Ninnis took the clubs Qantas login with him and has refused to tell anyone what it is

Disappointing for the JJs as well who make a point of playing games and having a presence in the NW and N of Tasmania.

They will play intra club games in Ulverstone and Launy but they would have rather had a hit out against another team.

Weather is pretty ordinary (wife is due to fly back to Tas today and has received a text from Virgin her flight might be cancelled) so the reality is Adelaide may not have been able to get in.

Don't think is real about the Ninnis thing but if has would impact payout.

Wouldn't be surprised if the Mt. Gambier game gets cancelled too you never know when the Blue Lake might erupt.

Some flights into Launceston for the AFL were delayed yesterday but not cancelled. Australian newspaper has an article describing 36ers story as bizarre but don't have an account to read. If they were on a Devonport or Wynyard flight it may been redirected to Launceston which is where the Tuesday game was going to be and is only a 90 minute drive away from Ulverstone. A fair bit of innuendo on Socials about this as well.

There's nothing fishy, they were diverted yesterday because of the weather, and couldn’t get another flight until this morning, and there was no guarantee of flights going ahead because of the storm system over the southern coastal area of the country. Airlines have been messaging people to prepare for the event of flights being cancelled.

What else do you expect them to do?

It's only because it's the 36ers that people are making this out to be more than it is though. In fairness.

It sounds like they were diverted to Melbourne and had no guarantee of flying out. Have to remember they were also flying out on the day they were playing, with an already underdone squad. Likely just made the call that the situation is too hard and no no advantage will come from trying to get into Tassie.

I can't see what they had to gain from wasting time and money attempting to get to Tasmania, being diverted to Melbourne, if the plan was to bail on the trip all along...

It may be legitimate but it sounds pretty half-assed. One thing a Sunday night game being cancelled but a Tuesday night game being cancelled on Saturday? No possibility of flights into Tassie over the next 3 days? Sounds like at the first sign of a problem Weston just pulled the pin, again.

I was half-serious about the Mt. Gambier game if they find some excuse to cancel that game too might as well wind the club up.

As a student pilot I pay close attention to aviation weather forecasts, add that to fact I'm in Tassie and I spend a fair bit of time reading weather info for the states airports. Been pretty dodgy statewide the last few days, including today.

Zodiac, it's just a pre-season scrimmage basically. Both teams probably prioritise continuing to build on things behind closed doors as opposed to only getting 1/2 arranged games.

I get it sucks for everyone looking forward to the hit out, but I don't think Adelaide are under any obligation to attend a scrimmage if the itinerary is moved around and they're stuck in Melbourne with no certainty when they can fly. It would just be too hard and not worth the hassle, so easier thing to do is head back to Adelaide and prioritise practice knowing there are loads of opportunities coming up.

Well said MC, it's that simple, no conspiracy here.

They're not scrimmages they weren't being played behind closed doors. The games whilst not as important to us would've been important to the JJ's especially for people in Ulverstone and Launceston who may not be able to regularly attend JJ's games in Hobart. I bet the JJ's aren't happy about it.

Zodiac, yeah wrong description technically, you're right.

Yes, it's shame for everyone, but I understand the perspective of Adelaide.

The bottom line is the uncertainty of flying was the issue, not the evil 36ers being evil again.

Of course Tasmania aren't happy about it, but if you can't fly, you can't fly!

The Hobart Mercury newspaper is reporting " After the club was given no guarantees weather would improve in time for travel by Wednesday, Adelaide's squad decided to return home". So, that would be in the context of the return leg from Launceston to Adelaide. Did they really expect someone to give them guarantees about the weather? Who does that? Very rarely are the early morning or red eye flights the ones that get disrupted for whatever reason. Granted it would make a very long day of it though we’re that to happen given need to get to the Mount Gambier game on Wednesday.

Impossible to guarantee weather down here. There's been times where I've left the house in still conditions, by the time I'm at the airport there's 20 knot winds.

Yes, that is a risk whenever you fly anywhere. Can't find anything about North Melbourne or Hawthorn being stuck in Launceston today and Qantas put on an extra flight yesterday to get fans into Launceston for the rescheduled early start to the AFL game.

KL, there is obviously some weather around Tasmania that is causing uncertainty over flying.

Adelaide had ALREADY attempted to fly into Tasmania on Saturday morning, but the flight was diverted back to Melbourne because it was not safe to land. The club was then informed that there was no certainty they could fly on Sunday, or at what time.

This causes two issues in that they don't know if and when they would fly on the same day they're due to play. This is an unnecssary risk and does not advantage Adelaide at all.

Yes, It could have been possible to play the the second game, but we also have to remember it might mean they are stuck in Melbourne with futher expsense to accomodation etc. I completelty understand why the decision was made to just cancel the games and return home, although it would have been nice to at least get one game in.

