THE news regarding the cancellation of the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions has certainly rocked the sport in the region.
The KNTFL is the first of the three leagues in the Limestone Coast to shut the 2020 season down, but for the Mid South East and Western Border leagues it is all systems go – at this stage.
WBFL president Michael Summers said this week the league would hold a meeting on Monday night to determine whether or not it goes ahead.
For the MSEFL a meeting on Wednesday night shed some light on where the league sits.
League president Peter Mitchell said he had a positive feel after the meeting, but would know more after another meeting next Wednesday night once clubs digest all the information provided.
Recent changes to COVID-19 restrictions sees no player payments to assist clubs financially, along with crowds up to 500 to be allowed to attend games.
“There has been a lot of information flow through from where we sit as a league,” Mitchell said.
“I have given the clubs the chance to go back and digest it all, through their committees, volunteers and others.
“As to the feeling I got, there are some clubs that are keen to go ahead.”
Mitchell said with the recent changes clubs would not suffer so much financially and he feared greater ramifications should the sport not go ahead.
“In my position I have been working hard with the program SANFL has provided through the state government and I am keen to see us do it,” he said.
“For all leagues that do not play I fear there potentially might be some issues next year in terms of volunteers, juniors and reserves footballers.
“I would like to see us get a start this season for that reason, but also to give a bit of normality back to the community.”
Mitchell said reserves players might simply hang their boots up, or juniors may walk away from the sport if it does not continue in 2020.
“If you have some guys near the end of their footy career playing reserves or some young kids coming through from juniors, some of them might just give up,” he said.
“Players will have other things they have been doing.
“There will be a bit of work to do for the clubs to make sure they have enough numbers (if it is cancelled).
“I have asked clubs to go back and target as many people as possible so we will have an idea what they may do.”
With the constant changes coming out of the SANFL and state government departments, it puts a lot of pressure on clubs to make the right decision.
But there is one constant through it all and that is Mitchell’s position.
“Where I sit, I have not changed, I am very keen to get the season up and running,” he said.
“There will be challenges and the easiest thing to do is say ‘it is too hard’.
“What I have challenged the clubs to do is think about it, how we can get it going safely, working with their volunteers and the community.
“It is still a lot for the clubs to think about, to consider their own positions and what they think is the best thing for their club, not just now, but you have to look at next year.
“I am confident if the guys are all in unison we should be able to get up and running.”
Should the league go ahead, a possible start date could be as early as July 11 or 18.
