THE recent past has been a disastrous time for the Nangwarry Football Club.
The Saints have not marched to victory since 2014 with an unbroken 82-match losing streak.
In January last year Nangwarry’s clubrooms were burnt down and the side has experienced another difficult pre-season in 2020.
The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced round one of the 2020 Mid South East Football League to be suspended, with a return date still undecided.
The extended pre-season has challenged all clubs and the Saints have not escaped unharmed.
Nangwarry coach David Stratman said the club has come to a standstill amid no on-field action.
“No one has been doing anything at all,” he said.
“It has been hard for everyone to get their heads around it.
“We were doing a lot of hard work in the pre-season and we have been in the dark ever since it shut down.”
During this period of uncertainty, Stratman has given his players some time off to refresh if football does return.
The men remain in contact through a group chat where they have shared their individual programs to stay in shape after a solid pre-season.
Proceedings started with a couple of sessions before Christmas and activity recommenced on January 14.
Stratman said there was a positive vibe around the group.
“The players have been upbeat all the way through,” he said.
“Many people are a lot fitter than they have been over the last couple of years.
“The excitement has been there with everyone wanting to do better than we did last year.”
Part of the enthusiasm has been generated by some new faces in the group.
Stratman said they have made an immediate impact, but has not revealed details to the wider public yet.
“I suppose most clubs are trying to keep things close to their chest, but we have got a few handy players who have turned up,” he said.
“It will be exciting to see how they perform.
“Their knowledge has been fantastic and they are willing to mingle around the group.”
Stratman said the enjoyable surrounds circulated even when the season was on the brink of being postponed.
“Even as talk of coronavirus started to get around, everyone was still excited for the season,” he said.
“But it was a big shock when it was cancelled.
“No one wanted to stop training.”
With steps towards football returning around South Australia starting to take place, Stratman is concerned how clubs can flourish in the post-COVID world.
He said if crowd restrictions are introduced, it will make life difficult for clubs to host matches.
“The long-term problems clubs face is if bars were not open and people are only allowed to come to the games and go, how does the club stay alive,” Stratman said.
“There are a lot of costs involved at a club.
“Strapping tape, power, water and obviously the more you use the facilities, there are more costs.
“So if they are not making much money, it will be too hard for a club to run.”
Since the announcement to delay country football, Stratman said it has been a tough time as a coach, but believes the break was the right thing to do.
“It has been really hard,” he said.
“You are not only dealing with the players’ welfare, but also thinking what will happen to the parents and grandparents who come to the games.
“Having a break from footy is probably not the best thing, but in the scheme of things it is.”
