SWVFA rep teams gutted as country championships postponed again

It comes after the 2021 country championships - the pinnacle tournament for regional teams - was postponed for a second time.

The Geelong tournament was originally scheduled for the Queen's Birthday long weekend in June before it was postponed until October 1-3.

The Country Leagues Football Association has postponed the three-day event again until the June 2022 long weekend due to coronavirus pandemic restrictions.

The tournament, which sees the state's best non-metropolitan sides meet, will stay in Geelong.

Lim said it was vital youngsters had something to look forward to for their mental health.

He said it could be devastating for them to keep having something taken away from them.

"I really feel for the kids," he said.

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He said the association was in discussion with other regions such as Bendigo and Sunraysia about the possibility of a gala day.

"We would love to get something in before the end of the year," he said.

The coordinator said SWVFA was looking at getting the representative teams involved in multiple competitions next year.

It was destined to be a special country championships in early October which adds to the disappointment.

The championships haven't been held since 2019 due to the pandemic and SWVFA was sending under 15 boys, under 16 girls and under 17 boys' teams.

The association was sending a girls' team for the first time.

So much had been invested in the campaigns with the three squads training once a fortnight, when the pandemic allowed.

"It's an enormous commitment for the parents and children," Lim said.

Adding to the challenge, as Lim explained, is the SWVFA covers the largest geographic area in terms of country championship regions.

The squads are made up of players from Warrnambool to as far as Stawell. Training was held at different locations throughout the region to make it fair on all players.

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