NAB League coaches threatened with sack should they train players during COVID-19 shutdown

NAB League coaches have been warned they could be sacked if they hold training sessions, with players in the elite junior feeder competition instead told to train with local or school teams.

Eastern Ranges coach Darren Bewick during the NAB League football match between Calder Cannons and Eastern Ranges in Werribee, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2019. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Coaches of the AFL’s elite junior feeder competition have been told they will face disciplinary action or even be sacked if they run training sessions for national draft aspirants.

As the AFL’s VFL and NAB Leagues remain in limbo, senior figures from several NAB League clubs have confirmed the strongly worded warning from AFL House.

Players desperate to put forth their names for the national draft were initially told they could not even contact their NAB League club, with all officials stood down by the AFL.

NAB League players have been told to instead train with their local sides or school football teams amid scepticism about whether the Under-18 competition will return.

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The league has cited health concerns in the midst of the coronavirus crisis but given community coaches are allowed to train in full contact NAB League officials believe it is overkill.

“When clubs started training in small groups some coaches and administrators contacted the AFL and basically the wording was if you do any coaching or get kids together, you will face the sack,” one senior figure said.

NAB League coaches have even been told not to dress in club uniforms or represent the AFL in any way while they are stood down.

Former Essendon player Darren Bewick coaches Eastern Ranges in the NAB League.

The league said on Tuesday it remained hopeful the NAB League could restart and said its message to clubs was not to hold training sessions at this stage.

The league’s rationale comes as the private school APS system set to start school football on July 5, ahead of the AFL’s early indication of an August return.

Some players on the borderline of the national draft have even wondered if they should enrol in private school for a semester to put their names in lights ahead of national recruiters.

With the league certain to cut list sizes players are panicking about their capacity to prove themselves to AFL recruiters.

Those recruiters have enough footage and information about the star juniors but many players would have hoped to use this year to show they are late bloomers capable of making it onto an AFL list.

Clubs are hopeful of a six-week season ahead of some form of representative carnival but with all NAB League staff officially stood down until the last week of September the AFL would have to tick off a return for coaches.

The mandate not to allow coaches to have any involvement in their players’ progress comes amid huge uncertainty about the state of that league.

Coaches are wary that the competition might see NAB League teams aligned with the VFL, which would see a reduction in the amount of coaches.

With 60-80 AFL assistant coaches likely to be let go by AFL clubs there is also a fear they will take over from current NAB League coaches.

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Originally published as NAB League coaches threatened with sack should they train players during COVID-19 shutdown