General News
11 August, 2021
Local footy, netball given green light
LOCAL football and netball competitions will make a surprise return this weekend after premier Daniel Andrews released regional Victoria from a sixth COVID lockdown.
LOCAL football and netball competitions will make a surprise return this weekend after premier Daniel Andrews released regional Victoria from a sixth COVID lockdown.
Matches are able to return following the announcement but COVID protocols will again be in force.
As per matches on July 31 and August 1, no spectators, other than those required to facilitate the games or to supervise children under the age of 18, are able to attend.
The Hampden league will return with round 12 fixtures this Saturday, while its junior finals series will kick off on Sunday.
League executive member Troy Logan said the clubs supported a return to play at a meeting on Monday night.
“As per previous announcements, it remains the intent of the HFNL to commence finals for Saturday competitions on August 28,” he said.
“The HFNL would like to once again thank all member clubs for their commitment in facilitating a resumption of HFNL football and netball.
“We recognise that these conditions are challenging and encourage the entire HFNL community to respect and support the many volunteers and officials who are working hard to provide opportunities for football and netball to be conducted safely.”
This weekend’s matches will see Koroit host Cobden, Camperdown welcome South Warrnambool, Warrnambool play North Warrnambool, Hamilton Kangaroos meet Portland and Port Fairy face Terang Mortlake.
The junior finals series will kick off at Terang’s Ridley Recreation Reserve on Sunday with semi-finals between first and fourth and second and third.
The winners of the matches will then progress onto the grand finals on Sunday, August 22.
In the under 16 football South Warrnambool will face Cobden, while Hamilton Kangaroos meets Port Fairy.
Hamilton Kangaroos face South Warrnambool and Koroit takes on Warrnambool in the under 14s.
On the netball court, South Warrnambool takes on Warrnambool and Cobden clashes with Hamilton Kangaroos in the 15 and under reserves.
Koroit plays Cobden and South Warrnambool meets Terang Mortlake in the 13 and under reserves.
The Warrnambool and District league had yet to determine its plans when the Cobden Timboon Coast Times went to print on Tuesday.
The competition has one scheduled home and away round remaining for this weekend, but the league could potentially bring its finals series forward.
The Colac and District league will also return this Saturday, with the league set to make a further announcement on the final home and away round and finals series in the next 24 hours.
In this weekend’s gamesBirregurra hosts Apollo Bay, Alvie welcomes Colac Imperials, South Colac meets Western Eagles, Irrewarra Beeac takes on Otway Districts andSimpson faces Lorne.
The Mininera and District league will play its round 11 fixtures this weekend before likely heading into finals the following week.
Chairman John Box said this weekend’s games would complete a home and away season
“It will mean everyone plays each other once,” he said.
“If we get this round done, which it looks like we will, then hopefully we can go onto our finals.
“We have a board meeting on Tuesday night to discuss venues and work out whether we’ll have crowds or not.”
Box said the return of football and netball was good for the league, adding the board wanted to stick with its original plans of starting finals on August 21.
“Hopefully we can get the finals through,” he said.
“It’s week-to-week with these lockdowns, they can do them overnight which leaves you a bit unsure but I’ll be happy if we can get them underway.
“We can go a bit longer if we need to, we have a week to spare so we can go a week longer if we need that but at this stage we’re sticking to our dates.”
Box said the league was also currently sticking with its top five finals structure, adding he did not expect that to change.