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EAGLEHAWK coach Travis Matheson has May 11 circled on his calendar, hopeful that will be when he can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel as far as a 2020 BFNL season.
May 11 shapes as a pivotal date for community football-netball leagues when the pathway for 2020 is expected to become clearer by the government, health authorities and AFL Victoria.
Currently, all competitions are on hold until May 31 and all training and club activities have been banned since March 17 due to the coronavirus crisis, with all leagues, players and supporters now eagerly awaiting May 11 and the next government review of gathering restrictions.
"Once May 11 rolls around, hopefully soon after that we might be able to get back into some group work," Matheson said on Wednesday.
"When you're training in a group it can increase your motivation and probably make you a bit more accountable as well."
At the moment stage three gathering restrictions in Victoria means any football-netball training away from a club for a season that may or may not go ahead is restricted to no more than just two people.
The Bendigo Football-Netball League remains hopeful of a shortened 2020 season starting in potentially late June or early July and is seeking feedback from coaches on what would be a suitable lead-in period if a green light is given.
"From my perspective, we'd do whatever is needed to just get a season in. If it means at a worst case you only trained for a week and then fronted up and played, I don't think any of our boys would be complaining," Matheson said.
From my perspective, we'd do whatever is needed to just get a season in. If it means at a worst case you only trained for a week and then fronted up and played, I don't think any of our boys would be complaining
- Travis Matheson - Eaglehawk coach
Meanwhile, the Heathcote District Football-Netball League has a board meeting scheduled for May 12 where it hopes to finally be able to give its clubs the definitive direction on 2020 that is being craved.
It's likely though that no crowds at games will mean no season in the HDFNL, but if 2020 does go ahead, it will be at a significantly slashed salary cap.
The HDFNL has supported the AFL recommendation of two stages of salary cap reductions.
Stage one is a 50 per cent reduction of the existing salary cap, followed by a further pro rata deduction based on the number of matches.
The HDFNL salary cap was set for $130,000 this year, which would be cut back to $65,000 under the stage one recommendation and then to $32,500 if half-a-season (eight home and away games per club) is played at an average of $4062 per game.
Meanwhile, AFL Victoria community football development manager Stephen O'Donohue has written to local leagues indicating the second week of May (of which May 11 is the Monday) for a more "robust update" on season 2020 once the AFL has announced its plans.
"Pleasingly, governments across Australia are well aware that it will be vital for local sport to resume and reconnect support networks that are currently stretched or not operating," O'Donohue wrote.
"We continue to focus on being aligned with the advice of the government and the relevant medical authorities and are ensuring everything we do protects the health and safety of our participants and wider community.
"We look forward to being able to provide a more robust update to you following the planned elite game announcement in the second week of May."
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