READ MORE - "If we miss this opportunity this week, who knows if you could get another one." - NCFL to resume on Saturday

WYCHEPROOF-Narraport opted against returning to the field in front of no spectators in the North Central Football League's season re-start on Saturday.

The Demons forfeited their football games against Sea Lake Nandaly and will do so again against Charlton next Saturday unless there is a change to Victorian restrictions that will allow crowds back to sporting events earlier than announced.

Following a two-week standstill due to lockdown 5.0, the NCFL resumed its competition on Saturday under restrictions that banned spectators, apart from only those necessary to attend, such as carers, parents and guardians. Those same restrictions are also to remain for next weekend.

Wycheproof-Narraport secretary Rory White on Saturday night said the Demons - who were to play an away game against Sea Lake Nandaly - deemed it unviable to play without crowds.

"As a club we've looked at it and it's just not financially viable to play footy without a crowd," White said.

"We put that to the league last year that we wouldn't play footy without crowds... it's just not financially sustainable.

"We would have got two sides (seniors and reserves) no worries, but while there's no crowds we've decided not to play because it's a big outlay to put sides on the field.

"Also, we've got a number of blokes from Melbourne coming to play with us and Wyche had a bit of a COVID scare the other week with the bakery and we didn't think it was in our interest to put the community at risk again by bringing up players out of Melbourne.

"Football isn't just about going out and kicking the footy, there's the social side of it and with no crowds, that's obviously taken away.

"It was a tough decision to make being a proud club, but it's one that we stand by."

If crowds are permitted to return on August 14 for what would be the final round of the NCFL season, White said the Demons would be back on the field for their away game against Boort.

Meanwhile, the four finalists are now set in stone, it's just a matter of their finishing order.

Sea Lake Nandaly (36), Wedderburn (34) and Birchip-Watchem (32) are all separated by just one game from first to third with two rounds remaining, while Donald (22) will finish fourth.

Donald locked up its finals berth with a 78-point win over St Arnaud on Saturday.

Led by six goals from Brendan Goss, the Royals won 19.16 (130) to 8.4 (52), and with fifth-placed Boort losing by 24 points to Wedderburn now have a 10-point buffer inside the top four.

Wedderburn downed the Magpies 9.11 (65) to 6.5 (41), while Birchip-Watchem dominated after half-time to comfortably beat Charlton 16.14 (110) to 6.6 (42).

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