SOUTH-WEST football and netball fans can watch their teams play this weekend as the state government's restrictions for regional Victoria ease on Thursday.
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From Thursday at 11.59pm the maximum venue capacity for indoor sport venues is 300 and 1000 for outdoor, which is up from 150 last weekend.
Community sport is still limited to the people required to participate in and facilitate the activity and they will need to be included in the new cap.
A density quotient of one person per four-square-meters is also still in place for indoor venues.
Warrnambool and District league president Kylie Murphy welcomed the news of fans returning to venues across the region this Saturday.
"It's great to have them back to support clubs and have the community base at our clubs," she said.
"It will be welcoming for everyone to have that support there and to help finically as well as the clubs have found it tough the last two weeks.
"It will be good. Hopefully it continues and we can stay safe for rest of the season."
Hampden league president Garry Perrett said it was great to see crowds return.
"It (footy and netball) means a lot because people miss it and the volunteers get involved in clubs that's part of their life and to not have it is no good," he said.
"To get back and going again is sensational and I hope we don't have to lockdown again."
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The WDFNL will play round 11 this weekend with round nine expected to be rescheduled soon.
In Saturday's games Allansford hosts Nirranda, Dennington plays Timboon Demons, Merrivale welcomes Kolora-Noorat, Panmure battles Old Collegians and Russells Creek clashes with South Rovers.
The Hampden league will play round eight this weekend and round seven the following week before it takes its scheduled bye during the school holidays (July 3-4). Round 10 will be played after the bye
To realign the HFNL's Saturday and Sunday competitions the round 15 games for the junior draw have been brought forward to this weekend while round eight will be played the following week.
This weekend's games will see Cobden clash with South Warrnambool, Warrnambool travels to Port Fairy, Terang Mortlake host North Warrnambool Eagles, Hamilton Kangaroos face reigning premiers Koroit and Portland plays Camperdown.
AFL Western District regional manager Matt Ross said further clarity on the is required on the use of canteens and changerooms.
"The expectation is, at this stage, that they may be utilised as per previous conditions and subject to the usual density quotient measures," he said.
"AFL Victoria will revise the return to play protocols once the updated restricted activity directions are provided by the relevant departments.
"We also wish to thank the tireless efforts of all volunteers engaged at all levels through some trying times."
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