The BFNL under-18 football and 17-and-under netball seasons will start this Saturday, but clubs, participants and spectators have been warned that the seasons could be cut short if COVID-19 guidelines are not met.
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The fixture was released on Tuesday, with nine rounds to be played between July 25 and September 19. The structure of the finals series is still to be determined.
Double-headers will be played at the Queen Elizabeth Oval each Saturday, with the first games starting at 11.30am (football), 11.45am (netball) and the second leg starting at 2.30pm (football) ad 2.45pm (netball).
Gisborne is not participating in the football or netball competitions, leaving four games to be played each round.
"Our primary focus is preparing to return in a safe, educated and well prepared environment,'' BFNL manager Cameron Tomlins said in a statement.
"If current Victorian state government/AFL Victoria/Netball Victoria protocols cannot be achieved or relevant medical advice changes, we may not be able to proceed with a season."
Some of the guidelines set for players, officials and spectators:
- If you, or people you have been in contact with are sick, do not attend any training or games;
- People who present with symptoms will be sent home immediately;
- Any person wishing to attend training or games that has underlying health conditions or is considered a vulnerable person should consult with a healthcare professional prior to attending;
- Only spectators necessary to support participation should attend training and competitions, and must abide by current group gathering restrictions;
- Where venues allow for vehicle access surrounding the venue, spectators are encouraged to remain in their vehicle where possible (subject to Government advice regarding risk for spectators viewing from vehicles, e.g. cohabiting family/household members only);
- Spectators for training and competitions must abide by public gathering restrictions - spectators should be in groups of no more than 10 people in open, outdoor venues and spread out around the ground or venue;
- Spectators must keep 1.5 metres apart;
- Venues will only be accessible from 30 minutes prior to each match, and must be vacated as soon as possible, within a maximum of 30 minutes post-match;
- Changing rooms (player/umpire), social rooms, canteens will not be open or operational. All participants must turn up ready to play, with a strict get in, play, get our policy in force;
- Only players and officials are allowed on the ground during matches, including breaks, and at training. No spectators are permitted on grounds for any reason during breaks, or after the match. Social gatherings and mingling before or after training and games is not permitted;
- Any tasks that can be done at home should be done at home - including team meetings, warm ups/stretching, taping, showering, warm-downs/stretching etc;
- It is recommended that Grandstands are not used in venues that have them;
- Any non-compliance to the Victorian State Government/AFL Victoria/Netball Victoria direction and restrictions may be reported to Victoria Police, and any game could be abandoned as a consequence if deemed necessary;
- All players and club officials are strongly encouraged to download the Government's COVID-19 tracing app.
Fixture for the footy and netball seasons:
ROUND 1
Saturday, July 25
Golden Square v Kangaroo Flat (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Maryborough v Castlemaine (Mb)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Eaglehawk v South Bendigo (Eh)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kyneton bye
.............................................
ROUND 2
Saturday, August 1
Sandhurst v Maryborough (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
South Bendigo v Castlemaine (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk (KF)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kyneton v Golden Square (Kyn)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Strathfieldsaye bye
.............................................
ROUND 3
Saturday, August 8
Eaglehawk v Golden Square (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
Sandhurst v South Bendigo (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Castlemaine v Kangaroo Flat (Cm)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Strathfieldsaye v Kyneton (St)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Maryborough bye
.............................................
ROUND 4
Saturday, August 15
Eaglehawk v Kyneton (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
Golden Square v Castlemaine (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst (KF)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Maryborough v Strathfieldsaye (Mb)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
South Bendigo bye
.............................................
ROUND 5
Saturday, August 22
Strathfieldsaye v South Bendigo
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
Sandhurst v Golden Square
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Eaglehawk v Castlemaine (Eh)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kyneton v Maryborough (Ky)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kangaroo Flat bye
.............................................
ROUND 6
Saturday, August 29
South Bendigo v Maryborough (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
Kangaroo Flat v Strathfieldsaye (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Eaglehawk v Sandhurst (Eh)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30pm
Castlemaine v Kyneton (Cm)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30pm
Golden Square bye
.............................................
ROUND 7
Saturday, September 5
Sandhurst v Castlemaine (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
Strathfieldsaye v Golden Square (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Maryborough v Kangaroo Flat (Mb)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kyneton v South Bendigo (Kyn)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Eaglehawk bye
.............................................
ROUND 8
Saturday, September 12
Kangaroo Flat v Kyneton (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
Eaglehawk v Maryborough (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Castlemaine v Strathfieldsaye (Cm)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Golden Square v South Bendigo (GS)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Sandhurst bye
.............................................
ROUND 9
Saturday, September 19
Strathfieldsaye v Eaglehawk (QEO)
football 11.15am, netball 11.30am
South Bendigo v Kangaroo Flat (QEO)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Kyneton v Sandhurst (Kyn)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Maryborough v Golden Square (Mb)
football 2.30pm, netball 2.45pm
Castlemaine bye
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