This is all just because of the way Adelaide are viewed right now. If they had no trust or PR issues, it would not cause any stir at all.

KL, it is not the club that is determining the risk though. The airline decides this. The plane turned around after attempting to land. People are talking as if Adelaide just decided it was a bit gusty, and couldn't be bothered flying even though the plane departed. It was not their decision to divert back to Melbourne or cause uncertainty over if/when they could fly on the same day they were due to play.

No conspiracy here, just bad luck with the weather. I hope the club is proactive in setting up an alternative opponent this week though. Surely one of the Melbourne teams wouldn't be too hard to schedule?

Master Chief, just putting out there what is being reported in the media and contemporaneous travel by professional sporting teams and their fans. Not expressing any view on the 36ers narrative other than I do find the bit about wanting a grarantee about the weather on Wednesday a little odd. Would have been better for the 36ers not to add that bit. There is always imprecision with forecasting at the best of times let alone that far out. But, maybe the Mercury got that wrong. Who knows. If there is anything more to this these things tend to have a habit of leaking out or finding their way into the media in due course.

I hate the club just as much as anyone at the moment but its crazy to blame this on them. Its an airline thing, this stuff happens, just bad timing.

Beantown,

Nah the club said it- it's statement back into training on Sunday, today, ahead of the Bullets game in Mt Gambier on Wed 4th Sep. So just the one pre-season game going into the Blitz now.

KL, I think those couple of stories are just examples of opportunist journlism to get some clicks, knowing Adelaide already had a PR problems.

A pre-season game interpupted by weather is not a scandal or conspiracy. Even if Adelaide did not go out of their way to reach Tasmania, you can't really blame them given the supposed circusmtances.

Perhaps there is no conspiracy, but it's a strange situation, and they are being caught in lies for no reason?

This thread contains an apparent further statement from the club (also now uploaded to the club website):

https://x.com/maddiei_3/status/1827533609265459644

Interestingly they state their flight circled Devonport for some time, but Flight radar indicates it did not. It was redirected straight back to Melbourne with no holding.

Nowhere in Australia has weather that would stop flights for over 24 hours. They could have easily got on the next flight if they'd wanted to.

They state they have a policy of not flying on game days...it's a 60 minute flight. With all the internal angst and change, you'd think the club would be really keen to see where they are at against legit opposition.

Not to mention the decision really puts the JJs in a tough position where they had sold tickets to these scrimmages and then had to scramble to pull something together to make the fans happy. And congratulations to them for getting something turned around so quickly.

They may have been concerned about getting out of Tassie- meant to be rough weather all week.

ChairmanOfTheBored, what difference does it make to anything if the plane they were on circled or just went straight back to Melbourne? The scenario is still the same. There obviously was concerns with the weather, or they wouldn't have been diverted back to Melbpourne and told another flight was uncertain. You say it's not a conspiracy, but are pointing out these facts like there is something to be suspicious about...

A policy relating to flying on gamedays would pretty standard in professional sport I would assume. Interesting how people have been highly critical of the clubs lack of professionalism in recent times, but would then be critical of a fairly professional decision not to play a pre-season game for the sake of doing so on the basis they are flying in on the same day. It is a known injury risk.

From what I can see, the club WAS really keen to have a hit out, and that is WHY they departed for Tasmania on Saturday before the flight went back to Melbourne because it could not safely land.

Yes, the situation was not ideal for anyone, espeically Tasmania, but Adelaide had to do what they thought was best for them at the time it seems. If Adelaide couldn't fly, they couldn't fly!

The weird part is not the first game being cancelled but the second one too. The only thing I can think of that might justify it if the Sixers asked the JJ's to pay their accommodation costs whilst holed up in Melb and perhaps they declined. That would make sense to cancel the Tuesday night game otherwise it's bizarre.

Regarding the afl teams with flight issues at Tassie. Also heard report that there was an issue and unknowns with strike action going to be affecting flights back out. I assume this would've also affected Sixers and was part of the decision making.

The difference is...why lie?

It would have just been a discrentional decision. If there was no certainty about when they could get in, had already decided they were not going to play on the Sunday, then they just decided it was best to return home and write it off.

Got to remember too that NBL clubs likley don't have financial luxury when it comes to hotels, flights and logistics.

But the argument is not if the plane technically circled or if it just turned around. It makes absolutely no difference to the fact they were on a plane that diverted. It is possible that adjustmnents to the account of events were made to offer more clarity. I cannot see a reason as to why they would need to systematically lie on purpose when the plan turned around regardless.

MC, agreed. I suspect any difference in the wording of the statement was just to provide clarity. It was ultimately a very normal, textbook diversion, a frequent occurrence in Launceston

Venue lighting conceivably impacted by the electrical union strike action too. Very entertaining thread for a Sunday but we can probably all move on now. Looking forward to the Bullets practice match to see how both teams match up. Hopefully all clear flying for the 36ers from here.

