THE Sunraysia Football and Netball League (SFNL) will push ahead with plans to play this weekend’s fixtures at NSW venues, despite current regulations.
Announcements made by the NSW Government said while regional Victorians in border communities could play outdoor community sport and buy food at NSW venues, they could not socialise after the games, and spectators were not allowed.
SFNL president Paul Matheson said he had been given an indication these laws could be relaxed further by Thursday if there are no COVID-19 cases in regional Victoria.
With local clubs from both sides of the Murray River indicating their stance that they would not play without crowds, the current ruling has left many in limbo.
Matheson, however, said the league would plan to play their rescheduled matches in NSW in the hopes laws would be eased, although he admitted there was not much they could do if the rulings remained.
“I have spoken to some politicians, and I’ve been told the NSW premier and health minister are aware of our plight,” he said.
“It is highly unlikely that the restrictions will change until the 10th. They may, but it’s unlikely.
“My understanding is if there are no infections in regional Victoria, the NSW government will change those conditions. So we will plan for our rescheduled games next weekend, and if it changes, we can’t do anything about it.
“We will be meeting with club presidents (on Monday) to discuss the logistics, although a lot of that has already been under way, and we’ll push ahead and hope it gets changed. We can’t not plan, we have to be positive.”
If rescheduled games are to go ahead, it’s likely Irymple and Wentworth will move their matches from Henshilwood Park to Dareton’s George Gordon Oval, while senior matches between Robinvale Euston and Ouyen United will be played in Euston, with juniors in Robinvale.
Imperials and South Mildura’s senior football match will likely be a Saturday twilight encounter at Gol Gol’s Alcheringa Oval, while Red Cliffs and Merbein will play on Sunday in Dareton. Mildura will have the bye.
“Hopefully it will be just for the one weekend before we can return to our normal fixtures, but if we have to look at going back across again, we’ll assess it from there,” Matheson said.
Before confirming they would continue with planning for the round, the SFNL president said the current rules were “effectively destroying the competition for NSW clubs as well as Victorian”.
“It’s another metro-centric decision that also affects more than just sporting organisations,” he said.
“All of our clubs have said if they can’t have crowds then they can’t play. It’s not viable for them to do so.
“Clubs still have overheads, things like having to pay umpires and other running costs. As a league we could certainly try and help with that as much possible but without crowds it makes it harder.
“At this stage we’re still planning to put a competition on and do it as best as we can.”
The Millewa Football League, Sunraysia Women’s Football League and Millewa Netball Association are scheduled to have a competition-wide bye for the June long weekend.
