LOCAL football teams are preparing to begin training after AFL Victoria\u2019s recent announcement that training can resume next week.<\/p>\n
AFL Victoria will announce further protocols this week, but they have already stated sessions from Monday, May 25 must be restricted to groups of 10, and that no more than two groups can practice on an oval at the one time.<\/p>\n
Queenscliff Football Netball Club president Rowan Martin said the club was already implementing further measures to ensure the safety of players and others involved with the club.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working feverishly to make sure we have all the right protocols in place so it\u2019s a safe place for people to train.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re using the existing protocols from government bodies and agencies to guide us in how to implement those in a practical and common sense way that keeps people safe, and makes people confident that it\u2019s safe to train with our footy club and netball club.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor example, we\u2019re ensuring that everybody turns up with their own water bottle and has their own towel; we\u2019re restricting the players\u2019 interaction, they will be in groups of 10 and 10 only, and after that they can\u2019t interact with other members of the club; we\u2019re encouraging as a club the downloading of the COVID-19 app, though obviously it\u2019s voluntary.”<\/p>\n
Anglesea Football & Netball Club president Jamie Mackenzie said many players would be looking forward to resuming training.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think for a lot of the kids it will be good to get back on. I know our senior are looking forward to getting back.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe coaches have started to work out how it may look from a training perspective. Once we\u2019ve got some more facts we can make better decisions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torquay Tigers seniors coach Dom Gleeson said though he felt the players\u2019 fitness levels were good, it was difficult to say how much training they would need before they were match-ready.<\/p>\n
\u201cKnowing the senior group at Torquay Footy Club I know the work\u2019s been put in. We have been having a competition within teams, but it\u2019s nothing like the intensity you would be doing at training or in practice matches, with body hits and things.\u201d<\/p>\n
Anglesea seniors coach Paul Nigro emphasised that having time to get match fit was central to players\u2019 wellbeing.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d want three weeks minimum, I would have thought, to get them conditioned. You don\u2019t want everyone going out there and getting injured unnecessarily.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur concern the whole way through has been the welfare of our playing group and staff, and whether footy does get the green light or not I think it\u2019s a great way for us all to reconnect and make sure we\u2019re all well and in a safe place.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LOCAL football teams are preparing to begin training after AFL Victoria\u2019s recent announcement that training can resume next week. AFL Victoria will announce further protocols this week, but they have already stated sessions from Monday, May 25 must be restricted to groups of 10, and that no more than two groups can practice on an […]<\/p>\n