Crowd factor: Great Northern Football League clubs keen to play on

The GNFL season will run, at least in some format. That’s according to the league’s president, Colin Cox. Cox told the Geraldton Guardian he had spoken with club coaches and presidents and they all wanted to play football. “They said we definitely want to play football, and the players definitely want to have a game this year,” he said. “We’ll just design a season around the weeks we have. “Everyone wants to play footy, that was the consensus when I spoke to them.” He said that included the women’s league — which might be able to complete the planned 12-week season, depending on when it was allowed to start. “Providing we get a start date, we’ll definitely have a game of some sort,” he said. “We can design a game to fit in any length of time.” Cox said after discussions with the WA Country Football League, he was confident crowds would be allowed — a must for the season to go ahead. That might include a drive-in where spectators could watch from their cars, as well as the regular crowds, he said. Singer Casey Donovan appeared at a drive-in concert in NSW last week as the entertainment industry looked to get live shows back on the agenda. City of Greater Geraldton officials hadn’t confirmed yesterday the latest date a season could run until. Should a GNFL season get under way, the league will be faring better than its southern neighbour. The Central Midlands Coastal Football League said on social media last week it would be calling off the 2020 season. “The fact that spectators are not permitted to attend game day would severely hinder the ability of clubs to raise revenue to offset match day expenses through gate takings, canteen and bar activities,” it said. “In addition, in the absence of spectators, sponsors would not receive appropriate levels of support, promotion and recognition associated with their significant contributions to clubs and the league ... directors were of the view this would place some clubs in a financially untenable position and therefore put the long-term viability of the league at risk.”