ALMOST half of the Murray Bushrangers squad will be ineligible to play when their NAB League season kicks off against Bendigo Pioneers at Bendigo on August 22.
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With the league forced to exclude NSW-based players and 19-year-olds due to Victorian government coronavirus restrictions, the Bushrangers will only have 25 players to choose from.
The Bushrangers, Greater Western Victoria, Geelong Falcons, Bendigo Pioneers and Gippsland Power will compete while all metropolitan teams are ruled out by lockdowns in Melbourne.
"We had a zoom meeting on Wednesday night to go through the detail and if things remain as they are we will get some semblance of a season in," Bushrangers coach Mark Brown said.
"It's fantastic for the kids to get back into football.
"I guess it's a bit bitter-sweet for us living on the Border as our Victorian kids are right to go but the NSW boys can't play.
"We are working hard to establish a training base in Albury to keep them engaged and training in the hope that once the Border opens they can come straight back into playing."
Ben Ashley-Cooper, Will Chandler, Pat Parnell, Charlie Byrne, Dan Turner, Will Bowden, Macca Hallows, Cam McLeod, Logan Berryman and Clayton Marsh are among the NSW players to be sidelined.
The Bushies have been further hamstrung by the unavailability of three players living in Mitchell Shire
While the shortened season will give top-end country players the chance to press their draft claims, Brown said he was simply excited to see some youngsters playing for the first time this season.
"It will be interesting to see how the recruiters view it because obviously the draw is dramatically compromised," Brown said.
"Looking at us, we will have no NSW talent or boarding school talent.
"I think it's simply about giving these kids first and foremost the opportunity to play a bit of football.
"The Goulburn Valley will start their under-18 competition this weekend so some of our kids will be playing but the O and M boys haven't had that opportunity yet."
In the opening round, Greater Western Victoria will host Geelong Falcons at Mars Stadium followed by the Bendigo Pioneers hosting the Bushrangers.
Gippsland Power will play an intra-club game in round one.
The remainder of the draw is yet to be finalised.
Brown said the situation was constantly changing.
"The AFL has been fantastic in their ability to keep chasing an opportunity for these kids to play while at the same time having an understanding of health and safety," Brown said.
"They have done a mountain of work.
"Hopefully it will result in a handful of games."
