There's now been two rounds since the season resumed following the lockdown, and here are my observations on my viewing practices now that I no longer have a Foxtel or Kayo subscription, and are relying on free access to consume games:
1) I've been reduced to watching some games on my iPad. This is because I can watch them through the AFL Live app, and because I am a Telstra customer. The first week I watched it, I could fool the technology into making the image the full screen size of the iPad by skipping in and out of the app, however it appears this was addressed by round 2, or I couldn't repeat it at least.
2) I've been watching highlights clips on YouTube for the games I don't watch. The AFL publishes 4-6 minute highlight packages shortly after each game, and these are nice bite-size videos to watch the games, although you don't really get a feel for how the teams perform, other than who kicked the goals.
3) I'm now super reliant on Footy Classified and online sources for information. Channel 7 canned some of their mid-week panel shows, and for some reason I still haven't gotten into the Front Bar, which I really should, but most of my regular info comes from a twice-weekly show on Channel 9 - who don't have the rights - and social media and websites, such as afl.com.au, and foxsports.com.au.
Also, here are some observations about the altered format since the games returned:
1) Firstly, I wasn't a fan of the shortened quarters, but after Essendon were forced to postpone a game when a player tested positive to COVID-19, it seems the AFL will need to play at least one make-up game, which will likely be mid-week sometime, and so the shortened quarters now look smart again.
2) The scoring will be a little lower, so all the haters who bitch about the low scores in the AFLW can shut the fuck up.
3) With 12 weeks between round 1 and 2, and players isolated during lockdown, the skills are not going to be great out of the gate, also limiting the quality of the games.
Also, Gold Coast look good, Carlton beat Geelong, the Tigers lost two in a row, and the Eagles hate being in the Queensland hub! This year is throwing up something different, that's for sure!!
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