Cats tighten belts for $1m a game hit
GEELONG stands to lose up to $1 million a home game following the AFL’s decision to prohibit spectators attending matches in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Speaking at last night’s season launch, Cats president Colin Carter said the club was well placed to survive the coronavirus crisis, but conceded the financial hit would be significant.
“This is going to be unlike any football season we have ever seen,” Carter said.
“We have survived a few world wars, quite a few depressions and quite a few pandemics, so we will survive the coronavirus.
“The bad news is the financial risks are considerable.
“For games played in empty stadiums the financial hit to all clubs is going to be enormous.
“We calculate losing around about $1 million per game.”
The AFL yesterday joined sporting organisations from around the world in continuing its competition but holding matches behind closed doors.
The Federal Government announced it was officially advising against organised mass gatherings of more than 500 people.
The Cats’ season launch had initially been expected to welcome more than 500 attendees.
But close to 200 people cancelled in the 36 hours after an email to members advised anyone with flu-like symptoms to consider staying away from the event.
Guests were told players would not mingle with the crowd as would typically be the case at the season launch.
Carter said Geelong was doing everything in its power to protect the health and wellbeing of its players.
“This is going to play some havoc with the AFL season and ... it seems inevitable that it will be seriously disrupted in some way,” he said.
“Overseas, we have come to see games being played in front of empty stadiums.
“But I want to assure you that our commitment is to adhere to the very best advice from our public authorities and the health and wellbeing of our people and those we interact is our No.1 priority.”
GEELONG coach Chris Scott says he will never get over the 2019 preliminary final loss to Richmond and the result will always “burn” for Cats players.
The Cats shot out to a 21point lead at half-time before the eventual premiers ran over the top of them.
Geelong fans were stunned as their side fell short in yet another preliminary final — the third time in four years the Cats had reached that point of the season only to miss out on a Grand Final berth.
At the club’s season launch last night, Scott said while it was important to move on, he would not get over the loss.
“I think the most important thing is to move forward and focus on what we have got in front of us and clearly it is going to be a very unusual year, at best,” he said.
“The challenge for us is to focus on what is really important in the short term on the field and as much as we can leave the peripheral stuff to the experts in that area.
“I think we are in a reasonable position to improve on last year, but it is a mistake to compare years too much.
“The positive (in 2019) was that Richmond was clearly the best team in the comp and we were 21 points up, but the negative is getting so close and having the opportunity and not being able to capitalise.
“I don’t think I will ever get over it personally and when the players reflect on it over time I think they will come to that view as well, because it is often not until you have finished your career that you realise how short it is in the context of your life and how few opportunities you get for the ultimate success, so that will burn for a long time.”
On a somewhat subdued night, AFLPA president and Geelong midfielder Patrick Dangerfield said it was “inevitable” teams would play more than one match in a week due to the coronavirus outbreak.
He said the Cats were bracing for games being postponed, which would mean some players being rested and others needing to be on standby for when that happened.
“I think this year for us, and for all teams, we are going to see more players play AFL,” he said.
“That is on us to make sure that we prepare everyone as best as we possibly can and keep everyone engaged because there are going to be some great opportunities throughout the year, albeit through trying circumstances, to pull on the hoops and make the most of the situation.”