SUNRAYSIA Football Netball League is going to relocate games to Victorian grounds this weekend after the State Government eased restrictions on Wednesday.
But SFNL president Paul Matheson admitted clubs and officials will be "flying blind" given AFL Victoria has provided "no detail" on what COVID protocols will be in place for the Saturday matches.
Under eased restrictions announced by the government on Wednesday, up to 1000 patrons will be allowed at outdoor sporting events, but the SFNL remains in the dark on issues such as whether players can access change rooms.
"We are frustrated, absolutely," Matheson said. "AFL Victoria has said they will not make any comment until after it comes out at midnight on Thursday, but that is too late for clubs, players and volunteers to wait, so all we can do is push ahead and hope for the best.
"Sadly it has become the norm. Our expectations are that there will be a lack of detail. It is an unacceptable situation for us, but what do you do?"
The SFNL shifted all its games into New South Wales last weekend, where there are no crowd measures in place, and had planned to again play games in NSW this weekend on Saturday and Sunday before the Victorian Government eased restrictions.
The Millewa Football League also planned to shift games to NSW this weekend, but will now resume normal fixturing, starting on Friday night with a clash between Gol Gol and Werrimul underlights at Gol Gol in NSW. The other two games will be played in Victoria on Saturday.
SFNL executive officer Peter Walker said the preference for the SFNL's Victorian-based clubs was to host games at their own venues.
"The crowd limit of 1000 is excellent, but we still have to discuss with AFL Victoria some of the other COVID restrictions that may come with that," Walker told Sunraysia Daily.
"We still don't know if there will be any restrictions around using the changerooms or other facilities, for instance."
Other leagues in country Victoria, including the Hampden and Bendigo leagues, played in front of no crowds last weekend and players were forced to get changed in their cars and get straight back into their cars and go home after the game.
Matheson hoped the protocols put in place were workable for clubs and officials.
"We are flying blind, but we will push ahead and I'm sure clubs and the league will make it work," he said.
"It is unfair on families and clubs to make them wait until Friday lunchtime for a decision. We were going to have Saturday and Sunday games this weekend (on the NSW grounds), but everything will now again be back to normal on Saturday, so even with that, clubs need time to prepare.
"I think as a league we have done fairly well with where we are at. Clubs have been so flexible and I have used that word 'resilience' through this. There has been that 'can-do' attitude."
This weekend's SFNL games have reverted back to normal fixturing on Saturday, with Red Cliffs to host Wentworth, Mildura to host Ouyen United, Irymple to host South Mildura and Robinvale Euston to host Merbein in Robinvale.
MEANWHILE, the Millewa Footbal League will resume normal fixturing this weekend.
MILLEWA FOOTBALL LEAGUE FIXTURE
Friday, June 18
Gol Gol v Werrimull at Carramar Drive Oval, Gol Gol.
Saturday, June 19
Bambill v Meringur at Mildura Senior College.
Cardross v Nangiloc at Cardross Oval, Cardross.
