Whether the Charles Sturt University campus is opened will determine how many teams Ag College will have in Southern Inland this season.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
While last year's beaten grand finalists will have a first grade side and a women's side, it is too early to tell if they will be able to fill teams in second and third grade.
President Tareq Sorial is hoping a decision will be made in the next week with the students keen to get back on the field.
"It is pretty hard to tell at the moment as it really depends on uni going back," Sorial said. "We had almost 40 first years and without campus living going back we are looking at one team but the uni is currently reassessing accommodation on campus and are likely to put out a statement at the beginning of next week.
"Hopefully we can get some numbers back for at least two teams in the comp."
Most of Ag College's more experienced players don't live on campus but depth of numbers is the biggest concern.
Southern Inland are looking at July 18 to start their competition.
It is a few weeks before second semester will begin and while university holidays are always a tricky period for the club, Sorial is confident they could get by in the short term.
"If we can be positive that everyone will be back on campus a couple weeks into the comp we can turn a few houses into hostels and get people down for weekends for the few first rounds of the season just to tide us over until uni comes back," he said.
"It will be after the season starts so if we don't have a definite lock in then we are looking at one team."
RELATED COVERAGE
Southern Inland clubs received the green light to start socially-distanced training from Monday.
Clubs had already been handed out requirements before approval was finalised from councils across the zone on Friday.
Sorial believes those still in Wagga are keen to get started.
"There is a lot of excitement about going back to footy but we will have a huge drop in numbers with no uni," he said. "Otherwise we are looking good getting all the bleach, disinfectant and hand sanitizer to get ready for what this new style of training is going to be like."
Sorial believes the timing couldn't be worse for the club after both first and second grade made it through to last year's grand final.
While many of their experienced players are approaching the end of university, 2020 shaped as a year to build on that platform with strong numbers coming in under new coach Jonno Andreou.
"Everyone is super keen and it is a real shame for all these first years," Sorial said.
"It was really a time for the club to blood a lot of new players and they were at every training and keen to play footy.
"Those living closer are still keen to be apart of it and for the older ones everyone is keen to get back to footy and back to a bit of normality."
READ MORE