Country football dealing with Covid for third season in a row

2020 was a total write off and 2021 ended before finals. What Covid-19 curveballs await country footy this year?

Dodging forfeits looms as the biggest challenge for country football-netball clubs as they enter a third successive season in the Covid era this weekend.

Premierships haven’t been awarded in any competition since 2019 with most leagues falling short of finals last year.

Thousands of players, coaches, officials and volunteers remain on edge about how isolation rules may affect the season.

Forfeits at football reserves level and lower netball grades are considered the most likely effects of almost inevitable Covid outbreaks.

Rob Auld, the AFL executive in charge of country football, said clubs had been instructed to do whatever was needed to ensure a season was completed.

“Don’t let perfect get in the way of good,” he said.

“The Goulburn Valley league has already got on the front foot and said reserves can be 16 a side,” he said. “There might be instances where we have the odd forfeit and of course that is not what we want.

“But in the context of playing footy we’ve just got to work our way through it.

“The last year and half has denied us that.

“Even through practice matches there is this sense of energy and enthusiasm to want to get footy going again.

AFL general manager of game development Rob Auld says country footy can rise above Covid concerns in 2022. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Last month, AFL Victoria urged clubs to play with as few as 14 players on the ground and appoint volunteers to umpire matches to keep leagues going.

Player shortages after two years of Covid has resulted in multiple clubs including Benalla, Wahgunyah, Port Fairy and Yarroweyah issuing SOS calls for players.

Ardmona has gone into recess for the 2022 season.

Stawell Football-Netball Club president Shane Field said players and officials just wanted to “get back to a sense of normality” after two years of Covid.

“I think there is a sense of excitement about the fact everyone is back together again,” he said.

“Our jumper presentation night was the first time we had the whole club together as one since 2019 really.”

But he couldn’t discount forfeits occurring with players unavailable due to isolation requirements.

“I don’t think it will wipe out a whole club,” he said.

“Our reserves competition is already 16 a side and there is every chance that (forfeits) could happen depending on the severity of an outbreak.”

Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League deputy chairwoman Tamara Mathews said the competition’s existing netball rules allowing players to play in multiple games on the same day could be a saviour if an outbreak occurred.

“Last season we almost got to finals before getting it taken away from us at the last minute,” she said. “We just want to get it started.”

“But there is still always that question mark with Covid. How is it going to look, how is it going to play out?

“Until it happens we just don’t know and I’d hate to be the first club it affects because they are going to be the guinea pigs to some degree.”

Natte Bealiba Football-Netball Club volunteer Alan Streeter said his biggest concern was Covid returning heading into winter.

“I dare say there will be a few players who miss games with Covid coming into winter,” he said. “I’m just hoping it doesn’t hit clubs too hard.”

“Last year was so stop, start, you didn’t know whether you were going to be playing or not,” he said. “Some Friday nights we were marking the lines on the ground and then an hour later you’re told it’s been cancelled.”

“It’s been so unpredictable.

“You could understand it being called off for a month or two, but not a whole season like we saw the first year.”