Local footy’s grim outlook for season
TWO of the region’s top local footballers doubt there is a chance local football will be played this year.
Triple Mathieson Medal winner Matt McMahon says players need to come to grips that “there’s a really high possibility” games will not go ahead in 2020.
The start of all community football seasons have been pushed back until May 31 — the day before winter officially starts — but the delay could be longer.
The AFL forged ahead with its season but has also postponed conmpetition to the same date.
The peak of the COVID-19 is yet to reach Australia and experts have said it could coincide with flu season.
McMahon, who has claimed the GFL’s top individual honour for the past three seasons, feared the season would not go ahead.
“I think everyone probably has to get their head around that there’s a really high possibility that we won’t be playing football at all this year,” McMahon said.
“I think the way it’s going, I find it really hard to believe we’re going to be playing Round 1 in the first week of June.
“If you listen to all the news sources and stuff like that, it sounds like that’s when we’re going to be seeing the worst of this virus that is going around at the moment.
“I dare say if that’s the case, if it’s going to be worse then than what it is now, we definitely won’t be playing.”
Les Ash medallist John Meesen said there was uncertainty about whether football would start in 2020.
“As an AFL player manager, we’re hopeful there will be some sort of competition at the AFL standard later on in the year,” Meesen said.
“But at the same time, players are trying to prepare for the worst, but trying to remain positive and optimistic as well.
“I think that will have a flow-on effect down to local footy, but there’s absolutely a real possibility that there won’t be any footy.”