Training resumes, but uncertainty remains
from p64
Only footballs are permitted to be used in drills, with a strict no contact and 1.5 metre social distancing policy to be enforced by the COVID Officer.
In the West Gippsland league, Garfield coach Hayden Stanton said despite the strict measures, his side trained last night, providing an opportunity for the team to see each other again.
“We used it as a way to get together again, to touch base and do some ball work,” he said.
“We’re all still sitting back and waiting, like a lot of clubs, to see if there will be a start date. We have a lot of tradies in our side who have been working on the weekends, so I’m sure a few are wondering whether it’s worth giving up Saturday work to play football for nothing, but we’ll wait and see,” he added.
Garfield ran their session last night with two groups of 10 players, split into two zones. This will continue for their Wednesday and Friday sessions.
In the EDFL, Longwarry coach Cory Lenders said his side is waiting on a meeting that will be held by the club tonight before going ahead with any sanctioned training.
“We have the intention to train, if it is viable, no decision has been made just yet,” he said.
When asked about why the side didn’t take up the opportunity to hit the track for the first time since March, Lenders said it was a combination of reasons.
“A bit of everything really, we want to see how it will affect volunteers and others not just the players. I think having no start date too, it doesn’t give many a whole heap of motivation to start,” he said.
The EDFL has released an 11-point COVID plan, which helps to outline exactly what is needed to be undertaken to return to training.
In the Mid Gippsland league, Rob
Popplestone said they won’t be preventing clubs from training and will be looking for some feedback after the sessions.
“All clubs have been made aware of the latest guidelines. I think we’ll be making a decision on where we go from there,” he said.
Last year’s Mid Gippsland league runner up, Hill End, are not wasting time, however. Coach Mike Santo said his side will be hitting the track after receiving some more clarity around the guidelines.
“The plan is to go back one night a week, starting Wednesday (tomorrow) night,” he explained.
One of the largest roadblocks in the season continues to be spectators with Santo explaining that he doesn’t see how the season can be viable without them.
“I’m not sure where the money comes from really if there aren’t crowds allowed in,” Santo said. “It takes a lot of money to run a club for the season and without it, it’s tough to do.”
For a side like Santo’s, who are in a premiership window after a strong showing last year and equally strong recruiting for this season, he said the team would be all in for a season if that was decided upon.
“We’ll be all in for sure if it was say a nineround season. People say it will have an asterisk on it, but it’s still a premiership in our eyes,” he said.
Trafalgar have also planned to hit the track twice this week, while the Warragul Industrials have also wasted no time, training last night for around an hour in two groups of 10.
The women’s team were also back out, training after the men’s side last night.
With training permitted, clubs are now awaiting a potential start date, which will prove crucial in whether some hit the track or choose to hold out in the coming weeks.