SOUTH-WEST football and netball seasons are under a cloud after the Victorian government announced restrictions permitting training but no play would stay for the remainder of September.
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Regional Victoria was on Wednesday released from lockdown but strict public health measures remained in place as officials work to curtail the spread of COVID-19.
The south-west will be officially released from lockdown on Thursday night at 11.59pm.
Several south-west leagues - including the Hampden, Warrnambool and District, Mininera and District and South West District - in recent weeks announced plans for modified finals should regional areas been lifted from the statewide shutdown.
The Hampden league was planning to play its decider on Friday, September 24, while the Warrnambool and District league had September 18 pencilled in for its grand final.
But the latest relief in restrictions, which came on the back of 246 new cases, said outdoor community sport could only resume practice.
Only the minimum number of people required to train are permitted to attend. Spectators are also prohibited except one parent needed to supervise a child.
Hampden league media liasion officer Troy Logan said it would make a decision on its season shortly.
"We need a day or two to digest and will meet before the end of the week to confirm what it means for the Hampden league," he said.
Warrnambool and District league president Kylie Murphy said Wednesday's announcement wasn't a great sign for the competition.
"It's good that people can go out and train but probably bad news for us on hearing that community sport probably won't get opened up until the end of september which probably impacts our grand final which is meant to be on the 18th, which is disappointing," she said.
The league is now counting on restrictions easing further next week for there to be any play.
Murphy said the board wasn't planning to meet about the future of the season because it had already made its plan for finals. She said the board wouldn't be changing from that plan.
She reiterated the top sides would be awarded the minor premiership flag if there was no more play.
The president said the board didn't feel it needed to change its plan because clubs have known where they have stood since August 31.
Murphy said she didn't think it was fair on players' mental and physical health to keep them holding out for play.
Mininera and District league president John Box said he planned to meet with the league board on Friday night to discuss the future of the season.
"It's dragging on a fair bit," he said.
"I think everyone has forgotten the regional country football, really.
"It really annoys me, actually."
Box said he understood where the state government was coming from with its restrictions and that everyone was in the same boat. But he said it was nonetheless frustrating.
Western Victoria Female Football League administrator Mike Farrow said he will contact South Warrnambool, Portland and Horsham Demons to determine if they will reschedule its postponed grand finals.
South Warrnambool's junior and senior teams were to play the Demons and Tigers respectively in the league's deciders on August 22.
They were postponed after the government advised clubs on August 20 to cancel all plans as regional Victoria re-entered lockdown.
Farrow said the cut off date for playing the deciders was October 2. If the games are not played before then no flags will be awarded but the minor premierships will still be recognised.
Night games are also an option for the league to crown its champions.
Both indoor training and competition is completely outlawed.
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