The fate of the Farrer and Riverina League seasons could take another twist at an AFL Riverina board meeting tonight in the face of a changing Covid-19 landscape.
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Coleambally have aired their concerns about the Farrer League amid the deteriorating situation in Victoria and an influx of players from the border.
AFL Riverina's Tuesday night meeting is for the board to consider the current 'return to play' guidelines issued by AFL NSW-ACT last week, and to take into account the closure of the NSW-Victoria border for the first time in a century.
The Blues said they'll wait until after the meeting before commenting on their commitment but the club has expressed concerns since players from the Hume, Ovens and Murray, and Tallangatta leagues started signing on to play.
"We don't think it's viable. It's just the whole situation with players coming up (from the Victorian border regions)," Coleambally president Glen Tooth said.
"With the players coming in, it's not a true Farrer League competition anyway. But safety is the major issue in our eyes. That's what we've spoken to AFL Riverina about. The safety of players and the community.
"Elderly people can't go to the game, with what's happening down there (in Victoria).
"Before they closed the borders, we don't know who's been going where, if people have gone to Melbourne for work from Albury.
"We've got an older community here (in Coleambally), we've got a nursing home, and an older generation living in town. Personally, I wouldn't want to be responsible for an outbreak happening here."
Tooth said Coleambally raised their concerns last week about the number of southern players coming in, and believes the subsequent decision to shut the border vindicates the club's position.
"We made some points (previously) about the virus and players coming in (from the leagues bordering Victoria) and how there's no way of keeping track of them. As it turns out, what we said is right," he said.
Coleambally also have concerns with the guidelines regarding a return to play including players encouraged to shower at home, and the potential pressure on volunteers.
"We can't ask people to go around enforcing the 1.5m rules, and players having only two or three in the change rooms," he said.
Barellan withdrew from the season a couple of weeks ago but Tooth said the Blues had hoped to be able to meet their commitments at that stage.
"Our numbers were looking okay. They weren't going to be in abundance, the numbers, but we could've fielded two teams and have a bit of fun," Tooth said.
"We've (now) had players voicing their concerns about health issues. And we're also concerned about the salary cap and the points system. The board has worked hard to make it a good even competition in recent years."
Meantime, Charles Sturt University could be hard hit by the border closure and AFL Riverina's confirmation that Victorian players won't be able to participate in the leagues.
"Definitely, that will affect 10 or 15 of our players," president Cam Humphries said.
He said the Bushpigs would still be hopeful of fielding two teams but said their depth will be affected.
"I've already five blokes confirm they won't be coming back at all. A couple are 1s boys and a few are seconds but we might have to make a few calls on a Friday or Saturday to get a few to come and pull on the boots," he said.
"I'm hoping that it won't get to us only having one team. I think we'll be right but we'll prepare with having a plan in place if we do have to go to one team. But I don't see that happening unless something drastic happens (with new quarantine or movement restrictions).
"It's very hard to say because they keep changing everything every day."