Thursday games postponed, but weekend matches good to go says FQ
Football Queensland has made a decision on the FFA Cup fixtures scheduled to be played on Thursday night and over the weekend.
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KINGSCLIFF District FC and Southport SC have been given the green light to play their FFA Cup matches this weekend, after Football Queensland moved to ease the restrictions on community football in southeast Queensland following the lifting of the Greater Brisbane area lockdown on Thursday.
Earlier this week, Football Queensland announced all FFA Cup fixtures up to Thursday night would be postponed due to the lockdown, with a call to be made on the weekend matches.
In an update on Thursday afternoon, FQ confirmed the Thursday matches would remain postponed, however clarified the weekend's games would go ahead as planned.
Five Gold Coast clubs were due to play their FFA Cup matches on Thursday night, including NPL Queensland sides Gold Coast Knights and Gold Coast United who were set to play their first games in the national knockout competition.
Kingscliff will host Sunshine Coast Wanderers on Saturday, while Southport travels to face Wynnum Wolves FC.
Impacted FFA Cup Fixtures - Thursday, April 1
(7.30pm) - Palm Beach SC v Magic United at Duncan McKenna Field
(7.30pm) - Mitchelton FC v Surfers Paradise Apollo at Teralba Park
(7.45pm) - Gold Coast Knights SC v Taringa FC at Croatian Sports Centre
(8.00pm) - Gold Coast United FC v Albany Creek Excelsior at Coplick Family Sports Park
EARLIER: THE GREATER Brisbane lockdown has thrown a spanner in the works for many Gold Coast sporting competitions.
As the situation continues to evolve, find below a list of the measures that Gold Coast clubs and organisations have put in place in response to the lockdown.
A slew of Gold Coast football clubs have moved to suspend activity as contact tracing continues across southeast Queensland. National Premier Leagues Queensland clubs Gold Coast United FC and Gold Coast Knights FC have both suspended all activity until further notice, joining an ever-growing list of Coast clubs and organisations pulling the pin on organised sport.
The majority of Football Gold Coast clubs have also put training and activities on hold.
The Super Schools Cup rugby competition finals which were due to be played on Wednesday afternoon have been postponed, with a number of players across the competing teams having travelled to the Greater Brisbane area on or since March 20.
South Coast Netball Association has advised its Wednesday night fixtures will go ahead as planned, with attendees asked to comply with all State Government and Queensland Health guidelines relating to the Great Brisbane lockdown and COVIDSafe protocols.
FROM TUESDAY, MARCH 30:
Gold Coast Basketball
All senior competitions and trainings have been cancelled over the Greater Brisbane lockdown period.
Gold Coast Basketball released a statement on Facebook on Monday morning: “Due to so many of our basketball community having travelled to Brisbane multiple times since March 20, Gold Coast Basketball will be following the same advice that has been issues to the Brisbane basketball communities ... due to this announcement, as a duty of care to our members, all competitions and trainings for Gold Coast Basketball representative teams will be cancelled as of 4pm (Monday) afternoon.”
Football Gold Coast
All FFA Cup matches fixtured to be played between 5pm Monday, March 29 and 11.59pm Thursday, April 1 have been postponed, following an announcement from Football Queensland on Monday morning.
Impacted FFA Cup Fixtures - Thursday, April 1
(7.30pm) - Palm Beach SC v Magic United at Duncan McKenna Field (7.30pm) - Mitchelton FC v Surfers Paradise Apollo at Teralba Park (7.45pm) - Gold Coast Knights SC v Taringa FC at Croatian Sports Centre (8.00pm) - Gold Coast United FC v Albany Creek Excelsior at Coplick Family Sports Park
Metro
- Metro Fixtures Scheduled for 29/03/21 have been moved to Monday, April 26 (ANZAC Day Public Holiday)
- Metro Fixtures Scheduled for 31/03/21 have been moved to Monday, May 10
Coast League
- Coast League games scheduled for the 30/03/21 have been moved to Tuesday, May 11
Premier League and Premier League Reserves
- The game scheduled between Runaway Bay and Burleigh (both First and Reserves) for the 30/03/21 and 01/04/21 have now been moved to the Tuesday, April 20 at 6:15pm and 8:10pm respectively
- The game scheduled between Robina and Musgrave (both First and Reserves) for the 30/03/21 and the 01/04/21 have now been moved to Tuesday, April 27 at 6:15pm and 8:10pm respectively
Rugby League Gold Coast
Rugby League Gold Coast members are asked to follow all State Government directives, including following the stipulated restrictions if they have visited the Greater Brisbane area at any time since Saturday, March 20.
