Local footy 2020: The plan for suburban clubs to return to the field
Confidence is growing that local footy competitions will be able to resume, with one club boss saying D-Day may be as early as next week, which looms as a crucial time. Here’s what needs to happen for players to get back on the field.
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The green light to extend their seasons into October has given community football leagues valuable extra time to return to the field amid the coronavirus crisis.
Confidence is growing that local football competitions will be able to stage a truncated season after Cricket Victoria agreed to AFL Victoria’s request to play through the first three weekends in October.
Senior competitions across the state could return on July 25 or August 1, which would give them enough time to complete a nine-round home-and-away campaign and three-week finals series.
The first week of June looms as a crucial time for leagues and clubs, with the further easing of restrictions possible.
Victoria’s six senior metropolitan leagues – the VAFA, NFL, EFL, EDFL, WRFL and SFL – operate independently and are expected to meet early next month before deciding on the viability of a season.
A club boss said that call could come as early as June 5.
EDFL chief executive Ian Kyte said: “We will wait for the next announcement from (Premier) Dan Andrews to assess our position as a league.”
“AFL Victoria will continue to talk to leagues, but I can’t comment on what decisions leagues may or may not make. That is a question for the leagues,” AFL Victoria head of community football Stephen O’Donohue said.
Several competitions have floated potential start dates for their senior grades with clubs, showing a willingness to push forward, while VAFA powerhouse Collegians said it was “confident of a season start date in July or early August” in a message to players.
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The Heathcote District league, which houses nine clubs, has cancelled its 2020 campaign because of health and financial risks, while the Hume league has announced it will not award premierships if the season goes ahead.
But the fact leagues have been given clearance to play into October is a significant boost, with the announcement coming just days after organised training in groups of 10 was approved to come into effect from tomorrow.
Club presidents have expressed concern that a season without crowds will create enormous financial strain given they will be unable to generate their usual game-day revenue, while the ongoing health issue will force volunteers to shoulder a greater workload.
Clubs face costs for affiliation fees, insurance, medical supplies and lighting if a season goes ahead and could have a bill of $40,000-$50,000 without player payments.
But it is understood community football is unlikely to proceed without crowds, which would have put countless clubs at risk of folding.
Under the State Government’s reopening plan, gatherings of 100 people could be allowed in venues such as restaurants and cafes by the second half of July, dependent on a virus outbreak.
It is understood a greater number could be ticked off for outdoor events, giving hope football can proceed with spectators under strict protocols.
That would allow clubs to boost their coffers through canteen and bar sales and ease much of the anxiety club committee members are experiencing after losing vital sponsorship dollars.
Clubs have been instructed to appoint COVID safety officers as they prepare to start non-contact training.
Under the agreement between Cricket Victoria and AFL Victoria, home-and-away games for senior and junior football must finish before Sunday, September 27 and junior finals must be concluded before Sunday, October 11.
Senior finals must be wrapped up by Sunday, October 18.
“We are pleased to have reached this outcome for cricket and football in Victoria, sports that mean so much to many people in communities across the state,” O’Donohue said.
“We will continue to consult closely with the State Government and relevant medical authorities, and if a further easing of restrictions is to occur, we now have the flexibility that provides local football leagues with an opportunity to hopefully get games away in the coming months.”
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