O and M plans first finals over two weekends, but that could change late

The board met on Monday night and had COVID plans, which included one option of playing the first week of finals over two weekends..

However, it only emerged after the meeting there was public speculation that the situation hadn't changed in the border bubble as a result of the NSW Government's decision to impose a seven-day lockdown, starting last Saturday.

Football officials, and indeed the general community, maintain the State lockdown meant just that and sport was certainly not a reason to travel.

NSW police have been telling people they must remain in their homes unless it is for one of the handful of permitted reasons to leave their home, so the O and M was scrambling for clarification.

"We will contact the Cross-Border Commissioner as soon as we can on Tuesday morning to clarify the situation," O and M general manager Craig Millar explained.

The league came out of its meeting having cancelled Saturday's round 18, but nothing will be confirmed until that crucial phone call is made.

The league had a handful of options for clubs after the meeting, with the first to play the first week of finals over those two weekends.

Regional Victoria is not in lockdown, so it means five of the six football games in the qualifying and elimination finals could be played between those clubs.

The league is also considering a 'Super Sunday' on August 29 where all qualifying and elimination finals will be played on neighbouring grounds in Wangaratta.

Norm Minns Oval would host the qualifying finals, while WJ Findlay Oval will stage the elimination finals.

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However, Tuesday morning's call will clarify any COVID confusion, which is not uncommon over the past 17 months.

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