Golden Rivers, Murray, Ovens and Murray, Picola and District leagues play waiting game

Competitions on the NSW-Victoria border say they are ‘suffocating’ under restrictions varying between states as they fight to keep their seasons alive.

The Ovens and Murray league is targeting a return of August 7. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin.

Crowd restrictions are not the only thing crippling country footy competitions the length of the NSW-Victoria border.

They’re also being forced to deal with strict entry conditions into Victoria after its Government last week declared all NSW an extreme risk zone meaning people, who live outside the border bubble, cannot visit our northern neighbours.

A challenge compounded by the Victorian Government also cutting Murrumbidgee, Lockhart, Hay and Wagga Wagga shires out of the original NSW half of the bubble.

It means some clubs across Victoria are now facing the prospect of playing games without key players – and that’s if all leagues are even bothering to play during the current fortnight of no crowds.

The Murray league has already decided to cancel games this weekend with a decision on future rounds to still be decided.

Its general manager Dale Norman said part of the reason was to give players and officials enough time to prepare for a return to action.

“The restrictions are like having an elephant on your back, it’s suffocating us,” he said.

“It’s such a difficult situation when we can have crowds over the border in NSW, where the state is having over 100 cases a day, and in Victoria we can only have the minimum number of people.

“We’re hopeful restrictions will be eased on the border soon because it would make planning much easier.

“Our target is to start playing again on August 7.”

There will be no Murray league action this weekend. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin.

The Ovens and Murray league has also elected to give it another week before a ball is bounced again.

“It wasn’t easy to decide we wouldn't play this week because everyone is keen to get back into it,” operations manager Craig Millar said.

“In terms of player availability, the majority of our members live inside the border bubble and we have always said we will make decisions based on the majority.

“But we’re still waiting for further announcements from the Victorian Government about border restrictions.

“It would be fantastic to have everyone available. We’re lucky enough to be at a point where all our clubs have played each other at least once.”

After the shrinking of the border bubble some competitions were forced to make changes on the run including the Picola District league.

The competition will resume on Saturday although Tungamah and Jerilderie will face off at Berrigan, as the latter has been removed from the bubble.

In a statement released on Tuesday night, the league said “re-fixturing would allow clubs to play every club once during the home and away season and allow two rounds prior to commencing finals”.

The Golden Rivers league which is also impacted by restrictions said it would resume junior games this weekend.

It hoped to have senior players in action next week.

[e-mail]