As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic bring the region's netball and football seasons to a halt, Corowa-Rutherglen coach Georgie Bruce admits it's not just players and coaches who will feel lost in the coming weeks.
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Bruce said for many country towns, Saturday sport provides a social element that brings supporters and community members together, with many communities already dealing with the affects of drought and bushfires.
With the Ovens and Murray and District leagues all postponed until at least May 31, she admits the downtime may highlight the importance local sport has on communities.
"As humans, I think we find comfort in predictability.
"The ladies that have been cooking cakes for 20 years straight for the canteen suddenly don't have to.
"It's easy from a coach or player point of view to say it's a shame after so many weeks of training, but at the end of the day, it's a much bigger picture."
The Roos head into the season off the back of one of the most successful years the netball club has seen.
After a solid pre-season and retaining majority of the A-grade side's core group, Corowa-Rutherglen look to be on track for another solid year.
"Obviously when I had to announce it everyone was pretty flat," Bruce said.
"We'd been building up momentum and had played three weeks of a four week pre-season competition and knew we were starting in a couple of weeks.
"We were starting to hit our straps and be comfortable with beginning the season.
"Now it's just about keeping their own individual fitness, being disciplined and having that support team from afar.
"As a coach, it's my job to check in on the welfare of the players."
Like many, Bruce said she's never seen a season impacted so heavily in her time playing and coaching.
