Sporting and community events could pay the price due to footy fans trial struggles

It was supposed to be the first easing of COVID restrictions, but Saturday’s trial run at North Hobart Oval didn’t go as well as planned.

• TSL’s game at North Hobart Oval will be a coronavirus trial on easing crowd restriction
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A LIFETIME of habits was too much to break for footy fans as spectators struggled with the COVID restrictions during Saturday’s trial at North Hobart Oval, in what could have detrimental effects for other events.

The North Hobart Football Club was allowed to increase attendance to a maximum of 1250, up from 500, for its home clash with North Launceston.

Fans in the crowd at the TSL match between North Hobart and North Launceston. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

While the spectators never threatened this maximum, there were issues around social distancing and fans standing while drinking in the wet area.

North Hobart president Craig Martin said there were mixed results, but ultimately the club would not be able to have the increased numbers for its next home match against the Tigers on Wednesday.

“The State Government officials were impressed with the effort and organisation the club had gone to to set everything up but it is very difficult to change hundreds of thousands of years of human behaviour in one afternoon,” Martin said.

“There were aspects they were impressed with, but there were aspects to do with social distancing, people standing up in wet areas that they weren’t and we will take that feedback on board and look at it in the future.

“The other feedback [is] our marshals needed to be more proactive in telling people to social distance and sit down, but that can be a difficult thing to do.”

North Hobart president Craig Martin. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

A Government spokesman said WorkSafe, Sport and Recreation and Public Health officials were at the game with a report to be presented to Government early next week.

“It would be extremely disappointing if members of the crowd weren’t following the rules at North Hobart Oval today,” the spokesman said.

“A number of clubs and sporting associations were keenly anticipating this trial and if patrons failed to comply this may have a flow-on impact.”

Martin estimated the crowd at 550 to 600, not including players and officials.

“We are back to 500 on Wednesday so we just need to learn from today and there might be a rough chance for the game against Glenorchy on September 27 but the Government officials are making no commitments,” he said.

“That’s fine, we’ve had good frank honest feedback, we take that on-board and we will learn from it into the future.”

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