Subbies cricket president goes into bat for local football

Noble Park president Craig Ortland says local football should be allowed to play through October to finish finals and seasons.

Riley Thompson and Durras Seccull celebrate a goal for Old Haileybury this year in the VAFA.

A veteran cricket administrator says local football leagues should be allowed to extend their seasons into October to play finals.

Craig Ortland, in his 25th year as president of Sub-District club Noble Park, said he felt for football clubs and leagues as they again revised their schedules because of the extended Covid lockdown.

He said he would have no issue with the football season running into October and pushing back cricket fixtures.

Last year Cricket Victoria and AFL Victoria reached a historic agreement over the winter and summer seasons.

As football planned a return to play, cricket officials assented to football finals concluding on or before Sunday, October 18 (2020).

Junior cricket competitions were slated to start on Friday, October 16 and senior cricket from October 23.

As it was no community football was played, but the Premier Cricket season, which started in late November, finished in April.

Ortland said yesterday that the pandemic had hit local football hard for two years and cricket should again be prepared to help if it meant finals being played and seasons completed.

“I feel for all the football clubs and all the players, they’ve put in a lot and now they don’t know what’s ahead,’’ Ortland said.

“Last year they didn’t play and this year they’ve been interrupted, stop-start, stop-start, and it’s frustrating for them.

“Cricket has been lucky. We missed a grand final (in 2019-20) two years ago and we basically played a whole season last year, admittedly with one-dayers.

“I’d have no problem with the footy going into October, and most of October from my point of view. We miss a lot of cricket with washouts anyway in October.’’

Old Haileybury coach Daniel Ward at the huddle. Picture: Aaron Cook

Ortland said a “common sense’’ approach was needed to ensure local football leagues could finish their seasons.

“I just want to see them play finals and the players get rewarded for all the stuff they’ve been through for two years,’’ he said.

“Whatever it takes to get them to the end of the season, I’d be prepared to do it.

“I’m not sure what the other presidents think, but we’re all sportspeople involved in clubs. I’d like to think if the shoe was on the other foot, football would do the same.

“They do a lot of work, football clubs, all the recruiting and coaching and getting sponsors. I’d hate to see it called off. It would be another wasted season for them.

“Give them the chance to win a flag. I know it’s a compromised season but in my opinion they’ve played enough games and deserve the chance to win a flag.’’

Ortland is connected to a number of local clubs in the Southern league and VAFA.

The metropolitan leagues will go straight into finals if the lockdown ends on Thursday, September 2.

When last year’s deal was reached then Cricket Victoria CEO Andrew Ingleton called it a “fair outcome’’ for both sports.

AFL Victoria and Cricket Victoria, and the State Government, have long been party to a “determination of seasons agreement’’ defining the traditional football and cricket seasons.

AFL Victoria has been contacted for comment.