SANFLW coaches fear a restart in 2020 is unlikely as clubs and the league battle to stay alive
As SANFL clubs fight for survival, some women’s coaches fear their 2020 campaigns are over, saying the emphasis must be on getting men’s games underway. But the league is hopeful of finding a way to have women’s footy return later this year.
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The SANFL is aiming to complete its women’s competition later this year but some club coaches are bracing for the light to be switched off on their 2020 campaigns.
Like the men’s competition, state women’s football games were postponed until at least May 31 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Teams were set to begin round five of the 10-week competition before being stopped in their tracks.
With many SANFL clubs fighting for survival, coaches fear there will not be enough money to continue the women’s season — at least this year.
Norwood coach Chris Howie gave his players an option to continue training individually, or take a step back to refocus in 2021.
Most decided to keep training but Howie believed completing the full season was unlikely.
“Nothing will happen until the government makes a determination,” Howie said.
“On the back of that, the individual football clubs will have to determine whether or not they are in a position, considering they haven’t had any income, to reactive the women’s competition or to wait until next year.
“If the women’s competition is reactivated it will be in a modified format I don’t think they’ll play the entire block.”
Glenelg mentor Jason Fairall said the women’s competition was not generating the league or clubs enough money yet and a restart in 2020 would likely be low on the priority list.
Fairall called on the AFL to help fund the state women’s league moving forward.
“The reality is we don’t know when it’s going to end,” Fairall said.
“I also know female football isn’t generating enough revenue at the moment.
“But it is important to clubs.
“The real cash cow of the SANFL, though, is the men’s part.
“The most critical thing, I my opinion, is for clubs to survive.
“I know the women’s comp is very important and maybe the AFL could throw a bit of a lifeline to us because they still want their AFL (women’s) comp and we are a feeder comp to that.”
South Adelaide coach Rick Watts said playing three more rounds later this year before going straight into finals could be an option.
But said it was important to ensure the men’s season got underway to help keep the Panthers alive.
“I find it really challenging, with the economic climate and everything else to see how it could get up and going,” Watts said.
“But the really important point for us as South Adelaide is to get the men’s program going up because if we don’t do that this year it’s going to be very challenging for the club.”
SANFL football general manager Matt Duldig said the postponement would be reviewed in the next few weeks.
Duldig said the league would continue to take advice from the government and health authorities but hoped the women’s competition could be completed later this year.