Power president hopes for a season start

May 7, 2020 BY Tom King

NEWCOMB president Matt Farrow says he would be “devastated” for his club’s footballers and netballs if the 2020 season doesn’t get a start.
Question marks still hover over whether winter community sport will get under way this year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
An update is expected from AFL Victoria on football next week following the possible lifting of the state of emergency by Premier Daniel Andrews.
“As a committee, we are running a business, and there are significant costs that go into it,” Farrow said.
“But, let’s not lose sight of the players and the community – they want a season; they’ve done all this hard work.
“It’s not necessarily about the money for me. We would have paid to the (salary) cap this year.
“We have a good business model in place to support that.
“But, at the end of the day, we can’t lose sight that it’s a game people love as well.”
Unlike some clubs across the three leagues that cover Geelong, the Surf Coast and Bellarine, Farrow believes the Power would be able to take the field and court without the income that comes from gate takings and food and beverage sales.
“If we get under way and we play 50 per cent (of the season), the salary cap is only $27,500 because it’s down to 25 per cent for nine games,” he said.
“From that side of things, we can certainly achieve it.
“But to keep the crowd away, how do you keep a person away from a public reserve?
“But how many crowds will be more than 500 at a local game?”
Like some of his counterparts across the region, Farrow is concerned players may be lost to the game as they preferred work to kicking the Sherrin around.
“You could lose a whole lot of young kids,” he said.
“Especially those in that under-19 age bracket that are probably working on a Saturday as an apprentice and earning good money.
“Then they go to a second year next year and they decide ‘I don’t want to play any more’.
“They could have been a talented footballer but realise they can make more money working on a Saturday than playing footy.”