MANGOPLAH-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes coach Jeremy Rowe has his fingers crossed his travelling players will be able to continue playing after this week as the coronavirus goalposts continue to change.
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The AFL Riverina Championship was effectively given a grace period to allow clubs to field travelling players this weekend, with AFL Southern NSW reginal manager Marc Geppert confirming they will seek clarification next week, in particular for Sydney players.
The Goannas have played Sydney-based former juniors Harry and Jack Collins this year, while Canberra's Kieran Shea and Nick Collins have been heavily influential around halfback.
Neither will play in Saturday's vital road clash at Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, with Harry failing to overcome a lower back issue.
MCUE has aborted hopes to qualify Sydney-based defender Nick McCormack for finals after he was a late withdrawal from the round three win over Turvey Park.
NSW Health issued recommendations late last week advising against participants travelling from region to region, but Rowe is hopeful he will avoid having to overlook his travelling players.
"It's well documented it's a six or seven player swing for us (if travelling players are ruled out), and as it stood on Wednesday we didn't know who we had or who to pick," he said.
"But it was definitely good news, and not just for us but the competition and the standards we're trying to maintain for the rest of it.
"It's more so you think about the individual in these situations. Of course you want to put your best team on the paddock and you want to win, but we're very lucky to have travelling guys who are heavily invested in our club and the team.
"The Collins boys are Mangoplah through and through, and you only hope for them that they can finish.
"But as we've said all along we have to follow rules and restrictions that the government and experts have put forward and we'll continue to fall in line as things progress."
Rowe was heavily critical of his team's purpose and conviction in last week's home loss to Wagga Tigers, particularly early on when they failed to handle the Tigers' pressure.
Lachie Kendall will return to MCUE's midfield, which should help offset the lost of Collins.
The Goannas and Lions both have a 2-2 record, with the victor to virtually seal a finals spot but also keep their top two chances alive leading into next week's last round.
Mangoplah-Cookardinia United-Eastlakes finishes a tough run home with a road trip to Leeton-Whitton in the last round.
