‘It’s very hard to keep everyone positive’: Country Victoria sports finals look unlikely after lockdown

Football and netball competitions in country Victoria are in danger of capitulating for a second consecutive season.

League officials were told last night the Victorian government was shutting down community sport due to COVID fears.

This preceded about the spread of COVID-19 in Australia:

“And the kids: they haven’t played for six or seven weeks. They were just keen to get out there.

“I’m not saying lockdown isn’t the right thing. It’s just the timing of it. Mental health — they speak about it a lot these days and it’s got to come into it. So maybe we should’ve called this at lunchtime [yesterday] rather than leave it right till this 11th hour.”

The Buchan club had already prepared food for the players and officials. Volunteers had to go to the social rooms last night and work until almost midnight to shut back down again.

The district suffered enormous grief and trauma from widespread bushfires before the pandemic.

Communal sport was providing a vital form of relief.