Liam Durkin
FOOTBALL/NETBALL
By LIAM DURKIN THE fate of local footballers and netballers is expected to be sealed later tonight. Although community sport can technically resume, the fact that current restrictions state no spectators are allowed, it still appears very much a 50-50 proposition if players will be taking to the field and court this weekend. <i>The Express</i> understands Gippsland League clubs will meet tonight to discuss the feasibility of potentially playing behind closed doors. As expected, the prospect of playing with no access to change rooms, or without a canteen and bar remains the biggest sticking point. With crowds off limits at AFL matches for the next two weeks, it would appear a slim chance community sport will be afforded a different set of rules. The Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League is believed to hold similar sentiments, with a crowd cap of at least 500 people seen as the minimum number required. In terms of fixturing, logic would suggest the Gippsland League will adopt a rolling fixture and work it so the next round of matches sees it reach a stage where all clubs have played each other once in season 2021. The MGFNL is understood to want to complete the last two home-and-away rounds it has in its regular season. The North Gippsland Football-Netball League has already entered results for matches played in the last fortnight as draws, and given the same thing occurred during the last lockdown, it would be reasonably assumed the next lot of matches scheduled to be played would be Round 14.
