By Nick Creely
The AFL Outer East (AFLOE) competition is striving for a return to competition this week, adamant that it can push ahead with the season despite the obstacles of Covid-19 restrictions and the storms that have heavily impacted the Yarra Ranges.
AFL Outer East region general manager Aaron Bailey told the Gazette that the league and the clubs are desperate to get back into competition this weekend, with a commission meeting on Wednesday night also expected to shed more light into the league’s plans.
“Everyone’s really keen, we want to get the season restarted this weekend hopefully,” he said.
“We understand it’s a really challenging period, but we’re working really hard with the clubs.
“At this stage, our message to the clubs is to prepare to play.”
Bailey said that the league was essentially at the mercy of the Victorian State Government announcements in regards to the easing of restrictions as to whether competition could restart this weekend.
“We’re waiting on more information from the state government, but for us we’d need for the removal of the 25km rule, and the regional-metro split to go ahead,” he said.
“If those restrictions aren’t lifted, it’s untenable this weekend, but we’re trying to play and working with the clubs.
“For us, the best case scenario is this weekend.”
In terms of expected crowd caps if community sport competitions are given the all clear, Bailey said he was confident that the issues that could be created as a result are manageable.
It’s expected that if crowds are to be permitted this weekend, the restriction will be for 150 people, with an ‘in and out’ approach on the day.
“We think that a crowd cap for this weekend would be fine, and we’ll work with the clubs,” he said.
“But any longer and that could have some challenges. The league can put steps into place to help the clubs.”
More information from AFL Victoria is expected this week in regards to the caps, which will impact on canteen and bar sales, gate takings and post-match activities.
Another obstacle is the storms that battered the state last week, with some heavily impacted communities in the Yarra Ranges still without power and facing a lengthy clean up.
Bailey said that while a lot of the football and netball clubs within those communities – in particular Olinda Ferny Creek and Yarra Glen – there was a genuine desire to get local sport, which is the heartbeat of communities, back in some way, shape or form.
He reiterated that the league will be flexible and continue to support and work through the issues with clubs.
“The storms have certainly heavily affected those communities,” he said.
“A lot of clubs still don’t have any power, but as a league we feel that the return of footy and netball could be a real blessing for those communities.”
