Coolamon Hoppers have pulled the pin on the combined 2020 Gallagher Riverina Championships, citing uncertainty around inter-regional players.
The Board of the CRFNC had agreed to participate in the Gallagher AFL Riverina Championship for the revised 2020 season only on the condition of the mandatory exclusion of non-Riverina based players and coaches.
That is, it must exclude players and coaches that reside or work in the NSW Victoria border, Canberra or Sydney regions.
“Unfortunately, AFL Riverina was unable to enforce such an exclusion, legally or otherwise, and on this basis the CRFNC will not participate in the Championships,” Hoppers chairman Bryan Buchanan said.
Buchanan said the COVID-19 pandemic had created a lot of uncertainty surrounding senior football and netball in the Riverina this season.
“The cancellation of the Farrer FNL and the announcement of the withdrawal from the Riverina FNL by Narrandera Eagles and Griffith Swans prompted AFL Riverina to offer the remaining Riverina FNL Clubs, as well as any interested Farrer FNL Clubs, the opportunity to participate in a combined leagues Gallagher AFL Riverina Championships,” he said.
The Coolamon Rovers FNC Board met on July 14 to discuss the proposed new, short season, competition.
The Board had lobbied AFL Riverina to introduce a mandatory exclusion of Melbourne based players being allowed to participate in any AFL Riverina league competitions, a week before the border closures took place.
According to the Board, senior football and netball players had trained for several months with no reward while the younger players had lost the bulk of their social fabric.
“2021 may not be a magical tick over to a new season, that COVID-19 may even be worse next year and an opportunity to play now, with all the risks assessed and managed, was well worth considering in its entirety,” Buchanan said.
Of concern to the Board, was the uncertainty of where players in opposition teams may have travelled from.
“AFL Riverina have introduced a Player Transfer COVID-19 policy to minimise this risk, requiring declarations with respect to residence and travel.
“Although it acknowledged the limitations that AFL Riverina had in enforcing anything stronger than this policy, the CRFNC Board felt it was not sufficient to stop inter regional player participation in the Championships and consequently minimise the risk of player and wider community exposure to the COVID-19 virus.
“The CRFNC has always appreciated there is community concern surrounding the COVID-19 situation. However, there is no ‘common sense’ decision about something so uncommon. “Common sense does mean working responsibly with AFL Riverina, supporting the integrity of the competition to the best of the Club’s ability while not compromising safety of players, volunteers and the wider community.
“Common sense also tells us to weigh up all the factors before making a decision that will inevitably disadvantage some people, not knee jerk to the court of public opinion.
The Riverina and Farrar clubs left standing due to the COVID debacle are due to kick off their matches in the Gallagher AFL Riverina Championships on July 25.
Narrandera Eagles was among the clubs to pull out of the league but the juniors are set to play in the five-team competition of South West Juniors.
The junior teams are Griffith Red, Griffith White, Leeton-Whitton, Narrandera and Barellan.
Collingullie Glenfield Park made the decision to step back on Wednesday while GGGM Lions, Leeton Whitton Crows and Osborne Tigers senior teams are forging ahead with the season.
AFL Riverina chairman Michael Irons acknowledged the community concern about COVID-19 after the spike in Victoria.
“Travel within the region is another concern, especially by those from the Border regions,” Iron said.
“Discussions with Murrumbidgee Health have also highlighted that reducing travel within the region would be a good public health outcome.
“Whilst we await further Government advice on this, we strongly recommend clubs which include participants (players, coaches, officials, volunteers and spectators) from Border towns not to travel and participate in football or netball in AFL Riverina competitions.
“We also highly recommend clubs review any other travelling players that they may have involved, in particular those from the Canberra and Sydney areas, and whether it is appropriate for them to participate.”
AFL Riverina will run one Senior competition made up of clubs from the Riverina and Farrer leagues that still wish to participate, starting on July 25 it will finish no later than October 10.
“Depending on the number of clubs that enter, we will then determine how many rounds are played. Clubs could expect three to four home games,” Irons said.
“Players who are seeking transfers or have transferred since June 1 to AFL Riverina clubs will be subject to a screening process as per the attached Player Transfer COVID-19 Policy.
“This is to ensure we have reviewed all new players entering our competitions and that they do not present an unnecessary risk.
“Prior to the border restrictions being imposed there were approximately 120 players that lodged permits to play in AFL Riverina competitions, but this number has now been reduced to approximately 20 and will be subject to the screening process.”
The South West Juniors and Wagga and District Juniors started as planned on July 18-19.
“Our Junior competitions do not involve the same travel issues as our Senior competition and therefore we have decided that we continue as planned,” Irons said.
