Attention will shift towards offering junior footballers and netballers the opportunity to play in 2020, following the cancellation of the Horsham District football netball league and Wimmera league senior seasons.
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The boards of both leagues expressed a strong desire to offer something for their junior competitors, but remained open as to what format that may take.
The state government gave the green light for players aged 18-and-under to return to competitive sport from June 22, recognising the lower rate of COVID-19 transmission among younger people.
AFL Wimmera Mallee area manager Jason Muldoon said both the Horsham District and Wimmera leagues were exploring their options, with no pressure placed on clubs to be involved.
"It won't be a premiership season I wouldn't have thought. It would be a social competition just to allow juniors to play," he said.
"That's determined by what the government allows us to do. If the restrictions keep changing like they did on Saturday, they might not be allowed a competition, we just don't know.
"We're waiting on Wimmera league clubs to get back to us on numbers and willingness to be involved, because there is no pressure to be involved for clubs that don't want to be.
"We'll put something in place, use school holidays to collect data and present that to the league."
Mr Muldoon expected clubs to band together to ensure juniors have the opportunity to take to the field.
" (With) most Horsham District and Wimmera league clubs that were already short of numbers there was a willingness to match up with another team that didn't have the numbers so they can form and play games," he said.
"It's been really pleasing that clubs have realised that seniors won't go ahead, and it's now about the juniors and helping them get to play."
Horsham Saints Football Netball Club president Nathan Martin said it was important to provide the outlet of junior sport.
"Since the small (training) groups could return our juniors have been training and that will continue," he said.
"Hopefully we can get some enthusiasm and buy-in. All clubs indicated they'd like to see some junior football and netball and that's most importantly for the kid's physical exercise."
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Matt Currill
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
