Country footy: Leagues across Victoria release fixture updates

Competitions across regional Victoria have been busy planning their way forward after an easing of restrictions. Here’s the plan for each league.

Goulburn Valley Football League season 2019. Round 11, June 22 at Seymour. Rochester 11.6 (72) d Seymour 6.11 (47). Rochester playing coach James Flaherty applies a big tackle on Seymour's Harrison Wade. Picture: AARON COOK

While footy might have been given the go ahead this weekend, some competitions are preferring to play a waiting game.

Under the current restrictions from the Victorian Government, games can be played with the “minimum number of participants (players, coaches, referees, officials and carers/parents) needed to train or compete”.

It means competitions who elect to go ahead will not play in front of any crowds this weekend.

One of those in the Hampden League in the state’s west who will resume on Saturday.

“The HFNL would like to thank all member clubs for their commitment in facilitating a resumption of HFNL football and netball,” an official statement said.

“We recognise that these conditions are challenging, and encourage the entire HFNL community to respect and support the many volunteers and officials who are working hard to provide opportunities for football and netball to be conducted safely.

“The HFNL will continue to monitor announcements and advice from the Victorian Government and other relevant bodies and provide further updates as appropriate following consultation with member clubs.”

Other competitions have elected to wait a week, while the West Gippsland competition will resume on August 14.

Here’s the state of play in all regional competitions.

Ballarat: Play will resume on Saturday with a revised fixture for the last three rounds of the competition.

Bendigo: Play will resume on August 7.

Bellarine: Play to resume with round 17 on Saturday.

Central Highlands: Play will resume on Saturday.

Central Murray: It is hoped play will resume on August 7.

Colac and District: Round 18 will be played as round 16 this weekend.

East Gippsland: The fixture has been rescheduled to play from August 7.

Ellinbank and District: No games this weekend.

Geelong: Play will resume on Saturday with round 18 moved to round 15 (this weekend).

Geelong and District: Games scheduled for this weekend will take place.

Gippsland: Senior and junior competitions will resume from August 7.

Golden Rivers: Officials are targeting August 7.

Goulburn Valley: A make-up game between Seymour and Mansfield will be played this weekend before all teams return on August 7.

Hampden: Fixtures will resume with round 11 on Saturday.

Heathcote District: Games will resume from round 15 this weekend.

Kyabram District: August 7 is the targeted return date.

Loddon Valley: Fixtures for round 16 will be played.

Maryborough District: Only junior competitions will return this weekend.

Mid Gippsland: Play will restart on August 7.

Millewa: Games will not be played this weekend.

Mininera and District: Play will restart on Saturday.

Murray: All games have been cancelled for this weekend with play hopeful of resuming on August 7.

North Central: Round 14 fixtures will be played this weekend.

North Gippsland: The remainder of the home and away season has been abandoned with finals to begin on August 21.

Omeo District: The competition hopes to resume with semi-finals on August 7.

Ovens and King: Play resumes this weekend.

Ovens and Murray: No games will be played this weekend with a target for a return to play of August 7 starting at round 16.

Picola and District: Play will resume this weekend with a revamped fixture.

South West District: Games have been cancelled for this weekend.

Sunraysia: No games this weekend.

Tallangatta and District: Play will resume next weekend.

Upper Murray: It is hoped play can resume next weekend.

Warrnambool and District: A decision is yet to be made.

Western Border: A revised fixture has not been released.

West Gippsland: Play will not resume until August 14.

Wimmera: Games originally scheduled for round 15 will go ahead.

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Originally published as Country footy: Leagues across Victoria release fixture updates