Border sporting clubs take issue with COVID restrictions on supporters

Victorian sporting teams can still compete in NSW but current restrictions mean that their supporters have to stay home.

Previous Myrtleford Football Club president Zac Mirt said the restrictions had taken a toll on the club and its players.

"I think it's ridiculous to be honest, the lockdown in regional Victoria has hit hard this time," he said.

"Not being able to train has taken its toll and not being able to bring the full contingent of supporters has been hard.

"Myrtleford always has a big crowd that travels along with them.

"It's been difficult."

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Usually Myrtleford's coterie of supporters can be seen all across the sidelines during games, but were this weekend reduced to one small tent.

Albury City Football Club played Myrtleford yesterday at home and the club's vice president Brodie Dryden said enforcing the COVID restrictions was difficult.

"At the end of the day, if people don't want to check in, what can we do to make them check in?" she said.

"That's the hard thing, turning people away, you want Myrtleford here to have some spectators.

"It's always hard being on the opposite side when no-one can cheer you on.

"And if they're inside the border bubble, what's the drama?"

President of Albury Wodonga Football Association Mark Leman said the Border region should be treated as one community, rather than being constantly split by state restrictions.

"We function as one region, not as two separate ones and this makes it very difficult and challenging when you have six clubs in Victoria and six in NSW," he said.

"Wangaratta, Myrtleford and Cobram are a bit further away but they're still part of our community.

"Its very difficult living on the Border when certain rules are in Victoria but you go across the Murray River and the rules are different."

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