THE Western Region Football League (WRFL) is bracing itself for a hot and dry summer and is considering the possibility of altering its competitions in 2007.
The league will be forced to plan for a revised season if the barren spell continues and the lack of rain continues to dry out local grounds.
While the cricket season continues unabated for now, there are fears the condition of grounds will deteriorate if Victoria’s water restrictions continue – or become more stringent – before the new season is scheduled to kick off on 14 April.
WRFL CEO John Batty said it was important not to “jump at shadows”, but said the league would be ready to take action if the situation worsened.
“A revised football competition is a remote possibility,” he said. “It’s a real consideration.
“We can’t make it rain. It’s something that is out of our control.
“I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but a modified season might be a possibility.”
Mr Batty did not rule out the possibility of shortening the season if the drought continued, and said the league might consider sharing its games between a designated number of grounds.
The WRFL may also consider shortening matches in a bid to keep the league running.
“I’m pretty hopeful that it won’t come to that, but the number one aim is to make sure footy gets played as we know it,” Mr Batty said.
With grounds hardening by the week, some clubs have been directed by their councils to find alternative ways to undertake pre-season training.
The WRFL has a risk-management policy in place, whereby both teams must sign off on the condition of the ground before the match to deem it fit for play.
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Local councils also conduct regular spot checks on grounds to assess their condition.
“The councils are playing a straight bat at the moment. If it gets to level three (water restrictions) it is going to be a bit more grave,” Mr Batty said.
“They won’t be able to water all grounds.”
Mr Batty said the WRFL would reassess the situation in February, two months out from the start of the 2007 season.
“I’m hopeful that we’ll get rain, and that the WRFL will kick off on all grounds on the 14th of April,” he said.
“But I’m also aware that we might have to look at some other arrangements if need be.”
