"We had a season launch planned, we had 200 last year and were expecting a few more," he said.

"Then there's the Easter game (against Wangaratta Rovers) and we had our 50-year premiership reunion scheduled for round three (against Corowa-Rutherglen), which had another 300-plus.

"And in round six, we had a night game planned against Wangaratta and that night game was our second biggest crowd last year.

"At a guess, we're looking at $50,000 over that time, $50,000 to $60,000."

Myrtleford attracted one of the season's biggest home and away crowds against Rovers last Easter with an estimated 2750 - almost the population of the league's smallest centre.

Both teams are again expected to be top five contenders so, given at least reasonable weather and the home debut of former GWS ruckman Dawson Simpson, the match could have realistically topped 3000.

Following AFL recommendations, all league's outside the elite level were banned until May 31.

Despite losing so many 'big ticket' events, Wales says the proud Saints will survive.

"We've suffered worse, there's been plenty of times where the doors nearly shut," he said.

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"(In the late 80s) if the players didn't play for nothing, the club was going to close, we were that far in debt."

Corowa-Rutherglen will also take a major hit as it was to host premiers Lavington on Easter Saturday.

"On a good Easter, we go through 80 to 90 slabs (beer sales)," president Graham Hosier said.

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"Money-wise, I'd prefer to keep that in-house, but it's not quite a third of what the canteen makes over a year.

"It's just a social occasion for people who are staying in Corowa, gate-wise, you can have a couple of thousand people there."

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