A winter of discontent

Lockdown ends seasons before they’ve even begun

IT is game over for Wyndhambased teams in the shortened AFL Barwon junior season, but plans remain for games to begin next weekend.

Werribee Centrals has pulled both its under-18.5 and senior women’s teams out of the competition because of the Melbourne-wide lockdown.

Its other junior sides participate in the WRFL juniors, which had a start date of August 9.

Werribee Centrals junior president Brendan Ord said it was upsetting players would not be able to take to the field in 2020.

“A lot of our teams have been training since November and were keen to get on the ground, particularly with our under-18.5 boys being able to shift from the WRFL to AFL Barwon,” Ord said.

“It gave the boys hope that they would get a modified season in. To say they are disappointed would be an understatement.”

Junior netball fixtures and boys’ and girls’ schedules were released for Round 1 on Thursday, starting July 18.

Only necessary spectators will be allowed to attend.

Werribee Centrals under-13 and under-15 netball sides have also withdrawn.

“Unfortunately they won’t be able to play in the AFL Barwon comp this season,” netball co-ordinator Ellie Tubbs said.

“We’re hoping to be able to retain those girls and they’ll still be eager to come back next season.”

Coaches and players from other clubs have also been impacted, including Newtown & Chilwell netball star Julia Woolley.

Woolley mentors two of the Eagles’ underage sides, but she lives in the western suburbs and is uncertain what the lockdown means for her participation.

“We need to get a bit more understanding before we can progress. You’re allowed out for sport so does this fall in that acceptable environment?” Woolley said.

“Even with Cougars, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to join in training with Geelong anymore. I suppose there is a few more questions we have that we need answers to.”

AFL Victoria informed AFL Barwon on Tuesday night that full-contact training and competitions could continue.

“A return-to-play date for junior football and netball of July 18 is still in place for our region,” the local governing body said in a statement.

It said it would work with players, coaches and officials who live in affected suburbs.