Shepparton’s Covid cluster threatens country footy finals

With the state’s lockdown set to be extended, football finals across country Victoria are hanging by a thread. Here’s what leagues are planning.

Country footy is in a holding pattern regarding finals series. Photo: Yuri Kouzmin.

Country footy finals in 2021 have been ripped apart by the biggest Covid outbreak in regional Victoria to date.

Competitions across the state are making decisions on the run with some officials cancelling all remaining games including finals series.

Regional Victoria was locked down on Saturday last week, a result of the growing cluster in Shepparton hitting 94 on Sunday.

Still, some competitions are refusing to give up.

Under the current restrictions, the Ballarat league is looking at a six-team finals series or two teams playing off in the grand final on October 2.

They currently have their options listed as starting on September 11, 18, 25 or October 2 — a decision which would see two teams face off.

If play was to resume clubs there is a requirement to provide a minimum seven-day period to return to training.

“The aim of the BFNL board is to provide fairness and equality to all clubs and maintain the integrity of our competition,” league chair Adrian Bettio said in the competition’s latest update.

“It is a delicate and complex balancing act, and we accept that we are not going to please everyone. As with all leagues, we have had little choice but to evolve with the conditions.

“We face a unique situation in the Ballarat FNL with clubs that cross regional and metro areas which has created many challenges.“

Competitions along the NSW-Victoria border have had their hands forced with the Central Murray, Golden Rivers, Millewa, Murray, Picola and District, Sunraysia and Tallangatta and District competitions all calling an early end to their seasons.

The Upper Murray league did the same weeks before.

Tallangatta and District officials made their decision on Thursday night citing restrictions in both states as the reason for their decision.

“The TDFL senior footballers last played on July 10 and executives make this decision with the best interests of our players, volunteers and general football-netball community’s health and wellbeing after such a long and challenging and period away from playing,” the league said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Goulburn Valley league officials called off its competition in response to Shepparton’s Covid cluster earlier this week.

Controversially it awarded premierships to teams who finished on top of the ladder.