Country footy: Competitions remain hopeful of finals action

Country footy competitions across the state are planning to host grand finals if restrictions ease.

Almost 10 country footy competitions are planning to host grand finals if Covid restrictions allow.

Under Victorian Government rules outside Melbourne and Greater Shepparton, only outdoor training is permitted for community sporting clubs.

Most leagues including all those in metropolitan Melbourne have already cancelled the rest of the season.

But Bellarine, Central Highlands, Geelong, Gippsland, Horsham District, Maryborough Castlemaine District, South West District and Wimmera league officials still believe there is a chance to play finals even if it is in a modified format.

Gippsland league operations manager Daniel Heathcote said any decision his competition made on returning to play would be based around government announcements this week.

He is hoping authorities give the go ahead to play from Friday, September 24.

“We would play our games on AFL Grand Final day (September 25),” he said.

“This would be done without crowds and we’re still hopeful there might be some good news to come.”

Horsham District league chairman Fred Mellington said finishing the season was “important to justify what had been completed so far”.

“We want to legitimise our season,” he said.

“It’s all well and good to play 12 games but we want to have a winner. We’ve already said we will play as late as the first weekend in October.”

While the finals would usually draw thousands of people through the gates, Mellington said officials were prepared to play without crowds.

“That’s something we have to accept if we’re going to restart,” he said.

“We’re going to lose money for each week we play. One thing we haven’t thought about is the financial impact the last two years are going to have down the line, it’s frightening.

“I think it will take several years for some clubs to get back to where they were.”

Maryborough Castlemaine District operations manager Mat Begbie said the competition was “still hopeful” of getting its finals series completed.

A range of scenarios have been put in place for officials including heading straight into a grand final between Harcourt and Trentham, who finished first and second on the ladder.

While a top-four system would be in place if play could resume next weekend.

“The first weekend of October is as late as we can go,” Begbie said.

Waubra won the 2019 Central Highlands league. Picture: Supplied.

Central Highlands league manager Diane Ryan confirmed her league was still looking to restart with a possible grand final to be played on the first weekend in October.

The South West District competition will on the AFL Grand Final weekend for a four-team, two-week finals series if restrictions allow.

Wimmera league officials are prepared to hold a one-week finals series if that is all that is permitted.

AFL Barwon will meet to decide the fate of the Bellarine and Geelong leagues on Monday night.

Mid Gippsland officials elected to cancel the rest of their season on Monday night.

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