Ken Bruce not fazed by having to wear a mask to O&M matches in NSW

Ken Bruce has vowed his familiar catch-cry of 'Go Hoppers, go, go go' won't be masked when the Hoppers host Corowa-Rutherglen at Bunton Park on Saturday.

"Don't worry, I'll be there barracking on Saturday like every other time the Hoppers play," Bruce said.

"The only thing about wearing a mask is my glasses fog up.

"But I'll just take them off.

"I can still yell out and barrack with my mask on, that won't be a problem.

"I gave the Yarrawonga boys a bit of a tickle up last week at Yarrawonga.

"I was in good form for all four-quarters.

"The Corowa-Rutherglen boys can expect the same medicine."

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Bruce said he would happily abide by the mask rule and was mindful of the burden COVID restrictions placed on club volunteers.

"I feel sorry for the volunteers to be honest," he said.

"They are a bit like a policeman and don't get to watch the football and are watching people to see if they are abiding by the rules.

"The most frustrating part about all this is the COVID outbreak in NSW is in Sydney which is hundreds of miles away.

"We haven't had a COVID case in Albury-Wodonga but get lumbered with the same restrictions."

Bruce felt wearing a mask was a minor inconvenience compared to the alternative of having no crowds attend matches.

"Clubs need to generate an income to survive," he said.

"Especially the top sides, they are paying a lot of money for their recruits and they need the cash coming in."

O&M general manager Craig Millar said the league was asking spectators to be mindful of the rules when attending matches.

"Under the provisions clubs have to appoint COVID marshals which is another burden on club volunteers," Millar said.

"So we just want people to respect these volunteers and it's not a job they want to do.

"So lets all do our bit to help them out and abide by the rules so community sport can still go ahead with crowds."

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