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THE Heathcote District Football-Netball League has pushed its grand final date back by a fortnight to give it the chance of completing a full 18-round home and away season.
The HDFNL grand final has been switched from September 4 to Saturday, September 18.
The HDFNL has essentially taken over what had been the Bendigo league's original grand final date.
The BFNL last week announced it was shifting its grand final from September 18 to Friday, September 24.
All the fixture re-shuffling has been made in the wake of the past two weekends of competition being called off due to COVID lockdown restrictions.
But there is a path back to leagues resuming, with the state government announcing on Wednesday as part of its further easing of regional restrictions from 11.59pm Thursday night that senior sport can re-commence competition.
The HDFNL's decision to push its grand final date back a fortnight was ratified at a meeting with clubs on Tuesday night.
"There is still a bit to work through in relation to ratifying the draw, but ultimately, we have pushed our grand final back, which gives us options throughout this unknown period," HDFNL chairman Peter Cole said.
"Of course, our main focus is to get back up and running as soon as we can and we are hopeful that will be this weekend."
There is still a bit to work through in relation to ratifying the draw, but ultimately, we have pushed our grand final back, which gives us options throughout this unknown period
- Peter Cole - HDFNL chairman
The HDFNL will pick up its season from the two rounds that were called off over the past fortnight - rounds eight and nine - re-scheduling those games immediately to complete a full set of matches where all teams have played each other once.
Clubs received a ratified fixture on Wednesday afternoon in which the home and away season culminates on August 21 before the finals begin on Saturday, August 28.
Meanwhile, although the state government has given the green light for senior community sport to re-commence from Friday, clubs this weekend won't be permitted to play their Melbourne-based players.
In announcing a further easing of restrictions, acting premier James Merlino said travel from metro-Melbourne into regional Victoria continued to remain off limits.
Those restrictions have a significant impact on the Heathcote District league, which has four clubs - White Hills (11), Heathcote (10) and Colbinabbin (10) - with at least 10 players that would have to be ruled out.
Among the impacted players are two of the league's senior coaches - White Hills' Sam Kerridge and Leitchville-Gunbower's Cameron Van Florestein.
An AFL Victoria spokesman said on Wednesday questions relating to the travel restriction - such as does it impact a player who lives in regional Victoria, but has been working in Melbourne during lockdown - would be addressed in the next set of return to play protocols to be released ahead of the resumption of competition.
* How the AFLCV clubs are impacted by the Melbourne travel restrictions:
BENDIGO LEAGUE:
Castlemaine - 0 players.
Eaglehawk - 4.
Gisborne - 12.
Golden Square - 1.
Kangaroo Flat - 0.
Kyneton - 17.
Maryborough - 4.
Sandhurst - 1.
South Bendigo - 4.
Strathfieldsaye - 3.
TOTAL - 43.
.............................................
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT:
Colbinabbin - 10.
Elmore - 2 (both related to interstate travel).
Heathcote - 10.
Huntly - 6.
Leitchville-Gunbower - 5.
LBU - 2.
Mount Pleasant - 9.
North Bendigo - 6.
White Hills - 11.
TOTAL - 61.
.............................................
LODDON VALLEY:
BL-Serpentine - 0.
Bridgewater - 0.
Calivil United - 3 (2 related to interstate travel).
Inglewood - 1.
Maiden Gully YCW - 2.
Marong - 2.
Mitiamo - 3 (all related to interstate travel).
Newbridge - 1.
Pyramid Hill - 2.
TOTAL - 14.
.............................................
NORTH CENTRAL:
Birchip-Watchem - 5.
Boort - 5.
Charlton - 7.
Donald - 13.
Sea Lake Nandaly - 3.
St Arnaud - 6.
Wedderburn - 2.
Wyche-Narraport - 10.
TOTAL - 51
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