Northern Football League CEO details steps to 2020 season start
The Northern Football League will wait until at least the end of May before giving training the green light to ensure clubs’ money and time is not wasted and volunteers left burnt out.
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Any decision on the Northern Football League’s return to training and 2020 season will hinge on the Victorian government further easing shutdown restrictions.
An AFL Victoria recommendation suggested clubs be allowed to return to training on May 25 but the league will hold off until at least May 31 when Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to announce the next stage of COVID-19 recovery.
There was widespread confusion and frustration after AFL Victoria’s announcement and league’s moved swiftly to calm strained nerves.
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NFL chief executive Peter McDougall said it would be unfair on clubs to charge head first back into training.
“It makes sense to ease the burden on the clubs, and especially the key volunteers, rather than just dive head first into training,” he said.
“Any relaxing of restrictions will probably help crystallise what we think is feasible or not as far as competition for this year goes.
“(Waiting until May 31) will allow clubs to digest the (return to training) protocols and put in place the procedures they need.
“All of this comes with a cost to clubs and we’re mindful of, let’s not generate extras costs if we don’t need to as we haven’t made a decision on what the season looks like or if there’s going to be a season.
“We don’t want clubs to go out and spend money for the sake of a few weeks and find out the season’s been pulled and they’ve wasted their money and time.”
Under AFL Victoria protocols, two groups of 10 would be allowed to train together at opposite ends of the ground, creating a potential logistical nightmare for coaches and volunteers.
While training nears a return, a season start remains uncertain.
There is increasing pessimism 2020 will see an opening bounce as clubs weigh up the financial costs of starting a season without crowds, juggling a reduced salary cap and implementing any safety protocols needed.
McDougall said no decision would be made that would negatively impact clubs’ long-term health.
The league is hoping the government’s next announcement will give it a better picture of how the next few months will play out.
“We can’t make a decision hoping things might change in the next few months that might allow different conditions,” McDougall said.
“Our clubs are starting to want to know before they get too far down the track and we totally understand that.
“We’ve don’t want to compromise clubs’ health for the sake of half a season if that means jeopardising their long-term future.
“That will define where we head moving on. Without our clubs we don’t have a league and without a clubs they don’t have somewhere to play, so we need each other equally.”
To complete a nine-game season by September, Round 1 would have to commence on Saturday, July 4.
But it is becoming increasingly likely that Cricket Victoria will approve AFL Victoria’s request to extend the football season into October, should it proceed.