This isn't even a thing. Why the drama.

Slow news day.

The intrasquad match they put on was at least exciting for those in Ulverstone. Gorjok Gak tipping in the winner on the buzzer

Hundreds of flights have gone in and out of Tasmania the past couple of days, there is definitely something strange about this decision.

Adelaide WERE on one of those flights though! lol

Interesting comment by 36ers

"A long-standing club protocol is not to fly and play on the same day due to the risk of injury, meaning that the Ulverstone game was not possible on Sunday evening."

What are these risks? I didn't realise this was an issue

Is this proven by international sports experience? Eg NBA teams who regularly do back to backs?

Probably the risk of food poisoning from a $5 lukewarm Jetstar cheese toastie

LV, I am sure there has been occasions where teams have been forced to fly in on the same day because of a delay, but it is not ideal. NBA teams would ensure they fly straight after games and arrive the night before.

Flying is fatuiging, especially when some of these guys are closer to 7 feet tall. It doesn't automatically mean the risk of injury goes up, but it's just not an ideal way to prepare for a game, and professional sports team will not take any risks in a pre-season game. If it was absolutely essential Adelaide played, you'd imagine there would be instruction to play at a very low intensity anyway. Either way, the trip was compromised, or at least the Sunday game was. Got to remember too that Adelaide had already basically completed a return trip on the Saturday. Then, I imagined there was waiting around at the airport with no confirmed certainty to fly again on the Sunday or not be diverted again. The bottom line is if the original flight landed, they'd be playing.

The not flying on pre-match on game day is a pretty standard policy amongst professional teams across all codes. There's a lot of research and evidence on how much it increases the risk of injury, some of the factors being cramped space, changes in oxygen saturation, increased dehydration due to the dry cabin air. Actually reminds me of a BigV team that made their import train the same day of flying in from the USA, only to tear their ACL.

As for the NBA, this is largely why the teams hate back to backs so much, is because of the flying and how much it increases the risk (and impact on recovery), they’ll almost always fly out straight after the first game to get into the second city that night to try and minimise it in some way.

Also add - the injury rate in the NBA was 8% higher for away games than home games just before covid, wouldn't imagine that’s changed much since.

The decision to not play on the Sunday is a professional decision from a very unprofessional club, lol. They got something right.

I have added the most fuel to this admittedly. It has been fun to debate. It is a symptom of mistrust in the club that despite clearly facing weather related challengers to land in Tasmania in time, people still think they were up to something, or it was a sign of players not being happy. If this were true, the players would have boycotted beore departing. Just goes to show how much work they need to do to repair relationships and reputation.

It's just very strange they wouldn't play the Tuesday game.

Why is that strange though? lol

Well, they had a game scheduled for Tuesday, lots of planes they could catch to play in it. Why would you call it off?

Firstly, I clearly have too much time on my hands right now. Secondly, I am not supporting the club by default. I was highly critical of recent and past events. I am just trying to make the point that this was likely a sensible, discretion based decision, and not evil old Adelaide being evil again.

Cancelling the Sunday game and cancelling the whole trip likely meant the same thing. The idea was they'd play two games, not be stuck in Melbourne. They had to make a call to re-arrange everything, or simply return to Adelaide. People might disargee with the decision on the basis they should have gone out of their way to fulfil a commitment, but it doesn't mean it's weird or suspicious.

Yeah it is actually. Like I said I can understand the Sunday night game being cancelled but the Tuesday night game being cancelled too is quite odd. I suspect it was probably a situation where the JJ's weren't willing to pay the Sixers accom costs whilst stuck in Melb.

Zodiac, but that is just speculation amongst a straight forward explanation that already exists. And even if it were true, it doesn't really add any ambiguity or mystery to anything. Certainly isn't weird, strange or suspicious.

36ers: We're stuck in Melbourne. If you pay our costs, we'll attend Tuesday.

JJS: No

36ers: Ok, we are going home

JJS: No worries, we'll do our own thing.

There is no straight forward explanation for cancelling the Tuesday night game. It's bizarre, as others have also said.

I think some of the reason this looks a bit odd to some is that we are measuring it against what we would think our own clubs would do were the situation in reverse. It is difficult to conceive that Forde or Roth or Vickerman or Tatum or Goorjin etc. would abandon both games or not persevere in trying to get to the first game. There is the commitment that has been given to the other club but both clubs lose out when practice games don't go ahead after being factored into the preseason plans and schedule. Ninnis would no doubt have been the architect behind this Tassie trip given his stated plan to borrow from how the JJs go about it and play. Might have been very different were he still coach. Anyway all ancient history now and 36ers have made the call they have and as others have said that is not entirely beyond reason in the circumstances.

Accom costs were covered by the airline Saturday night. Could have easily flown Sunday morning.
Maybe a drubbing by the JJ's was the last thing they needed right now?