MPNFL clubs could be boosted by Eastern and Northern league players
In-limbo Eastern league footballers have reached out to Mornington Peninsula teams, joining training and hoping to play this season.
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Several players from the Eastern Football Netball League have contacted Mornington Peninsula clubs looking for a game in 2020.
An EFNL Premier Division player, believed to be from powerhouse Vermont, trained with Mornington last week.
“A few have contacted, yeah,” Mornington coach Simon Goosey said.
“There’s a few out there from Premier division.
“A lot of blokes just want to play footy.”
The Eastern and Northern leagues cancelled their 2020 seasons earlier this month, leaving hundreds of footballers in limbo.
The MPNFL is waiting until next week to make a decision if it will play a shortened season — possibly nine rounds, plus finals, starting in late July.
Goosey has been a strong advocate of playing, and welcomed the news that local football could return next month.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced on Sunday that contact training could start from July 13 and competition matches from July 20.
He named the dates as part of a further easing of restrictions for the coronavirus pandemic.
“Too right we’ll play, mate. Definitely,” Goosey said.
“That’s why we’re training. People had to understand, if you see the AFL mantra, that’s what it’s about, to get us back on the park. They didn’t want them starting and not local football.”
MPNFL club presidents are scheduled to meet next week to decide on the viability of a season going ahead.
Most clubs are in favour of playing (if restrictions allow), although some want to concentrate on 2021.
One club, Chelsea, has already pulled out of the 2020 season, while the president of reigning MPNFL Division 1 premiers Dromana said last week the league should “reset for 2021”.
Community were given approval from Cricket Victoria to extend their seasons into October.
It means leagues could kick off on July 25 or on August 1 and complete a nine-week home-and-away season and three-week finals series by the weekend of October 17-18.
Seventeen senior competitions across Victoria have cancelled their seasons, including Melbourne’s Northern and Eastern leagues.
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