Clubs prepared for return of football and netball

A return of district football and netball at the start of next month is being keenly looked forward to after last year’s cancellation but it will be a lot of hard work – more than in previous seasons – for clubs under the COVID safe protocols they must implement.

Officials at several clubs The Gazette spoke with said they were well prepared although their biggest need was for more volunteers to step up for home games to help meet the Return to Play Protocols (version six) set by the State government.

Some of the key requirements for clubs will include ensuring playing equipment such as balls are sanitised before, after and during breaks in games, areas where facilities are touched by competitors, officials and the public are frequently sanitised and social distancing and limits on crowd numbers enforced.

At least one authorised COVID safety officer at each club as well as first aid personnel and trainers need to have completed the Australian Government’s COVID Infection Control Training, and canteens, bars and social clubs must adhere to the guidelines for hospitality venues set out on the Business Victoria website.

The crowd limit per venue has been set at 1000.

Players and necessary officials will not be included in the 1000 while playing or on duty but AFL Gippsland acting regional manager Nic Fogarty said they would then be included in the figure if they stayed to watch later games.

Only players, umpires and essential officials will be allowed in changerooms and on the grounds.

However, Mr Fogarty said crowds of more than 1000 could be allowed if home clubs apply for and gain a special permit from the Department of Health and Human Services.

“Currently there is a backlog of about six weeks in gaining approval and AFL Gippsland is waiting on receiving a permit for Ellinbank and District League club Lang Lang’s home game on Good Friday, April 2, against Poowong.

That clash will kick off the season among the four district leagues – Gippsland, Ellinbank, West Gippsland and Mid Gippsland.
South Gippsland coastal clubs Phillip Island and Inverloch-Kongwak (West Gippsland) and Wonthaggi (Gippsland) are scheduled to host games on Easter Saturday to boost gate-takings from long weekend holiday makers.

Several crowd-pulling “neighbourhood derbies” that normally would be expected to draw more than 1000 people also feature in the early round fixtures of several leagues.

In Gippsland League Sale and Maffra will open their seasons when they clash on Sunday, April 11, and the Drouin-Warragul and Leongatha-Wonthaggi local derbies will be in round two on Sunday, April 18.

Traditional rivals Yarragon and Trafalgar will square off against each other and for the Waterloo Trophy for the first time in a number of years in the round one Ellinbank League match on Saturday, April 10, following Trafalgar’s admission to that league from Mid Gippsland.

A new look Mid Gippsland will have 13 clubs this year after the inclusion of Foster, MDU (Meeinyan Dumbalk United) Fish Creek, Tarwin and Stony Creek from the now defunct Alberton league and the loss of Trafalgar to Ellinbank league and Yallourn Yallourn North to North Gippsland league.