GOULBURN Valley League officials have rushed to shut down speculation of a July 18 start date for the 2020 season.
Late on Monday night, a post on the Rochester Football Netball Club Facebook page stated the league was aiming to start an 11-round season in mid-July.
However, GVL operations manager Jo Spencer said several fixturing options remained on the table.
“We've floated lots of ideas of how a season might look, but Rochester took it upon itself to post that,” she said.
“All clubs are really keen to play, but we just have to ensure the health and safety of everyone involved first and foremost. That date has not come from the league, there's been discussions but there's been other dates and other possibilities of how a season might look.
“We've had discussion of tentative dates, but that is certainly not concrete. The league position is as it what per our statement last week, we're waiting to see what restrictions are changed, some were changed on Sunday and we'll wait on those changes scheduled for around June 8.”
On Tuesday, News Corp reported that AFL Victoria had requested an exemption from the state government to allow 500 fans to attend matches – an approach the state’s governing body denied being made.
“That’s us going to the government. That’s not the government agreeing to it,’’ the source is reported to have said.
“It is 500 people. That would well and truly cover if off.’’
EARLIER
A POTENTIAL start date has been touted for the beginning of the 2020 Goulburn Valley League season.
A post on the Rochester Football Netball Club Facebook page revealed, league officials were targeting a return to action on Saturday, July 18.
"The GVFNL is still aiming to start play on July 18, playing an 11 round season with the grand final on Saturday October 17 or Sunday 18," the post said.
"This is reliant on crowds being allowed as it is not country football or netball without crowds."
The news comes after the Tigers confirmed training is set to resume later this week.
"The new netball lights will be blazing this week with the girls returning to training on Thursday," the Facebook post said,
"The footballers will be back tomorrow night with "Stroobs" (coach Steven Stroobants) keen to see what fitness levels the guys have maintained.
"Training will follow strict COVID-19 rules with players asked to make sure you bring your own drink bottles and come prepared as the change rooms will not be open.
"You will be training in groups of no more than 10.
"This is step one of getting back to community sport."
14°C