FOOTBALL and netball competitions across the south-west will have to re-jig their final series after confirmation from AFL Western Victoria no games would be permitted this weekend.

AFL Western District general manager Matt Ross said it was a tough situation for leagues to bare.

It comes after COVID-19 cases were detected in Shepparton, another regional city.

The decision to cancel sport impacts the Hampden, Warrnambool and District, Mininera and District and South West District competitions.

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Warrnambool and District, Mininera and District and South West District were preparing for the first week of their final series.

Hampden was planning for its final Saturday home-and-away round and Sunday junior competition grand finals.

"Unfortunately I can confirm all community sport in regional Victoria has been directed to be cancelled effective from midnight tonight (Friday, August 20) which encompasses all of our affiliated competitions in the Western District," Ross wrote in a statement to media and stakeholders.

"The communication to us on this development has been very poor and I apologise that we haven't been able to provide this confirmation sooner - I have nothing official from the government I am able to share with you on this at this stage but we are informally told this is the situation.

"We send our best wishes out to all those in our strong footballing community. Amongst a general sense of sadness for everyone involved, we are feeling this evening for the juniors who were about to run out for perhaps their first ever finals match this weekend.

"We will do our best to support leagues to hopefully defer those special playing opportunities to a later point in time when it's permitted.

"At this stage, there is uncertainty as to when this restriction will lift."

The Hampden league also released a statement confirming another delay to its season.

"We encourage the entire HFNL community to continue supporting each other during this difficult time," it read.

Warrnambool and District league president Kylie Murphy has confirmed this weekend's qualifying and elimination finals are cancelled.

She said the league was officially advised to cancel by the state government earlier this evening.

The president said the league board met and decided cancelling was the right decision for this weekend.

Murphy said the league wasn't making any other decisions about the fate of the season at the moment.

She said the decision was made with a heavy heart.

Warrnambool and District Hockey Association secretary Mark Bridge also released a statement to its members.

"Like the rest of the state, we'll wait for confirmation of what that means tomorrow when we hear from the Premier, but for now, unfortunately, hockey is again on hold," it read.

"We understand how frustrating this is and we encourage all of our members to stay in touch with each other and support your teammates.

"We are indeed lucky to play a team sport and we know that you will make sure your mates are looked after.

"We're all here for each other and make sure you stay in touch with family and friends."

EARLIER:

South-west sporting leagues have been thrown into disarray with the state government requesting competitions not go ahead on Saturday due to the growing number of coronavirus cases in regional Victoria.

The call came late on Friday night.

A government spokeswoman told The Standard at 8.10pm community sport had been cancelled for the weekend.

"No-one wants to cancel it but...," she said.

She said more announcements would be made on Saturday.

She said the Department of Sport and Recreation was in the process of notifying sports.

The spokeswoman said all sports, not just team sports, were cancelled.

With the coronavirus outbreak in Shepparton growing to 12 cases, a decision on whether regional Victoria would be locked down again is expected on Saturday.

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Thousands of people in Shepparton and surrounding areas have been forced into isolation and several school campuses have closed after a man in his 30s tested positive on Friday morning.

Late Friday evening the state government said it had told community sporting leagues in regional Victoria to "immediately cancel their activities for this weekend".

The Victorian government says it will provide further advice to regional parts of the state on Saturday morning amid a growing number of cases outside of Melbourne.

Hampden Football Netball League media liaison officer Troy Logan said it was awaiting official advice.

"From a league perspective, we understand there is a lot of talk going around but we're waiting for official word from the Victorian government or AFL Victoria," he told The Standard before 8pm.

"We won't make any decision or take any action until that time."

The Hampden league is scheduled to play its final home-and-away round on Saturday. Its junior grand finals are scheduled for Sunday.

Warrnambool and District league has been contacted for comment.

The league's final series is meant to start this weekend with qualifying finals on Saturday and elimination finals on Sunday.