OVENS and Murray chairman David Sinclair fears the sport will pay a big price if the coronavirus pandemic wipes out the 2020 season.
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Sinclair said players and supporters could be lost forever if realistic restrictions aren't put into place by the government later this month.
He believes August 8 is the latest the season can start with 500 spectators, plus participants, required to make the competition viable.
"Not just the Ovens and Murray, but football in general needs continuity so people don't get into other habits and all of a sudden it becomes a secondary thing," Sinclair said.
"That extends from leisure activity through to tradies who do cash jobs at the weekend.
"All of a sudden if these guys can see they can make a bob over the weekend, footy mightn't be the priority."
Things are starting to move reasonably quickly now which is encouraging
- David Sinclair
Eight of the Ovens and Murray's 10 clubs resumed training last week with North Albury and Wodonga to reboot their seasons over the next 48 hours.
Sinclair said the league hoped to have enough information to make a decision on the season by the end of June.
"It's a balancing act," he said.
"We will leave it as late as we can to make a call but we don't want to go into July still not knowing whether it's going to happen in late July or early August or whenever.
"Things are starting to move reasonably quickly now which is encouraging.
"A lot has happened in the past week or so.
"June 22 is a big date, particularly for Victoria, when restrictions are supposed to open up more."