Dave Hughes blasts AFL management for allowing matches to go ahead

Comedian Dave ‘Hughesy’ Hughes has condemned the AFL’s decision to continue matches during the COVID-19 pandemic.

On Thursday, Richmond and Carlton faced off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where footy crowds have been banned to prevent the spread of the virus.

Dave tweeted that same evening that AFL management weren’t showing enough concern for the players’ health by allowing the season to go ahead.

‘Shelve it please @AFL. It’s ok to admit you were wrong,’ he wrote.

‘All organised sport, at all levels, all around the world, has been cancelled because of health advice but somehow AFL, NRL and A-League are different,’ he added.

Dave later tweeted: ‘It’s not about what the players want. It’s not about their health. They are young and fit. It’s about their grandparents.

‘Absolutely extraordinary that AFL, NRL and A-League are flying large groups of people around Australia this weekend. All other world sport is shut down.’

Dave also lashed out at Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews for not shutting down Melbourne’s Crown Casino. 

‘I hear you think Crown Casino pokies are an essential service and can stay operating even though every small independently run venue over 100 people has to shut? Please tell us you’re not being serious?’ he tweeted.

Despite the controversy surrounding the AFL season, the Richmond and Carlton game was a ratings winner for Channel Seven. 

A national average audience 1.24 million tuned in, according to the Herald Sun.

As of Friday afternoon, there are 833 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Australia, including seven deaths.