The Western Border Football League and respective netball associations will not play a 2020 season if its Victorian team Casterton-Sandford is not allowed into South Australia to compete.
Key points:
- South Australian football competitions are expected to resume from late June
- Leagues with Victorian and SA teams are asking for a border exemption so all teams can play without quarantining
- Victorian clubs are concerned they will lose players if they cannot play in SA-based competitions
A founding member of the league, Casterton is just 42 kilometres from the border and is the only Victorian club in the 6-team league.
Despite the return of full-contact footy training expected on Monday and a return to competition from late June, the league has determined a set of further conditions for their games to resume.
Western Border Football League president Michael Summers said the football and netball competitions will not play without crowds, if the season deems it unsustainable, and, most importantly, if Casterton cannot play.
“We hold Casterton very highly in our league,” Mr Summers said.
Michael Summers wants the border to open and says if the league’s one Victorian club cannot play, the committee has said no one will play.(ABC South East SA: Isadora Bogle)
Victorian teams in SA comps look to move leagues
Two hours down the border near Bordertown, Victorian club Kaniva Leeor United is in the same boat.
They have been a part of the predominantly South Australian Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League since the club’s inception 100 years ago.
Victorian team Kaniva Leeor United is in a league with only SA teams, but will consider moving to a Victorian league if they cannot compete without quarantining.(Supplied: Kaniva Leeor United Football Club)
Kaniva Leeor President Jason Gordon said the team has been training without its head coach and other players who live in South Australia.
Like Casterton-Sandford, Kaniva will consider joining a different league in Victoria if the borders do not open for them.
“If us guys on this side of the border can’t play and they play community sport in Victoria, we would obviously look to participate there,” Mr Gordon said.
Clubs concerned they might lose players
Mr Gordon is worried that without making a decision soon the club will lose players to other clubs.
“That is a huge risk to country football,” Mr Gordon said.
Building a team may be challenging for Kaniva Leeor United who has players and coaches from both sides of the border.(Supplied: Kavina-Leeor United Football Club)
Mr Gordon said while wanting to let players know the club’s directions, he does not want to rush an announcement.
“We could call the season off next Tuesday at a meeting and Friday they open up the borders. We’re going to need another meeting, aren’t we?” he said.
Optimistic restrictions will ease
Mr Summers is hopeful his league’s non-negotiables will be met before they start entertaining the alternatives.
“The way the restrictions are going … spectators will be allowed access in the next few weeks, fingers crossed,” he said.
If the borders do not officially open, he is hoping for an exemption.
“It would then be full steam ahead for the 2020 season,” he said.
Western Border Netball Association president Jo Gibbs hopes the same for her teams.
Six teams compete in the Western Border Netball Association competition, including Casterton-Sandford.(Supplied: Western Border Netball League)
In a statement, SANFL head of community football Tom Hurley said the code will continue to assist community leagues confronted by border restrictions in trying to find a solution with Victorian-based clubs and players in their competition.
“We are, of course, hopeful that by the time the football season can commence both South Australia and Victoria are well positioned with the containment of COVID-19, allowing further relaxing of restrictions,” Mr Hurley said.
Ms Gibbs hopes to start the netball competition by August.
“We will wait for a little while yet before we say ‘okay, that’s just it now, we just can’t wait any longer’,” she said.
