Juniors to play on — for now

GEELONG’S football and netball clubs have stood firm in the face of new coronavirus restrictions to keep junior sport going as AFL Barwon warned the competitions were a “day-to-day proposition”.

A tightening of restrictions by the state government did not include any change to sport and every club surveyed by AFL

Barwon expressed a desire to keep the game going this weekend.

School closures have left clubs scrambling to field teams, with South Barwon a club which faced the prospect of pulling multiple sides out of action until it received the all clear last night.

The Swans draw large numbers from Belmont High School, which has been closed since Thursday after a reported COVID-19 case.

South Barwon boys junior co-ordinator Paul O’Keefe said the club had been waiting on advice as to whether players from that school could take the field this weekend.

“We’ve been in contact with AFL Barwon and competing clubs, and we have agreed to wait as long as possible to give us every chance for a game to be played,” O’Keefe said.

“There probably would be two or three teams that we couldn’t field.”

But late on Friday night news filtered through that students were given permission to take the field this weekend.

Good news came at Drysdale where a potential COVID-19 case at Bellarine Secondary College was deemed a false positive.

Drysdale junior coordinator Jennie Deckker said the club was given clearance for Bellarine students to play.

“At first we were starting to wonder what our minimum team size is that we could put out there,” Deckker said. “We have no real impact now.”

Students at Grovedale West Primary and Geelong Baptist College will be forced to sit out.

Kardinia International College was last night given the green light to play.

Face coverings are mandatory in the region from 11.59pm on Sunday but AFL Barwon has urged all spectators to wear masks or appropriate coverings to matches to ensure football and netball go ahead.

Under the game protocols, only spectators necessary for support should attend and only parents or guardians and club officials be present during games.

In a letter, AFL Barwon general manager Will McGregor praised the work of clubs to keep football and netball going.

“I would like to congratulate everyone on their tireless work on getting our junior members back out on the field and court this season,” McGregor wrote.

“Seeing the smiles on junior faces I’m sure makes all the hard work that little more worth it.

“However, as we enter Round 3 of the junior football and netball season, I would like to inform all involved that the seasons are still very much a day-to-day proposition and may not continue if strict protocols cannot be adhered to.”

He said all restrictions needed to be adhered to, or the season would be cancelled.

This week acts as the Kempe Read the Play round for junior competitions, which aims to shine a light on Youth Mental Health.