No finals for local Hunter football

By Scarlett Hurst

Key Points:

• Finals football will not be allowed in lower football leagues across the Hunter
• COVID-19 restrictions were put in place to lower the risk to all teams
• There are many mixed emotions about the decision

Despite teams being happy to just be back on the pitch, local football players from Newcastle have learnt that they will not be allowed to play finals football this season. Clubs and players waited months to be able to start their season this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NPL competitions in Newcastle are able to hold finals, however all lower grades of football will not be allowed the same opportunity. This puts a bit of a dampener on the end of the season for many teams and players as the normal incentive of playing finals has been taken away.

The reason for the decision was due to trying to minimise the risk of COVID-19 for all players and coaches by reducing the amount of games and therefore contact everyone had. This is news that has brought mixed feelings from both players and coaches, with some agreeing with the decision but others not understanding the difference that playing a few extra games can make.

Local player, NPL and Women’s C grade coach Daniel Fibbs says that he was not shocked by the decision to not have finals for low grade football this year. He sees it as an opportunity for teams to try harder throughout the season to finish as high up the table as possible instead of just relying on finals to give them a chance to perform well.

“I feel it’s been a good change to be honest, as it rewards the best team over the course of the season with the major prize.”

Daniel Fibbs

Fibbs thinks that the change has made competitions better and says if it were up to him, he would keep it this way for future seasons.

“This is how I personally feel it should be from here on out.”

Daniel Fibbs

However, from another perspective, player from Hamilton Azzurri Football Club Gemma Dobbins is very upset about the decision. She like many, feel that it has really cut the season short and see that the risks of COVID-19 that officials are trying to avoid have already been broken.

“I think it is really devastating. I think that we have already played all of the girls, we have already had that physical contact, so what is finals really going to do in terms of spreading COVID.”

Gemma Dobbins

Gemma Dobbins discussing the impact playing finals would make on her team. (Credit: Scarlett Hurst)

There are only a few rounds left for many teams in the Hunter area, and despite how many people feel there is no changing to the decision that officials have made about how the season will end. It is now time for teams to push hard and try and win as many games as they can to end up as high as possible on the final ladder, with the hope that next year they will get the opportunity to play finals football again.

Kate Kaufmann from Hamilton Azzurri FC giving her thoughts on her team having no finals this year. (Credit: Scarlett Hurst)