The night before, he had met with Henwood Park and reassured them that every precaution and measure had been put in place to guarantee everyone's safety after Albury City FC had been granted entry into the Pascoe Cup.

But the goalposts changed again.

The NSW government issued a directive strongly advising against travelling to and form border towns. City's scheduled round one game with Tolland was cancelled and called a draw, and the club's participation is now in doubt.

It's just one of several occasions Football Wagga has had to adjust on the run as they worked frantically to defy the odds and get a season off the ground.

As the coronavirus pandemic continued to throw punch after punch, the Football Wagga board and passionate club committees have worked enormous hours ducking each jab coming their way.

Whether they've executed a knockout on the pesky virus is yet to be seen, but what we do know is they'll still be standing after round one this weekend.

I called Dobbin on Wednesday after the NSW government directive advising against travelling to and from border towns came through.

He was in the middle of writing an email to clubs that a risk assessment had been done and they were comfortable with their position.

"Then I got an email asking 'have you seen this article?'," Dobbin said. "Sometimes it's good to be late."

When community sport was first shut down in March, it seemed near impossible a season of relevant length would get off the ground.

Football Wagga's first mission was to check with players they were still keen for a season, and a survey was distributed asking opinions on the key issues.

The responses indicated most players were still keen for a season, although plenty have decided the shorter season isn't value for money.

"The goal posts have changed a lot. We'll make a decision one week and something different will come out the next," Dobbin said.

"Some changes were minor, others were major. Some teams said they can't put teams in certain grades because we no longer have enough players.

"Even as late as yesterday we've had a couple of clubs pull teams on us, because the draw doesn't suit them any more.

"It's been a logistical nightmare and yes, people are tearing their hair out. When we make a decision on what's in front of us, it doesn't suit all clubs and players.

"In terms of fees for players, Football Wagga has set costs, so even if there's no season we still have to meet those very large costs.

"That's always been the undercurrent and tension there. Some players, and I don't blame them, questioned if it's worth it.

"Mums and dads lost their jobs or have less hours and at the end of the day we weren't able to reduce fees by much, so some players left in the belief it's not value for money."

Club committees have found it extremely tough to navigate through each dramas. Some players wanted their registration refunded. Some sponsors stayed on board, but couldn't support their club financially after doing it tough themselves.

The training protocols teams have had to adhere to are tedious and strict, but most have done the right thing to make sure they can play the game they love.

Wagga City Council negotiated on their behalf with Cricket NSW to have grounds available for a few weeks longer than usual, and an official compromise was struck state-wide.

Dobbin has been participating in four Zoom meetings per week. Each club has been given the chance to voice their opinions, and there's been plenty of disagreements, but it's been a democratic process to deliver a senior season which will extend until October 25.

"Having clubs talk to us by Zoom means non-Wagga clubs don't have to travel, or those who don't usually attend because of that can take part," Dobbin said.

"And country associations like us are now fully participating in Football NSW meetings.

"However it's quite dreadful to be chairing meetings and seeing people with wine and plates of cheese and bikkies. I'm trying to focus as they walk to the fridge and grab another beer.

"We consult as much as possible but we've had a lot of people come back and say 'why have you done this?" and usually that's because they don't have all the information at hand."

The hard work hasn't gone unnoticed by the players, who will end the longest and most tedious pre-season of their lives this weekend.

The vast majority were impressed by the move to introduce a 'cup' and 'plate' format, which allows every team to play finals and maximise the number of games played in a shortened season.

Each team will play 12 matches plus finals, the most of any of the local football codes.

"Full credit to the Football Wagga board, I don't think everybody fully contemplates how many hours they've put in just so we can play a game," Lake Albert goalkeeper and board member Hayden Callander said.

"From a club point of view our biggest challenge was making sure we followed the rules at training. But from an association point of view, it was the number of meetings they had to do and with the rules changing all the time for a month or so.

"When the schedule came out I rang Tony and said 'that's really well done'. To see they've maximised the games in the environment we're in is really clever.

"Full credit to them. There's only five or six of them on that board. To do that just so we can have a game is appreciated by the players."

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