Multiple Rugby League Gold Coast member clubs have made put their own measures in place regarding games and training:
Helensvale Hornets: All training cancelled for remainder of the week.
Mudgeeraba Redbacks: All training cancelled for remainder of the week.
Tugun Seahawks: Junior training cancelled for remainder of the week.
Southport Tigers: Junior training cancelled for remainder of the week.
Currumbin Eagles: Training will continue, with above restrictions in place.
Ormeau Shearers: Training will continue, with above restrictions in place.
Queensland Rugby League
Tweed Seagulls and Burleigh Bears have cancelled all training for the rest of the week.
There are no state league fixtures over the Easter weekend, therefore there has (so far) been no impact to matches.
At this stage, restrictions only apply to those who visited the Greater Brisbane area during the above mentioned timeframes (March 20 to 28) and do not apply to participants who may have had contact with other participants who have been in the five identified local government areas. Under these conditions, it is possible for clubs located outside the Greater Brisbane area to continue to train and / or play; however, there may be volunteers that are required to isolate, which may reduce clubs’ capacity to conduct training and / or games.
Gold Coast District Rugby Union
The Helensvale Hogs and Gold Coast Eagles have been given a warning to monitor for COVID-19 symptoms after their three-way trial at Brisbane Irish rugby club in Brisbane’s north side.
Hogs president Karl Wernham said his organisation had been in contact with Queensland Health on Monday. They were told that because the club’s had abided by a COVID-SAFE plan they would not need to lock down or isolate.Players will still need to monitor for symptoms but there are no impacted fixtures at this stage.
AFL Queensland
All Clubs (Senior and Youth) in the following Council areas that have been defined by the Queensland Government as “Greater Brisbane” will not be permitted to organize, host or encourage any form of training or gatherings until after 5pm AEST Thursday 1 April: Brisbane, Redlands + Stradbroke Island, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay + Bribie Island.
Based on Government advice, AFL Queensland’s understanding is that these lockdown restrictions will also apply to any person that has entered the Greater Brisbane area since March 20th, 2021 to play or spectate. As a result, the following Clubs/Teams are hereby advised that they too must follow the Queensland Government Lockdown restrictions:
QAFLW:
Bond University AFL (Seniors/Development)
QAFL:
Labrador Football Club (Seniors/Reserves/Colts)
Surfers Paradise Demons (Seniors/Reserves/Colts)
QFA Division 1:
Caloundra Panthers Australian Football Club (Seniors/Reserves/Colts)
QFA Division 2 North:
Hinterland Blues Australian Football Club (Seniors/Reserves)
QFA Division 2 South:
Ballina Bombers AFC (Seniors/Reserves)
Carrara Saints FC (Seniors/Reserves/Colts)
QFA Division 3/4:
Pacific Pines Junior Australian Football Club
Under 14s Division 1:
Broadbeach Cats Juniors AFC
Burleigh Bombers Junior AFL Club
Southport Sharks Junior AFL
Surfers Paradise Demons
Have an update for us? Email: callum.dick@news.com.au
Football Queensland postpones FFA Cup fixtures in wake of Brisbane lockdown
FIVE Gold Coast football clubs have had their FFA Cup campaigns put on ice following the announcement that Greater Brisbane would go into a three-day lockdown from 5pm Monday.
In response to Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s announcement on Monday morning, Football Queensland moved to suspend all football activity in the Greater Brisbane area.
“The suspension of all football activity includes any and all forms of training sessions, matches and all other football-related gatherings, and will take effect from 5pm Monday, March 29 for all participants and clubs in the areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Logan, Redlands and Ipswichs,” the statement read.
“Participants who have been in the Greater Brisbane area since March 20 are also required to follow the lockdown restrictions and should not participate in any football activity even if they are currently located outside the Greater Brisbane region.”
There was hope the Palm Beach SC versus Magic United FFA Cup clash, featuring two Gold Coast teams, would go ahead however Football Queensland confirmed all games would be postponed.
“The current suspension of football activity will apply until 11.59pm on Thursday, April 1, with all FFA Cup and Kappa Women’s Super Cup matches scheduled for Thursday night now postponed until further notice,” the statement read.
