STILL GAME TO DOUBLE-UP
IT is getting harder for local sportspeople to play both footy and cricket. But what will happen if both seasons overlap later in the year due to COVID-19? We chat to a couple of stars who still successfully juggle both
DURING a time of the year where they would normally be training up to five times a week, dual code players face an uncertain wait — and potential choice — when football and cricket return after the coronavirus pandemic.
As administrators of both codes shape up to decide how to fit their respective seasons into a suddenly packed calendar, Dan Weigl and Hayden McMahon have found themselves with extra time up their sleeves.
Captain of Lara in GCA1 and a key member of Anakie’s GDFL side, Weigl has taken the chance during the time off from both codes to undergo hip surgery late last month.
“It’s about a three-month recovery, so that’s why I brought it forward and got it done and was lucky enough to get it in the last week or so,” he said.
It seems unlikely the footy and cricket seasons could overlap later this year, given the codes generally share most of the grounds in Geelong. But if it were to happen, Weigl said he would probably stick with whichever had begun.
Football season won’t begin locally until at least May 31, potentially pushing back finals.
“It’s one of those hypotheticals where until it happens it’s hard to really say,” Weigl said.
“I guess it would depend on the circumstances. If it was footy and you were a chance to play finals, then you probably would miss the first couple of games of the cricket season.
“I’m not sure whether an overlap could be done in terms of ground availability and that’s why I don’t envy the administrators and the decisionmakers. It’s a tough one.”
McMahon and his twin brother Dylan played a hand in winning the two most recent top-flight grand finals across cricket and footy — the 2018-19 GCA1 grand final with East Belmont and the 2019 GFL grand final with St Mary’s.
He agreed that he would likely roll with whichever season was playing.
“Generally at that time of the season (September into October) you are pushing for finals and I suppose finals always takes precedence over what would be a home-andaway game,” he said.
During football pre-season, McMahon generally spends Monday, Wednesday and Friday at St Mary’s and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with East Belmont.
With a little bit of time off, he said he missed the routine of training but appreciated having more time to relax.
He said the growing professionalism of local football in the past decade might have reduced the amount of players willing to play footy and cricket,” McMahon said.
“It’s definitely got to do with the time commitment.
“Because footy has become so professional in the local region in the last 10 years or so, it’s probably just so taxing on the body.
“Given that most of the blokes that still play footy and cricket are in their mid-20s or younger, it probably helps them a bit because they are more durable.
“While I’m able to do all of it, I’m bouncing off the walls to get there.
“Generally I would say I put footy ahead, but it’s such a seasonal thing, when I get into the middle of cricket I am loving it.”
Weigl agreed time commitment was a key factor and that many young, talented athletes were choosing not to spend their summer Saturdays in the field playing cricket.
“I think it’s just a general thing that not so many people are playing cricket,” he said.
“Whether that’s a generational thing and will change who knows, but that’s definitely the feeling that I get.
“I’ve got mates who are good cricketers that don’t want to play because they don’t want to field and spend six hours of their day in the field. It does take up a lot of time.
“You can do them both.”