AFL Victoria releases updated return to play and train protocols for 2021 football-netball season

In a major back-flip with country leagues all starting in less than a month, spectators being able to be on the ground to listen to coaches address players and young kids having kick-to-kick with mates have been given the green light in the latest update of the AFL Victoria return to play and train protocols released this week..

The contentious 1000 spectator cap at Victorian grounds remains in place, but a simpler and less stressful process for clubs and volunteers to follow to allow crowds of between 1000 and 5000 people for blockbuster games could be announced as early as Monday.

Under the revised protocols, spectators must keep at least 1.5 metres from others.

Protocols announced in late February were met with fury from club officials and volunteers.

State government COVID-19 rules for country footy were also slammed by two former VFL/AFL champions who began their careers at country clubs, Tim Watson and Garry Lyon on their Melbourne radio breakfast program this week.

It led to the head of AFL Victoria, Brad Scott, clarifying the state of play by declaring the onus is largely on those attending matches to do the right thing and the 1000-cap not being strictly enforced.

"It's not going to be on clubs to individually police individuals to make sure they're socially distanced," Mr Scott said.

"It's going to be up to clubs to make sure they've got protocols in place such as QR codes, which we're all well accustomed to, appropriate signage around the grounds and making sure people are aware of the protocols."

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Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League chairman David Sinclair said it remained concerned about crowd cap differences for clubs on both sides of the border.

"Were hoping that on Monday, as part of a further easing of restrictions, there will be announcements around increased crowd capping," he said.

"In the meantime impacted O and M clubs have made application for Tier 2 status, allowing up to 3000 spectators, for games they anticipate will draw larger crowds.

"However the application itself and some of the conditions are quite onerous and place enormous pressure on club volunteers.

"It beggars belief that these restrictions are being placed on community football-netball clubs in areas that have been COVID free for many months and feels like it's just window dressing more than anything,"

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