IN the wake of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, the Mid South East Football League is yet to make a final decision on its 2020 season, after all competition was postponed until after May 31.
The league has fallen in line with the rest of the code in South Australia, with all leagues in the Limestone Coast following suit.
MSEFL president Peter Mitchell said there were a couple of options going forward, but it all depends on how far reaching the virus becomes.
“Our season will not start at the very earliest until after May 31,” he said.
“We are in line with everyone else, but obviously that will be reviewed constantly over the next few months.
“If things go worse than the experts believe, we might have an extension on that as well.”
The MSEFL held a meeting on Tuesday night, with the topic of a revised season on the table.
“We are hopeful we will get going after May 31,” Mitchell said.
“I guess we need to do a bit of rejigging and I think the simple thing we would be doing is looking at having eight home-and-away games.
“Rather than play each other twice, we will play each other once and then have the finals.
“I do not think we will do an AFL thing and look at extending the season to fit the whole program in.
“That would go into tennis and cricket and other summer sports.”
The decision leaves clubs facing financial issues, with little income during the period.
“They might not be paying player payments, but there is still the Telstra bill, the AGL bill, there are those costs that come through,” he said.
“Clubs might need to work through with sponsors and other people to do the best for themselves and the third parties.”
Player payments is one area Mitchell suggested could change.
“I do not know, but I will throw it out there – some of the clubs might go to the players who get paid and ask if they are prepared to play the season for a bit less money to help the club out,” he said.
“Hopefully if it is explained properly the club needs their support to survive it might work.
“This is not just for our clubs down here, but for clubs everywhere.”
Overall Mitchell accepted it was a strange time around the world, with the Mid South East league a small part of that scenario.
“It (coronavirus) has turned the world upside down,” he said.
“There are many things that have an impact on people’s lives, but this has gone to the extreme.
“We just have to play our part and do the best we can in our region.”
