Play on: Senior contact training on the cards after COVID-19 rules relaxed

AFL Western District commercial and operations manager Matt Ross said AFL Victoria had drafted protocols in line with the latest state government announcement.

He said leagues, including Hampden, Warrnambool and District, Mininera and District and South West District, could add contact training drills once the protocols were approved.

Senior teams had been limited to non-contact training under previous restrictions.

Many clubs have returned to the track, eager to prepare for next season after the 2020 campaign was abandoned.

"The changes that were announced yesterday (Sunday) were expected in terms of a roadmap that was released a few weeks ago, so AFL Victoria have in draft form already a new set of protocols that will allow clubs to return to full contact drills at a senior level," Ross said.

"Juniors have been permitted to train with contact already under the existing protocols.

"Basically all we're working through at the moment is just the process of getting those approved and once they're approved they'll be distributed out to the clubs and that would mean training is permitted with contact."

Ross said there was an air of optimism and determination to work within any potential mandates to ensure football and netball was played across south-west Victoria next year.

He believes "everyone is willing to give it a crack, no matter what it takes".

"Certainly there'll be some requirement to check-in at ovals and there could be some sort of capping on crowds but all of this stuff we're prepared for, we've spoken about it throughout the year," Ross said.

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"We're definitely a lot more prepared for 2021 than 2020 when it (the virus) was thrust upon us at the last minute."

Ross said clubs had "done OK financially throughout the pandemic" which was a relief.

"They haven't posted any massive profits this year but financially I think everyone has maintained their bank balances," he said.

"There will be a heap of challenges; there won't be the opportunity to do a lot of those fundraising events."

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