West Coast and Fremantle are in their fourth week in central Queensland, far from families, friends and the normality of Perth – why is it so difficult for Victorian AFL players?
All available dockers and eagles made their way to the Gold Coast, but today Richmond captain Trent Cotchin admitted that there was a “real chance” that some tigers would find hub life too demanding and would not participate.
Western Australian chief author Mark Duffield and Sunday Times editor Glen Quartermain replied to Cotchin’s comments, arguing that Victorian players owe their interstate counterparts the victims that allowed the AFL to restart.
“I see Trent Cotchin saying this morning that Richmond has no certainty of having his first team on the street when they go to the hub because players don’t want to leave their family units,” said Quartermain.
“That is their reputation, they are entitled to it, we have said that all the time
“But I think Trent should probably realize that there are a few WA clubs and a few South Australian clubs that have been doing this for some time.”
“What Trent has to realize is that Fremantle played 6 games until he returned to Perth Freo, zero at home. West Coast will only have played one at home. Duffield replied
The Eagles and Dockers have been victorious since entering the Queensland hub, but one team that has thrived in an unfamiliar environment is Port Adelaide.
The couple agreed later this week Duff and Quarters podcast that the power was clearly taking advantage of the hand that the COVID 19 outbreak brought.
“What we see from Port Adelaide is a sense of opportunity,” said Duffield.
“There will be a premiere at the end of this strange season.
“I think Port looked at it and said it’s better for us than for someone else.
“I wonder if the importance of the pre-season battles on the West Coast and Richmond is that they recently won flags and that that extra drive and hunger might just not be there at the moment.”
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