Picola & District and Murray League footballers will need to dust off the cobwebs on their footy boots and prepare for a return to training next week.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
AFL Victoria announced on Saturday that district football clubs could hit the track from Monday, May 25, in what is a major step forward to getting competitions up and running.
The governing body said it would release its return to play protocols for community sport this week, with clubs set to follow two guidelines in their return to training.
Firstly, club training will resume in groups of 10 people — not including the team’s coach or the minimum number of support staff — and will be strictly non-contact.
Secondly, two groups of 10 can utilise the same oval, as long as they do not operate too closely together and the ground is split into two zones.
In an update on Saturday afternoon, AFL Goulburn Murray provided its affiliates with the following:
‘‘Part of those protocols will be an endorsement to return to club sanctioned training from Monday, May 25,’’ its statement read.
‘‘This timing will provide the opportunity to communicate our protocols with leagues and allow volunteers and clubs time to digest the protocols.
‘‘We ask all clubs that they continue to suspend training until Monday, May 25.’’
Clubs are ready to actively start training again, however many are calling for qualification on a match day start date to work towards.
Deniliquin Rams senior coach Sam Hall said his side is keen to get back up and going to prepare for their Murray League season.
‘‘There is a thirst there from the players to get back for fitness and for that social aspect,’’ Hall said.
‘‘We’re very much guided by AFL Victoria restrictions.
‘‘We are lucky to have one of the biggest ovals in the competition so we can spread out quite well.
‘‘If we get more than 20 at training we’ll have to be a bit inventive and send some players on a run.
‘‘We will be touching base with our players this week to see how many we’ll have at training and hopefully we’ll have a start date very soon for when to expect games to start.’’
Picola & District clubs are taking the return to training with caution, deciding whether or not training under restrictions is worth doing if a start date has not yet been set.
Deniliquin Rovers senior coach Alex Hay said it is an interesting situation and the club will take everything on board as it is confirmed.
‘‘We’re just trying to take it day by day with the information that comes out; I’m trying to ignore any rumours and only listen to anything that’s been confirmed,’’ Hay said.
‘‘Our return to training on Monday will be fairly cruisey.
‘‘We will have our leadership group taking smaller groups each night to break it up.
‘‘Just to do a bit of ball skills and light fitness.
‘‘As a club we want to hear some information from the league sooner rather than later, whether the season is cancelled or not, we want the motivation to train for something.
‘‘We don’t want to get three weeks into training again and find out it’s all been in vein.’’
Mathoura senior coach Darcy Robinson said the club will continue at a stand still despite the potential to train in small groups.
‘‘There is still a lot of uncertainty, we need qualification,’’ Robinson said.
‘‘We were told by (PDFNL operations manager) Shane Railton that everything is all ready to go but there was a bit more discussion behind those comments so we just need qualification and confirmation.
‘‘We stand under the banner for all restrictions to be lifted before our club gets back up and running.
‘‘We will continue training individually or in a small group.
‘‘It’s not just about the money the club raises, but for the community that gets involved.
‘‘The biggest thing is for junior footy to get back up and running, the children need the sport and it’s really important for them.
‘‘But we won’t go back unless all is confirmed. Our community needs football and netball back, it’s so important in the country. But we need qualification first.’’
Blighty president Michael Norman said the team will return to train within the guidelines but was worried about the financial implications of returning too soon.
‘‘We are keen to get everyone back together, it will be good to have a bit of fitness but also just to get the guys social again,’’ he said.
‘‘The biggest hurdle we face is the crowd restrictions currently still in place.
‘‘Gate tickets are obviously a large stream of revenue for all clubs so if there aren’t any spectators clubs will suffer.
‘‘Once the restrictions ease it will make a return to the season much more successful.’’
Shane Railton spoke with the Pastoral Times on Monday and stated that the league is unable to confirm a season start date until the government makes further announcements in regards to easing restrictions for community sports.