Wallan’s Todd Muldoon, pictured here, defends Romsey tackler Aaron Paterson during the Mapgies’ 83 point win in round one of the 2021 season.
Community sports across Victoria will not resume this weekend after the state instituted a seven-day COVID-19 lockdown Thursday night.
The Northern Football Netball League, Riddell Football Netball League, AFL Outer East and Big V Basketball have all announced that no games will be played in accordance with the restrictions this weekend. Exercise, shop for groceries, and get a COVID-19 vaccine.
Northern Football Netball League executive director Peter McDougall said none of the games scheduled for this weekend would be postponed.
“Following the state government’s announcement that Victoria would be suspended for seven days, all NFNL football and netball games scheduled for the weekend of May 28-30 have been canceled,” he said.
“This is extremely disappointing, but as you all understand, the matter is out of our hands.
“As we told all clubs at the beginning of the season, we would not postpone these games if we had to cancel games during the season.
“As disappointing as that is, I assume that a lot of football and netball will be played this year and we can look forward to the 2021 season very much.
“I encourage everyone to comply with the current COVID restrictions and I hope we can get back to the soccer field and netball field next weekend.”
The move means the first division club, Whittlesea, will miss hosting Hurstbridge, while the third division clashes between Kilmore and Lalor, Laurimar and Reservoir, and Mernda and Heidelberg West have also been canceled.
AFL Outer East also announced they would not postpone this weekend’s canceled games, which means Broadford will not face second division leader Kinglake until July 31st.
A statement posted on the Riddell District Football Netball League website said officials were still working to determine whether games would be postponed or canceled.
“Please note that games from May 28-30, including Club 18, senior football and netball, junior football and netball and women’s football, will not take place as planned this weekend,” the statement said.
“Another decision on whether these games will be canceled or postponed will be made in the coming days.
“The RDFNL will meet with other metropolitan areas and AFL Victoria to determine the safest return to community football and netball.
“Thank you to all of our clubs for your understanding. We look forward to resuming all RDFNL competitions when it is safe to do so. ”
Wallan had pounced on top fights with Riddell this weekend in both senior football and A-grade netball, while Romsey was to host the Western Rams and Lancefield was to travel to Woodend-Hesket.
The Big V games scheduled for this weekend have been postponed by Basketball Victoria, while the Wallans’ national junior and senior rounds have been canceled.
Gary O’Brien, president of Wallan Basketball, said the decision was disappointing but necessary.
“From our point of view, you have two options: rescheduling or cancellation,” he said.
“We just don’t have the buffer to postpone a lap on the available weekends.
“In the summer season we postponed a round to the first weekend of the school holidays because of COVID, and it was really awkward. The people went away.
“If you abandon the round without a doubt, you have slightly affected the draw. However, if you don’t abandon and reschedule the round, certain players won’t be able to play and you will still get compromised results.
“The effort and reorganization of everyone’s life is really difficult, so we’re going to take the lesser of the two evils and move on.”
