TRAVELLING players have been given the green light to play this weekend, but AFL Southern NSW regional manager Marc Geppert will seek clarification on where Sydney-based players stand as part of new recommendations sent out by the state government.
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Local sports competitions, including all four football codes and netball, are able to proceed on the weekend unaffected, with players travelling from other regions free to continue to play despite the tightening of coronavirus regulations for community sport.
The participation of travelling players in Riverina-based competitions including the AFL Riverina Championship was thrown into doubt when NSW Health released updated recommendations late last week including "ceasing activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different regions."
Travel within the Riverina is allowed, meaning the likes of Osborne and Leeton-Whitton are unaffected, while Border-based players also fall in the same region.
But players travelling from Sydney will be one among the biggest issues local officials will look to clarify in coming days.
"We've got some things we have to work through over the next week or so regarding some extra measures we need to implement, but obviously every week we get the green light to play is a massive bonus," Geppert said.
"Competitions can still be run within their local district and zone, and the boundaries are determined by the AFL. The AFL Riverina Championship in its current form is good to go, it's probably more so the travelling players from Sydney we'll need to clarify.
"Semi professional sports can continue and have a salary cap and paid players, so technically we can come under the semi-professional clause there. But with the recommendations given throughout, the onus is on the club and the individual to make the right decisions in regards to that.
"Most of the announcements have been centred around the Greater Sydney area, so we have to look at the Sydney players. We have been given a weekend's grace period by the NSW government to get this weekend through to the end of the round.
"We'll definitely seek clarity on the Sydney component and in footy terms it hasn't been a round by round proposition, it's been day by day.
"We've always said from the start we'll follow the health advice and while it hasn't been specifically called out about Sydney players, that's an area we need real clarity on."
Under the recommendations semi-professional sports, or where any sum of money is paid to players are unaffected, nor are community sports without salary caps such as soccer.
The issue of players travelling outside the region has been constantly evolving in the six-round, six-team AFL Riverina Championship.
Players residing in the Border were initially banned before that recommendation was quashed just before round two after the coronavirus situation in the region eased.
The bosses of state sports from rugby league, Australian Rules, rugby union, soccer, hockey and netball issued a joint signed statement on Wednesday night applauding the decision to keep community sport running.
The major changes include:
- Ceasing activities that result in the mixing of participants and staff from different regions, for example zone, regional or state championships;
- Ceasing activities that result in overnight stays, for example multi-day training camps;
- Ceasing face-to-face social activities, for example post training or post-match group dinners or awards functions;
- A recommendation participants avoid car pools or bus travel with people from different household groups where possible, and;
- Limiting spectators to one parent only where a child requires parental supervision during a sporting activity.
A NSWRL spokesperson said they're confident the season will be able to be completed as long as clubs continue to be diligent in adhering to regulations.
"There is no public health order saying they can't (travel)," the spokesperson said.
"There are certain recommendations about trying not to move between regions however it also says semi-professional sport is exempt so we can still keep playing."
The peak body has been pleased with how clubs have responded to the changing climate.
"The public health orders are still in place and there has been no change to those," the spokesperson said.
"According to those we can continue to play and we have been following the guidelines to the letter.
"There have been no outbreaks so we are confident we can keep going and finish the competition."
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