Gisborne District Cricket Association puts season start plans in place
The Gisborne District Cricket Association is in a unique situation with clubs spread across metro and regional areas and the league is working on several different scenarios to ensure the season kicks off.
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The Gisborne District Cricket Association has plans in place for a season start as late as January 30.
The league is hoping to start as early as October 10 but has several contingencies in place depending on the Victorian Government's’s restrictions to be announced on September 13.
Clubs spread across metropolitan and regional areas could also be another issue with Sunbury and Melton areas expected to be under tighter restrictions longer than the Macedon Ranges Shire.
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GDCA president Rob McIntyre said the AFL Grand Final and Melbourne Cup carnival could also impact the season’s start.
“We’ve got varying start times, I think the latest we’ve look at is January 30, that allows us to get seven rounds in,” he said.
“We’ve pretty much told our clubs we’ll give them three weeks of training and the ability to organise players before competition will start.
“There’s start dates right through October, November, December and January. We’ve got seven different scenarios.”
“We’re looking at October 10 (start date) but I don’t see that being likely with the situation around the Sunbury and Melton clubs.
“Now that the AFL is firming on an October 24 Grand Final date, we might also look at starting after that or another week later after the Melbourne Cup weekend.”
COVID-19 protocols have been locked in by Cricket Victoria but the government will have the final say on when community sport can officially restart.
If Sunbury and Melton region clubs, which also includes the likes of Bacchus Marsh, Rupertswood and Diggers Rest Bulla, aren’t able to return to training as early as other clubs, a mini tournament could be organised.
“If restrictions are eased they’d go back to Stage 3 whereas the regional areas will go to Stage 2, which will allow them to play some cricket,” McIntyre said.
“We may be the case that we have to organise a small competition between our northern clubs to get some cricket in before the restrictions are eased to allow the metro areas to start training and playing.
“It will be a separate little competition, it would have no bearing on the season, just to get some sport being played.”
The GDCA has reduced its affiliation fees for 2020-21 to help clubs financially as sponsors and players are impacted by COVID-19.