SPORTS TO SWAP SEASONS?

AFL and cricket could change seasons to beat virus

A COMPLETE season switch between local AFL and cricket needs to be on the table as a solution to our ongoing FNQ coronavirus sporting concerns.

AFL Cairns is postponed until May 31, at the earliest, with the likelihood of that date being extended until later in the year increasing.

The chances of AFL Cairns completing a full and proper season have to be slim and even if a shorter, round-robin style campaign is put together later in 2020, it will always have an asterisk next to the premiers’ name.

If local AFL wants to push into the later months of this year, it will cause chaos for cricket, with clubs for both codes needing to use Griffiths Park for training during the week and playing on the weekend.

And Cazalys Stadium will be required for the Manunda Hawks and to be prepared for the upcoming international T20 fixtures FNQ is set to host.

It makes sense to follow Darwin’s lead and do a complete season switch, for one campaign.

AFL Cairns start their 2020 season in September-October, hopefully if the impact of coronavirus is eventually gone by then, and run into March and April next, with cricket then to complete their season through the winter.

This solution gives both codes the opportunity to play full and proper campaigns and not be fighting over grounds.

And, as we have seen in Darwin over the past decade, the opposite sporting seasons to the southern states is a fantastic recruiting tool.

Most cricket clubs in Darwin land a few first class cricketers continuing to play through their off-season, instead of travelling to England, while AFL clubs in the Top End are stacked with former elite players who are looking for a run around during summer.

With the proposed FNQ sport working group coming together in the next few weeks, AFL and cricket officials will be at the same table and be able to discuss the prospects of a season switch.

Local cricket and AFL have not seen eye-to-eye at times over the journey, specifically in regards to the use and ownership of Griffiths Park, but as all the sporting leaders said earlier this week – everyone needs to come together in these troubling times.

The idea has backing from those in high places in the north Queensland cricket industry and there is no doubt local AFL staff will at least consider the approach.

The season switch would create some issues in the back end, with cricket having to play back-to-back seasons, through the winter of 2021 and then into the summer of 2021-22, but in the short term, it might be the best option.