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THE Loddon Valley Football-Netball League will use its Queen's Birthday long weekend general bye to play Saturday's round of matches that has had to be called off.

The LVFNL was due to play round eight on Saturday, but was forced to call off the games following the state government's announcement on Thursday of a seven-day lockdown across Victoria in response to an increase in COVID cases.

However, following a board meeting on Thursday night the LVFNL has opted to play round eight on its bye weekend of Saturday, June 12.

"By playing round nine as scheduled (June 5) and round eight on the long weekend in June, the LVFNL will complete the minimum number of nine rounds to constitute a viable premiership season," LVFNL chair Simon Tuohey said on Friday.

The LVFNL won't be changing its grand final date of September 11 to avoid disruption to other AFL Central Victoria region leagues.

Should the lockdown extend beyond the seven days and the season can't resume next weekend, the LVFNL will adopt the AFL Victoria COVID Functional Framework established earlier in the year which provides guidelines for leagues to deal with the impact of a COVID interruption on:

* a single round;

* consecutive rounds;

* multiple rounds;

* individual matches within a round;

* finals matches; and

* grand final.

"While these decisions may cause some concern, the long-term sustainability and integrity of all LVFNL clubs and the league is essential, together with the health and safety of our community," Tuohey said.

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