FOOTY WORLD STUNNED
GEELONG’S sacrifice of two prized premiership points was the clincher in yesterday’s unprecedented solution to the Phil Walsh tragedy.
The Cats had the option of forcing Adelaide to forfeit tomorrow’s clash with the Crows but swiftly dismissed that scenario during a meeting of club bosses at 10am yesterday.
Geelong chiefs considered Adelaide’s devastating predicament – and what they would do in similar circumstances – and told the AFL they were willing to effectively declare the match a draw and share the four premiership points. It was the grand gesture that allowed Round 14 and the 2015 season to roll on in the least compromised way.
Some Cats supporters bemoaned the move, believing it could ultimately cost the club a finals berth. Geelong is 10th and Adelaide seventh in a tight race for September action.
But the Cats’ football department, led by Steve Hocking, did not hesitate in ticking off the decision in understanding of the extraordinary situation. The club would have knocked back an offer from the league to accept all four points.
No AFL or VFL game has ever been cancelled and not re- played at another time.
Adding to the confusion, Geelong chairman Colin Carter and chief executive Brian Cook are overseas on business. Both took part in the decision- making process by telephone.
Carter said from Mauritius yesterday: “We are completely supportive of the AFL’s decision to cancel the game on Sunday.
“We couldn’t imagine playing a game if we were in Adelaide’s situation and so it wouldn’t be right or fair on their players – or on ours.
“Phil was also a former
member of our staff and is well known to many of our people
and highly respected. This is a huge tragedy for many people in football and there are occasional circumstances when it would be wrong to actually play the game ... and this is one of them.”
Carter said Cook, in Greece, had communicated directly with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan as negotiations unfolded.
“There had been a number of phone calls in the previous hours with Rosie King ( acting CEO) and I understand too that Brian Cook, who is in Greece, was on the phone to Gill,” he said.
The Cats will hold a heavy training session today to substitute for the loss of match fitness. All 18 clubs were informed of the historic decision during a telephone hookup with McLachlan yesterday.
AFL official historian Cameron Sinclair said the decision by the AFL was unprecedented. Games have been postponed because of bad weather or other circumstances, but not cancelled.
Adelaide CEO Andrew Fagan said yesterday the Crows players were in no state to play after the horrific news.
“They will want to get out and play at some stage. This weekend was too soon,” he said. “And I think it would be unfair and inappropriate to ask them to play.”