Wangaratta Rovers have been gift-wrapped a COVID-19 present with Richmond VFL players Nathan Cooper and Charlie Thompson committing to the club.
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The VFL is planning a shortened season from August 1, but it won't involve all AFL-aligned clubs, such as Richmond.
The O and M's future this season is still uncertain, particularly following last Saturday's announcement by the Victorian Government it was tightening coronavirus restrictions after a spike in cases over recent days.
However, Premier Daniel Andrews has hinted there could be a different set of rules for regional areas, with the Border and North East, for example, recording only one positive case since mid-April.
The O and M will host its delegates meeting tomorrow night with the board to gather on Monday, June 22, where it's expected a decision will be made.
Despite the uncertainty, Rovers' Richmond duo are excited at the prospect of playing O and M.
"Absolutely, the option was there for me to go and play VFL at Box Hill, that would have been great as well, but it just felt like with what's happening at the moment, what do I stand to gain from nine weeks at a team that I don't really know as opposed to a really exciting opportunity to have some success at Wang Rovers, which has been starved of success in recent years?," Thompson said.
A really exciting opportunity to have some success at Wang Rovers, which has been starved of success.
- Charlie Thompson
The classy midfielder played nine games last season, combining those commitments with Richmond.
Key position defender Cooper played solely for Rovers, only joining Richmond last December.
He had an outstanding debut year, finishing runner-up in the Hawks' best and fairest and representing Victoria Country.
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He retained the Hawks as his second club after joining the Tigers.
"All the Rovers' boys, we were super excited, we had the potential to go really deep into finals and have a good crack at it," Cooper said.