Nearly 50 NTFL players unavailable for selection for round 14 following new Covid restrictions

Close to 50 NTFL players were unavailable for selection in round 14 as NT Health introduced new criteria for Covid positive and close contacts.

CLOSE to 50 NTFL players were unavailable for selection in the Men’s Premier League on Saturday following last minute Covid restrictions.

NT Health advised clubs on Friday that players who test positive were unable to train or play for a further seven days after leaving isolation.

However, that advice changed again on Monday and players are now permitted to play and train after their seven-day isolation.

NTFL boss Sam Gibson told NT News it would have a positive impact on clubs’ ability to provide competitive teams.

It comes after the league enforced a mandate that all spectators, players and staff must provide proof of vaccination on entry at all licensed sporting venues under new NT Government guidelines.

There was a sparse crowd at TIO Stadium for the Waratah versus Palmerston clash, featuring Tahs star Dylan Collis. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Darwin Buffaloes president Shaun Pearce said the club had to remove seven players for its Southern Districts clash, causing its Division One team to forfeit.

“This was a must win game for us and now we are totally out of contention,” Pearce said.

“And the rules changed again (on Monday)... very frustrating times.”

Nightcliff Football Club president Graeme Shaw estimated 10 players were unavailable across its top two grades and also said it was fortunate its Division Two clash was canned after St Mary’s could not field a side.

“Our depth has been good, we’ve been able to cover losses,” Shaw said.

“But the last two weeks it’s been put under pressure.

“We would have struggled if the Division Two game went ahead.”

Waratah FC coach Ryan Ayres told NT News up to 10 players were unavailable across his top two grades, including co-captains Robbie Turnbull and Brodie Carroll.

Palmerston Football Club president Russell Davey said six players – four close contacts and two positive cases – were unavailable for selection, including Eric Guthrie and Luke Meadows.

Davey also said the requirement to wear masks, check-in and be fully vaccinated may have turned some fans away from TIO Stadium on Saturday where the Magpies lost to Waratah by 75 points.

“If I didn’t want to watch my son (Waylon) live I would have watched it on the TV,” Davey said.

“There weren’t many people there on Saturday.”

St Mary’s FC secretary Liz Cruse said five players were unavailable.

“We simply have to manage it. We’re working hard to make football happen,” Cruse said.

Eddie Betts played his final game for the season with Palmerston in front of a thin crowd at TIO Stadium on Saturday. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Southern Districts president Joanne Burgess said the club did not lose any players ahead of its Saturday night TIO clash against Darwin Buffaloes.

The game between Tiwi Bombers – which has no impacted players – and Wanderers was cancelled due to current Tiwi Islands travel restrictions.

Wanderers FC president Jerome Cubillo said seven regular Premier players, who tested positive to Covid, would have been unavailable.

“It would have been interesting if we had to go out against Tiwi,” Cubillo said.

“Our Division Two would have forfeited and our Divison One would have been short on numbers.

“It’s going to be interesting to see how we navigate the rest of the season.”

NTFL boss Sam Gibson said only four senior teams forfeited on the weekend across all grades compared to seven the week prior.

“We’re monitoring the situation with clubs, we’d obviously prefer to have no impact,” Gibson said.

“But that’s not the reality... it would be good to see a reduction.”

He also said Saturday’s crowd at TIO was approximately 30 per cent down on what the league would expect for a double header.

Buffaloes did not respond to a request for comment before deadline.

Originally published as Nearly 50 NTFL players unavailable for selection for round 14 following new Covid restrictions