Wodonga coach Zac Fulford says he fears for the volunteers if the season proceeds.
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AFL Victoria revealed its Return to Small Outdoor Group Training Protocols last Tuesday, outlining a variety of guidelines for clubs, including at least one COVID-Safe Officer and a register for participants.
"The biggest issue is having enough support staff to ensure you're adhering to all the protocols," Fulford said.
"First of all, there's the attendance register and sanitiser on the way in that have to be strictly controlled.
"I've maintained that I want our young players to have the opportunity to play but I've always said from the outset that it can't be to the detriment of the club for 2021 and beyond.
"We don't want to burn out voluneteers with everything extra that has to be done.
"Volunteers within all of our clubs have become harder and harder to come by and there's a genuine fear we don't want to burn them out for the years to come."
Volunteers within all of our clubs have become harder and harder to come by and there's a genuine fear we don't want to burn them out for the years to come.
- Zac Fulford
Corowa-Rutherglen president Graham Hosier also expressed his fears of volunteer burnout last week when the regulations were issued.
"There's no doubt that the onerous expectations that will be placed on clubs for Return to Play will place more pressure on club volunteeers," O and M chairman David Sinclair said.
Hosier also said clubs were working on the theory that, if the season did start, clubs would need to clean the dressing rooms after the three games of football.
"There is nothing set in concrete in relation to cleansing of rooms between games," Sinclair said.
"However, it would seem that it would be an obvious expectation for Return to Play."
Given that workload, it could mean clubs would therefore require professional cleaners.
However, the league says that cost would have to be met by the club itself, which is likely to rule out most, if not all, considering the difficult financial circumstances.
Perhaps the clubs' reaction to last week's training protocols give an early indication of the workload on volunteers.
Clubs are allowed to start training on Monday, but not one of the 10 O and M outfits will resume.
Wodonga Raiders and Wangaratta will return to the track for the first time since March on Tuesday night with the rest returning over the next week.
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"We probably just wanted to give ourselves time to make sure we have all the protocols ticked off so when we do return, it is in a safe environment," Fulford said.
"We also just wanted to make sure we had enough information available."
AFL North East Border will meet with all regional leagues on June 3, with more information from the Victorian State Government expected prior to that.
