The Tallangatta and District league's finals series has been thrown into disarray following the NSW government's decision to enter a week-long snap lockdown.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Most clubs have NSW-based players in senior grades of football and netball who would be ineligible to play if finals commenced on Saturday.
The league is now faced with the tough decision of whether to press ahead with a compromised finals series with clubs being unable to field their strongest line-ups.
The Tallangatta and District league board was set to meet on Monday night to discuss the ramifications of the snap lockdown.
League president Rex Gray was reluctant to comment on the situation other than to confirm he had called an executive meeting.
"We will have a discussion tonight (Monday) and then speak to the clubs before we make any decisions going forward," Mr Gray said.
The league, after consultation with its clubs, committed last week to staging a finals series without crowds.
Thurgoona is the only NSW-based club in the competition and easily the most affected by the lockdown.
The Bulldogs have three grades of football in finals with the exception seniors.
The club's netballers have four of six sides set to contest finals with the 15 and under and 13 and under sides missing out.
If finals were to commence on the weekend, Chiltern would play Kiewa-Sandy Creek in the qualifying final on Saturday in senior football.
Barnawartha and Tallangatta would clash the following day.
It is believed that the Swans have two NSW-based players and the Hawks three in their strongest line-up.
The Tigers also have three.
The Hoppers are the most affected club in the top-five with eight seniors players and more than 10 reserve grade players residing north of the border including coach Tyson Smith.
Kiewa-Sandy Creek coach Adam Mudra said the difficult situation was a nightmare for the league hierarchy to navigate its way through.
"If you go down one path there are going to be people upset and if you go down another path it's the same," Mr Mudra said.
"I don't want to sit on the fence but whatever they decide, we will accept."
IN OTHER NEWS
It's a similar scenario in A-grade netball.
Tallangatta and Mitta United meet in the qualifying final while it's sudden death for either Yackandandah or Thurgoona the following day.
Thurgoona has its A-grade side based in NSW with the exception of one player.
The Hoppers and Hawks both have a couple of NSW players.
Yackandandah assistant coach and midcourt player Beck O'Connell is also stuck in lockdown.
Brent Godde
