Country football match cancelled as COVID rips through club

A country football match has been cancelled after one club was left with a major shortage of players due to mass COVID cases during the week.

A football match in Ballarat was called off.

A country football match has been cancelled due to COVID sweeping through one team.

For the first time the Ballarat Football League called off Saturday’s reserve grade match between Ballarat and Melton under its COVID by-laws.

Ballarat Football Club was hit hard by the virus last week and was unable to field a reserves team.

The second-placed Swans were also forced to make seven changes for its senior top-of-the-table clash against Melton.

The mass changes ensured a comfortable 95-point win for the Bloods at Alfredton Oval.

The BFL released a statement thanking both clubs for their co-operation.

“Circumstances have arisen whereby the Ballarat v Melton reserves game at Alfredton Reserve will be cancelled under COVID by laws and protocols,” the statement read.

“As a result of the game being cancelled, the points for this game shall be split and each team receive two points.

“The league supports the actions of the Ballarat FNC in dealing with this issue and thank them for their proactive stance and initiative to address the unfortunate circumstance where the available players do not allow for reserves to be played.

“A special thanks to the Melton FNC for their understanding and willingness to work with the Ballarat FNC to ensure games continue in a safe environment.”

It is one of the first times in the state this year a game has been cancelled due to COVID.