Pitch in and get playing
Clubs discuss new comp
SOCCER clubs across Geelong have come together in initial plans for a homegrown competition to replace state leagues and NPL this year.
The COVID-19 lockdown in greater Melbourne has torpedoed plans for Victorian state competitions, leaving several Geelong clubs without a place to play.
A meeting between clubs on Monday floated the idea of a new competition to be held in Geelong to give senior players a chance to get on the pitch.
Following the state government announcement of the new lockdown — which began on Thursday — Football Victoria halted all training and matches in metropolitan areas for the next six weeks.
Training had been underway with an eye to starting play later this month. Clubs have until July 13 to opt into the new competition but details on exactly what the format would be are yet to be finalised.
Barwon Soccer Club president Dave Rea said his club would put its hand up to take part.
“Whether it’s league or friendly or what, we haven’t got around to that yet, but it’s just to give them a chance to play,” he said.
“You’ve got state first team and reserves teams so there are probably about 15 or 16 teams there and you could have a really good competition.
“We’re keen to keep the guys who have been training around and have a bit of a competition for them, otherwise it will have been a bit of a waste of a season.”
Having adjusted to different rules through an elongated pre-season, North Geelong Warriors director of football Josip Skoko said his players were ready to play and would take part in the competition.
“We have to have the boys playing football. If we can organise some sort of competition, that would be great,” he said.
“It’s been really frustrating, the boys are ready to go but we have had to keep adjusting each time. It’s not great but we will have some sort of football played … we’re hoping to put something together pretty quickly.”
While clubs wait on how senior soccer might look, juniors take to the field this weekend for the first time this year.
Just having games on at local clubs will buoy volunteers who have patiently waited for on-field action.
“Although we know you can’t have too many people here, a lot of people have commented saying they miss coming to the club and having a laugh and a coffee, so that has been missed as well,” Skoko said.