Impacted FFA Cup Fixtures - Thursday, April 1
(7.30pm) - Palm Beach SC v Magic United at Duncan McKenna Field
(7.30pm) - Mitchelton FC v Surfers Paradise Apollo at Teralba Park
(7.45pm) - Gold Coast Knights SC v Taringa FC at Croatian Sports Centre
(8.00pm) - Gold Coast United FC v Albany Creek Excelsior at Coplick Family Sports Park
Kingscliff District FC and Southport SC are both scheduled to play their respective FFA Cup matches on Saturday, April 3 and those have so far not been impacted by the lockdown, which will end 11.59pm Thursday, April 1.
Kingscliff are due to host Sunshine Coast Wanderers, while Southport travel to play Wynnum Wolves FC.
Meanwhile, Football Gold Coast has confirmed changes to a number of local fixtures (see below).
Football Gold Coast released a statement on Monday afternoon confirming the fixture changes, and asked any members who had been in the Greater Brisbane region from March 20 to follow the State Government and FQ directives.
"As per State Government and Football Queensland directive, any member who has been in the Greater Brisbane region from March 20 are required to follow lockdown restrictions and should not participate in any activities even if they are currently located outside the Greater Brisbane region," the statement read.
FOOTBALL GOLD COAST FIXTURES CHANGES
Metro
- Metro Fixtures Scheduled for 29/03/21 have been moved to Monday, April 26 (ANZAC Day Public Holiday)
- Metro Fixtures Scheduled for 31/03/21 have been moved to Monday, May 10
Coast League
- Coast League games scheduled for the 30/03/21 have been moved to Tuesday, May 11
Premier League and Premier League Reserves
- The game scheduled between Runaway Bay and Burleigh (both First and Reserves) for the 30/03/21 and 01/04/21 have now been moved to the Tuesday, April 20 at 6:15pm and 8:10pm respectively
- The game scheduled between Robina and Musgrave (both First and Reserves) for the 30/03/21 and the 01/04/21 have now been moved to Tuesday, April 27 at 6:15pm and 8:10pm respectively
HOW BULLDOGS CAN SET UP ANOTHER GIANT-KILLING FFA CUP RUN
BURLEIGH Heads will be looking to begin their 2021 campaign with a win in their first competitive match of the year.
With a trip to North Brisbane to take on The Lakes on Sunday afternoon pencilled in, head coach Colin Phelan knows that it is still early days for his side.
“We’ve played a handful of pre-season friendlies but at least now we have something on the line to play for. We are still preparing for the season and I think it will be a good month or so before we find our feet,” said Phelan.
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The double winners from 2019 had a mixed campaign last year, falling just short of a finals berth on the last day of the season. However, Phelan is optimistic that his side can come into the Cup with a different mindset.
“The FFA Cup is a completely different environment compared to the local league. It has an edge that comes with the knockout format and we will hopefully be able to progress through to the next stage.”
The Bulldogs have played their fair share of thrillers in the FFA Cup, with a memorable run in 2019 seeing them defeat local Premier League side Nerang, BPL sides Toowong and Albany Creek, NPL side Western Pride before eventually falling in a thriller against Logan Lightning at Pizzey Park.
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With all that in mind, Phelan knows that the upcoming fixture is the most important one before thinking about going on a run.
“I don’t know a great deal about them but we are mainly concentrating on ourselves and what we can do to get the job done. I’m sure all the players and staff regardless of who is out on the pitch will be up for the game,” said Phelan.
The Bulldogs will be live streamed on the Football Queensland Facebook and YouTube page for their game against The Lakes at 4pm.
In the other Round 3 match ups, Friday will see Palm Beach will play Kangaroo Point at Perry Park and Tallebudgera hosting Magic United at Coplicks Family Park.
In Saturday action, Surfers play host to The Gap, Kingscliff host Annerley FC, Southport will travel to Toowoomba to take on Willowburn and newcomers Ormeau will face Tarragindi away from home.
Sunday’s other fixture will see Nerang host Taringa Rovers at Bob Jeffrey Field.
LOCAL FFA CUP ROUND 3 FIXTURES –
Tallebudgera vs Magic- 7pm at Coplicks Family Park
Kangaroo Point vs Palm Beach- 8pm at Perry Park
Kingscliff vs Annerley- 4pm at Walter Peate Reserve
Willowburn vs Southport- 5pm at Commonwealth Oval
Surfers vs The Gap- 5pm at Lex Bell Oval
Tarragindi Tigers vs Oreau- 6pm at Esher Street
Nerang vs Taringa Rovers- 4pm at Bob Jeffrey Field
The Lakes vs Burleigh- 5pm at Kinsellas Park
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