AFL Riverina has adopted a strong recommendation from the NSW government advising against people travelling to and from Border regions, which has left the first-year coach stranded.

He will still oversee training during the week, but the Ostriches have been forced to appoint Anthony Armstrong and Shayne Weidemann as co-coaches.

Last week Osborne president Jason Gooden confirmed the club had agreed to the league's request not to field Border-based players in the AFL Riverina Championships, which begins this Saturday.

Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes have followed suit, and also won't select some Sydney players in round one as a precaution, before reassessing the situation.

Football Wagga joined the chorus of leagues keen for the state government to make a definitive call on whether people could travel to and from the Border last week, before reluctantly opting to deny Albury City entry into this year's Pascoe Cup.

"That's what they've come up with I suppose, that's their rules and unfortunately it doesn't work well for us," Mackie said.

"That's all we can really do at the moment. I'll do the training and set the boys up. I hate how they (government) come out and say 'we recommend (you don't), but we won't stop you from travelling.' That's so grey, isn't it, it's why it's so frustrating."

Sydney and Canberra players have been given the green light to play this weekend, provided they adhere to a screening process to prove they don't live in, or have traveled to, any 'hot spots' outlined by the health department.

"If you're telling me no one from Albury is going to be up in Wagga on the weekend, you're kidding yourself," Mackie said.

"I think we'd assess the situation around the area too. If Albury was case after case and looking terrible, we'd definitely understand that and my club would say it's best you don't come.

"I think we assess each week and nothing's changed here (in Albury), it's nothing different to what's happening in Wagga.

"I'd be more worried about people coming out of Sydney or Canberra before we start worrying about Albury people. It's only because it's a recommendation from the government, and the way things are looking it should be them first instead of us.

"Until they can give us something black and white, it's frustrating."

AFL Southern NSW regional manager Marc Geppert said their only option is to follow advice set out by the government and AFL.

"They've been warned not to travel outside their Border region unless it's an essential reason. Obviously footy is not an essential reason," Geppert said.

"We understand Joel is coach of a senior footy club and it makes it a lot more difficult, but we'll continue to follow that advice. There's been some restrictions on the NSW side of the border, and that advice hasn't changed yet so our stance hasn't changed either.

"There hasn't been anything formally adopted from an AFL perspective. We can't endorse players and coaches to travel outside of that government advice."

Geppert said the six clubs competing will be asked to screen any travelling players deemed to be a risk this week.

"We'll go to the clubs and ask them to fill out a document. Any players we deem as a risk will go through that screening process," Geppert said.

"The guys who live and work locally we have no issues with. If some players have traveled to any of these hot spots or been in Victoria over the last 14 days, regardless of where they live, then obviously they'll have to follow the guidelines outlined by the NSW government.

"It's nothing too strenuous, double checking residential addresses and checking where they haven't traveled to any of those hot spots for work or what not.

"It's important we get our clubs to run through this screening process so we can eliminate the risk, and we're putting a lot of trust in the clubs to do the right thing."

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