All options being explored, but senior footy in 2020 looking against the odds

Tasmanian football fans are being warned to brace themselves for the possibility of no action on the field in 2020, despite the slight relaxing of COVID-19 restrictions.

TASMANIANS had better prepare for the real possibility of no senior football in the state in 2020.

AFL Tasmania chief executive Trisha Squires said the governing body, leagues and clubs would exhaust every option and do everything in their power to play games, but the reality was it was more unlikely than likely.

However, there was more optimism around a return of junior football.

“I feel confident we’ll have juniors,” Squires told the Mercury.

“I don’t feel as confident around the senior competitions but I do think there are a lot of options we can explore if there is an appetite from the leagues and the clubs.

“I definitely think juniors can go ahead, I can’t see why that wouldn’t.”

Senior football competitions could return to the field from late July, but there are serious doubts around whether the games would be financially viable. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Clubs can resume limited training in groups of 10 from next Monday.

At this stage, with everything going to plan, clubs would start full contact training from July 13 (phase three of the State Government’s road map to recovery) for two weeks, followed by a resumption of games from the last weekend in July.

Squires said there would be a 12 to 14-week window for all leagues to complete a roster and finals by late October before the cricket season started — although there was a possibility of two weeks of finals in early November on football-only venues such as North Hobart Oval or the Twin Ovals.

There is a strong likelihood there will be no TSL premiers for 2020. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

But the advice received was that even if games could be held, it would all be done without crowds, putting financial stress on senior clubs and leagues.

Even with gatherings of 100 allowed by mid-July, this would include all the players, coaches and trainers at senior level, ruling out spectators, while juniors matches could function with one carer in attendance.

“We’ve started to think about some different options on how we would do that to assist the leagues together,” she said with regards to possible “ghost games”.

“We would have to minimise all costs and we’ve talked to the community leagues and TSL clubs about whether if we got up a season in 2020 if across the board all players weren’t paid in all competitions and we could try and work out an arrangement with umpires.”

SALARY CUT: TSL COULD FOLLOW SANFL’S $0 SALARY CAP

AFL Tasmania CEO Trisha Squires. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

One option being considered would be for one venue to host a TSL, SFL and Old Scholars match on the same day to limit costs and make sure COVID-safe protocols were in place.

But Squires stressed all final decisions below TSL level over a 2020 season would be made by the leagues’ boards.

“The league presidents are a bit shaky about whether they would go ahead but we need to understand at club land and players whether they want to play a half season this year,” she said.

Other options include a six-week roster with no finals if clubs and/or leagues were desperate to play after late July, as there is a fear players who take a full season off may not return.

“We don’t want to lose players for 2021 as well,” she said.

“So if players just want to have a kick for six weeks and no finals and it wasn’t going to be resource-heavy on the clubs and leagues, we would still explore that,” she said.

“We are very keen on exploring all opportunities before we cross out a season.

“We want to make sure we’ve exhausted everything and given it our best shot.”