Southern league: Doveton Eagles forced to forfeit games due to Covid

A Southern league club had to forfeit its seniors and reserves after more than 30 players and officials contracted Covid.

Doveton Eagles had to forfeit the seniors and reserves due on Saturday to Covid. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The writing was on the wall early last week for the Doveton Eagles.

Tuesday night training was cancelled after a bunch of players tested positive to Covid.

By Wednesday, even more Eagles were positive. So, too, were several club officials.

“We had a meeting on Wednesday night and called it,’’ Doveton Eagles president Jenny Davis said.

Davis estimated “half the club’’ — almost 30 people — were Covid positive, including players and officials.

Doveton Eagles made the decision to forfeit their Division 4 seniors and reserves home games against Frankston Dolphins at Power Reserve on Saturday.

“The team manager got it (Covid), the vice president, players galore, both coaches…yeah, it hit us pretty hard,’’ Davis said.

“It’s going around again, it’s really bad.

“I really feel bad for Frankston, I really do, because they hadn’t played on our ground yet and we’ve got the finals there so it would have been a bit of a run for them.

“But what do you do? You don’t want anyone else to get it.’’

Davis said the decision to forfeit games was a “no brainer’’.

“It’s more for the safety of the people,’’ Davis said.

“That’s how pandemics start when you blindly go ahead and do stuff. It’s not worth the risk, so we had to call it. Err on the side of caution.’’

Doveton Eagles are scheduled to play Dandenong in Round 16 on Saturday.

Southern league chief executive officer Lee Hartman said half a dozen reserves games had been forfeited this season because of Covid but the Doveton Eagles were the first to forfeit their seniors game.

“This is the first time it’s gone through pretty much the whole club,’’ he said.

“Unfortunately there wasn’t much we could do about it.

“I think most clubs have had two or three (Covid cases) each weeks but nothing as bad as this.’’

In other Division 4 games, Moorabbin Kangaroos celebrated four massive milestone games in style with a rousing 13-point win over Dandenong.

Fia Tootoo was best-on-ground in his 400th senior game, while club champions James Parker (250 games), Matt Johansson (200) and Muhammad Kiki (200) also reached special marks.

Hallam consolidated third spot with a 46-point win over Hampton.

South Mornington continued its march to finals with a thumping 78-point win over Lyndale, Josh Abela slotting seven goals.

Lyndhurst forward Jarryd Mcgrath moved to 62 goals for the season after kicking five in the Lightning’s 140-point win over Cerberus. Hamish Browning booted six majors.