How AFL Victoria will handle Covid during 2022 season

Country footy clubs are being urged to play with less players and appoint volunteers. See the full impact Covid could have on this season.

Country footy is poised to bounce back with plans in place to ensure matches go ahead.

Clubs are being urged to play with as few as 14 players on the ground and appoint volunteers to umpire if a third successive season is cruelled by Covid.

A “whatever it takes” approach has been spelt out by AFL Victoria after 2020 was wiped out and last season ended before finals in most leagues.

In the event Covid returns and players and officials need to isolate, leagues have been urged to adopt by-laws to allow senior matches to proceed with as few as 16 players _ 14 on the ground and two on the bench.

Opposing teams should also appoint volunteers to umpire when official umpire bodies can’t fulfil obligations rather than call matches off.

Also, if individual matches can’t be played it’s been recommended two points and the average percentage of all participating teams from the round be awarded to those caught up in an outbreak.

If one to three rounds are lost the season should recommence at the next round.

But if four to six rounds aren’t played there must be a seven-day training period before a resumption and an even longer 14-day break if there is no play for six consecutive weeks.

Leagues are also being encouraged to nominate a last possible date for a grand final and award a minor premiership if a finals series can’t be played.

The Omeo and District league was the only competition to play a final last year before its season had to be cut short.

“It was good to get some footy,” league president Ray Gallagher said.

“We’ve got a pretty commonsense approach to things and if the players and supporters are in any danger we would pull the pin.

“But it would be great to get back to a bit of normality.”

Ovens and Murray Craig Millar said the recommendations put forward provided some important guidance, but hoped they wouldn’t be required.

“There is a high level of optimism that we are going to get some normality back,” he said.

“There is no doubt going to be challenges with players and officials isolating at various stages.

“But we’re definitely not flying blind any more.

“We’re forging on as if we are going to be playing a full Home And Away season and celebrating premiers at the end of September.