Hill End's Seth Dawson (left) and Mirboo North's Seth Cropley contest the ball during the second quarter of the reserves match.
MGFNL
Hill End footballers are hoping to put a strong finish on their 2021 season after it was announced the Mid Gippsland Football and Netball League will play the last two home and away games before finals.
The Hill End seniors are holding the top spot on the ladder and could be the favourites going into finals.
Coach Mike Santo said the seniors just want to get back out there and play, and only had three players from metro Melbourne who couldn’t.
“We’ve got a big opportunity to do something that hasn’t been done in a very long time,” Santo said.
It’s been 40 years since Hill End has won a premiership, and they hope to do so in the first year of a 13-club competition.
It’s understood at least 10 of the 13 clubs voted to return this weekend, but some voted against because a number of their players would fall under Melbourne’s restrictions.
It could be a controversial finish for the top four football sides. Fish Creek are number four on the ladder and may look to forfeit the remainder of games because more than half of their players are locked down in Melbourne.
Fish Creek Football and Netball Club President Nick Shaw said it was a nightmare to organise the logistics of returning to play.
“Because we’re small towns, our players who are originally from the area have to travel to Melbourne to work and study,” Shaw said.
He said it wouldn’t make sense to string together a team this weekend.
“If we put one up and lose by 40 goals, I wouldn’t see the sense in it,” he said.
10 players from Foster’s senior side are also from Melbourne. Foster Football and Netball Club President Ian Lyon said despite having difficulties of fielding a reserve team, they’re looking forward to playing Boolarra for the first time ever on Saturday.
It would be a different story for finals, as the seniors would hope to have the strongest team possible. The Mid Gippsland Football and Netball League are planning to organise the dates and schedule of finals after the last home and away game is played.
EDFL and EDNA
Seniors will not play this weekend in the Ellinbank and District Football League after consultation with all clubs earlier this week.
However, junior football has been given the go ahead. The league hopes by allowing juniors to play, it will give kids a chance to prepare for finals while having a positive impact on mental health. Catani and Lang Lang football clubs fall within the Cardinia Shire, so Melbourne’s COVID lockdown still applies to most of their members.
Catani u16s will not play their match against Yarragon on Saturday, and Lang Lang u18s will not play against Poowong. All other junior games will remain the same. The fixture could be revised for the final round, but it is not yet finalised or locked in.
If senior football and netball returns in the following weeks without a change to Melbourne’s restrictions, Cardinia Shire clubs could be forced to miss out on the remaining season.
The Ellinbank and District Netball Association have also decided to abandon round 19, with no grades to play netball this weekend including juniors.
In a Facebook post, EDNA said the metro restrictions impact 20 per cent of their registered players, coaches, and team managers across all 10 teams in their association.
Gippsland League
Gippsland League Junior football will be back this weekend with a revised fixture.
However, football and netball will not go ahead for seniors and reserves after a split vote last night. Five clubs voted against going back on the 14th which include Drouin, Wonthaggi, Leongatha, Moe, and Maffra.
If games were played this weekend, Drouin would be looking at forfeiting at least one football grade. The club has 24 football players from Melbourne across their four sides, which would make it difficult to fill all teams.
