WEST Gambier is taking things slow regarding a return to training at Malseed Park.
The Western Border Football League is still in limbo, as it faces plenty of issues in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
While the state government lifted some restrictions this week, there is still plenty to be done regarding a full return to play and Roos president Shane Giddings is being cautious with his club’s approach.
“We have not trained at all,” he said.
“We have a meeting set aside for the 3rd of June and had a meeting three weeks ago, where we decided we are not going to do anything across the board as a club from juniors through to seniors until the 3rd of June.
“We have postponed that now for a couple of days because the Western Border Junior Football League has a meeting on that night.
“What we are doing is similar to other clubs.
“We have orchestrated a plan to return to the training track and what it will look like and we will present it to the committee from there.”
Giddings suggested the Roos may be on the training track some time after the long weekend – if at all.
He said many of the players at the club seem resigned to the fact the season may not go ahead, with health concerns an overriding factor.
“It is what it is,” Giddings said.
“We have to work out everything, make sure everyone is safe and go from there.
“We will play footy when it is safe to play footy and our players feel safe to play footy.
“At the end of the day it is okay for me to say ‘lets go back and play footy’, but if we have players who do not feel safe to play, I 100pc support them.”
Giddings commended the SANFL and incoming WBFL president Michael Summers on the work which had been done so far this season.
However, he said with so many overriding factors affecting the chances of safe return to play, it looked doubtful the season would go ahead.
“We are a country-based football club run on volunteers who work 9-5,” Giddings said.
“My barbecue shed is run at the average age of 55 and above.
“I have helpers in my canteen who are the same.
“It will impact more than just the football side of it.
“I can get 40 players to play football, but what about everything else around it, these elderly, vulnerable people who run our club.
“That is what matters to me.
“That is where I think we are going to struggle.
“I think there is a massive way to go.”
