of 5 trades sounds reasonable but 3 may see people facing Krispy Kremes!!!!
Great to see footy back :)
Also love the podcasts which are always entertaining!!!!
Warnie
May 18, 2020 at 11:02 pm
That year up unlimited trades was a big clanger (basically because it was a split round to start with and they hoped to get more users with unlimited trades ahead of round 2). Didn’t work and had a lot of issues.
I couldn’t support unlimited trades.
I like 5. That was what I initially thought, but my read on it is that it will stay at the one bonus (3 total). There was a suggestion of 3 trades each week for the next couple of rounds. That has some merit.
Marcus
May 17, 2020 at 11:30 am
Good one thebopper58
Hi Warnie
What about this scenario
Seeing we have already had a Round played we continue on playing with our teams (17 Rounds) or/and we pick another Team that can start from Rnd 2 (16 Rounds) as some players mind set would of changed plus with QTRs shorter the style of play will more than likely change.
Which means some people will have the team we all started with. And then those that want will have the Teams they started with plus a second Team
Warnie
May 18, 2020 at 11:04 pm
I think T&Cs would make those suggestions pretty hard. A lot goes into the legals of the game, so I’m tipping those type of things will be unlikely.
However, does your partner, mum, sibling have a team? Maybe they could for round 2???…
The Chosen Won
May 18, 2020 at 9:32 am
People will lose interest real fast if they are facing donuts in the first few rounds..How do we solve this and keep it fair?
Everyone keeps their round 1 score with unlimited trades before round 2 lockout.
Good Luck in 2021
Warnie
May 18, 2020 at 9:47 pm
Why am I not surprised that this would be your ‘chosen’ number of trades… ?
The Chosen Won
May 24, 2020 at 9:42 am
Unlike you i dint have Selby on speed dial!
Good Luck in 2021
Brucey Don't Like Rusty
May 19, 2020 at 6:52 am
There is a NO SEX rule for players ??
Katter's Kebabs
May 19, 2020 at 8:04 am
..A Bonk Ban
Bexta
May 22, 2020 at 8:17 am
Yup
seems hip injury’s are a major focus over the knee and soft tissue injuries this year lol
Bexta
May 22, 2020 at 8:20 am
Correct
The AFL is concerned with major hip injuries this year over knee and soft tissue injuries due to the 10 week bonk feast everyone has had lol
Bexta
May 22, 2020 at 8:23 am
Recruiters will need to be on their toes in 10 months time when we have a massive influx of father son applications
Dr Trump
May 23, 2020 at 12:44 pm
LOL
William
May 23, 2020 at 11:13 pm
It’s pointless unless it re starts from scratch otherwise I can’t really be bothered. Players like Callan Ward will now be available who was never going to be available in R2 previously. Treloar now pick able withas he wasn’t before. Acres etc too. Rookies now in completely different situations with those injured players returning. Scrap R1 and start again. It’s been too long between R1 and R2.
William
May 23, 2020 at 11:16 pm
The only other option is unlimited trades for the R2 and keeping R1 scores/rankings. Rookies are in totally different situations now than they were R1. Clubs would be in much better positions now fitness wise so rookies are going to find it very hard. However I think it needs to be scratched and re started. Otherwise interest will wane in my opinion. I know it will from myself and the majority in my league.