Momentum is shifting for the league to start a season with one of the clubs' most respected administrators throwing his support behind a return.
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Wangaratta Rovers' football operations manager Barry Sullivan, who was the driving force behind the club's stunning 2012 recruitment of Sydney Swans' premiership captain Barry Hall just months after his AFL retirement, suggests the O and M could take note of the NRL's 'the show will go on' mentality.
"I guess my point there is around trying to identify unique aspects of (COVID-19) conditions up this way," he said.
"There's been minimal coronavirus activity in the whole region and we need to be trying to find ways to make it happen, rather than just listen to the directives of State and Federal Governments and how that fIlters down through the AFL Commission down to AFL Victoria, AFL North East Border and then to the Ovens and Murray.
"I think we must try and help them find a way for us to go forward.
There's been minimal coronavirus activity in the whole region and we need to be trying to find ways to make it happen.
- Barry Sullivan
"I just see this as an ideal opportunity for regional areas to get a leg-up and get some preferential treatment in that regard.
"The whole environment is, I guess from my point of view, less risky in the whole Border and North East."
The Victorian Government's COVID-19 release on Monday recorded a positive case at a Bright nursing home, but that's the region's first since April 11.
One of the O and M's most forward-thinking officials, Sullivan outlined a host of reasons why football should continue, including:
- Plenty of outdoor space to cater for social distance protocols, allowing for 500 spectators, players, etc
- There's no major extra burden on volunteers as support structures were established during pre-season
- Protocols aren't that hard to manage and will be further relaxed, with a focus on the sick or vulnerable not to attend
- Enthusiasm will increase once the AFL starts on Thursday night
- Given other local leagues won't start (Hume, O and K) the O and M receives maximum exposure
"This is really an opportunity to showcase the league in a positive light, especially if metropolitan leagues and others here aren't going ahead," Sullivan said.
"People are going to be looking for something to do and you're going to get people watching the footy that haven't watched it before, it could be a fantastic foundation to build on for next year."
IN OTHER NEWS:
A number of leading O and M identities, including five-time Albury best and fairest Shaun Daly, have also declared the season should go ahead, albeit, like Sullivan, acknowledging the community's safety is paramount.
The O and M won't make a decision until the Victorian Government's COVID-19 announcements on June 22.
