IT is a decision many probably saw coming, but there will be no South Australian Country Football Championships played in 2020.
Each year a Murray South East zone team – selected from the Western Border, Mid South East, Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara and River Murray football leagues – competes against the other SA country zones over three days.
This year’s edition was set to be played at Kadina on July 10-12, but SANFL last week confirmed the cancellation of the event.
The decision was made due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as to assist community football leagues when – and if – they are able to hit the park in 2020.
“Obviously any time you have to cancel sporting events is disappointing,” South East football operations manager Michael Mourbey said.
“But in terms of where we are currently with all of the cancellations and the virus, precautions had to be put in place.
“Also, if we do happen to get a start on country footy in June or July some time, we want to ensure the community clubs have actually got the ability to play that weekend to catch up on games.
“That was one of the main reasons behind it, we want to try and look after our country and community clubs and give them an extra weekend to play footy if we are able to get back on the park.”
It has already been announced there will be no interleague competition this year, which is used as a selection process for the SA Country Championships and due to a similar flow-on effect, the annual state country game against Western Australia has also been cancelled.
Mourbey said while it is a disappointing outcome, the main focus at this stage is optimising the available time to play, if football is given the all clear in the second half of the year.
“I think at this stage it is very important we give the clubs every opportunity – if we get back on the park – to play as many games as they can,” Mourbey said.
With all football and training postponed until at least May 31 at this stage, Mourbey said it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold.
“Like everyone, we are in a bit of a waiting game,” he said.
“We will be reliant on the AFL’s medical people who obviously deal with the government and the world health organisation.
“They will make some sort of decision late April and into early May on what they believe the current state would be.
“We will be guided by the best medical advice which is available and no one will be put at risk.
“Hopefully we can get a start, but we will wait to see.”
Mourbey has had a long involvement in football and in his career he can not recall the South Australian country championships ever being cancelled before.
He believes the event to have been played for over two decades in some format and during that time it has created valuable opportunities for many country footballers.
“Over the years it has provided a great pathway for country footballers to show what they can do and in recent years it has been shown players who have gone have actually been picked up on AFL lists,” he said.
“It is an important part of the fabric of country footy and we just hope it all returns next year.”
