EDFL 2020: Glenroy president Murray Nilsson says season should not start
Running a reduced local football season during the pandemic could kill some clubs and make others “basket cases” as they fight for survival, a club president has warned.
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Glenroy president Murray Nilsson has declared staging a season amid the coronavirus pandemic would be “financial suicide” and expects clubs to face a battle for survival.
While Nilsson praised the EDFL’s efforts to support a return, he said the risks were too great to conduct a truncated 2020 campaign.
A starting date is not in sight following a meeting between the six metropolitan senior competitions on Tuesday, but it is hoped players will soon be able to hit the training track.
AFL Victoria is establishing protocols around training following the announcement about the easing of stage three COVID-19 restrictions and how it applies to community sport.
It is hoped gatherings of 100 people will be allowed by July, but it is yet to be determined if crowds will be allowed.
Regardless, clubs face being without significant revenue from canteen, bar sales and functions.
“I’d love for it to go ahead, but it would be financial suicide for clubs,” Nilsson said.
“We’re keen to have the footy back, absolutely, but at the moment we’ve got the council saying there’s no fees, we’ve got no overheads, and clubs are losing sponsors left, right and centre.
“We’ve taken a financial hit sitting still. As soon as we start playing, for juniors and seniors, you’ve got about a $27,000 hit for affiliation fees, umpires, everything from the EDFL. Then the council obviously puts their hand out … so you’ve (spent) the best part of $40,000 with no income.”
If a season is given the green light, Premier Division sides are set to have a reduced salary cap of about $50,000.
But Nilsson said major financial hurdles remained, even if players agreed to take no payment.
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“If the players play for nothing, that would be great, but we’ve still got a $40,000-plus hit, and it could even be $50,000 just as running costs,” he said.
He expected some clubs “will go to the wall” or cling to survival but added there was risk others could become “basket cases”.
“In the past, clubs have sold the farm to try and win a flag and not all of them have won it, but every time it’s stuffed their club,” Nilsson said.
“This would be like an enforced selling of the farm if they have to play.
“I’m not saying the league will make them play – they’ll probably give them the option – but what are the ramifications?”
Hope remains suburban competitions will be able to complete a half season, but Nilsson believes it is inevitable an EDFL player will contract the virus, which could lead to a competition-wide shutdown.
He said the Roys “wouldn’t want to withdraw” if a decision was made to push ahead with a season.
“But we’d have to go back to our seniors and juniors and say, ‘OK, we’re going to take a $50,000 hit without paying anyone. We can’t pay anybody who’s willing to play,” Nilsson said.
“I’d be surprised if we could get two (senior) sides up.
“I’d be surprised if we didn’t lose some junior sides too. For six or eight games, some parents would say no.”
In a statement, the six senior leagues — EDFL, EFL, VAFA, NFL, WRFL and Southern — said no sanctioned training should take place until “return to training” protocols were established, put in place and accepted by leagues, clubs and local council alike.
No time frame has been given for finalising the protocols.
“A number of considerations around health and safety protocols and insurance need to be worked through prior to training being sanctioned,” the statement read.
“We have also been advised that player transfers will be reopened soon and we will provide an update on both items as soon as this information comes to hand.”
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