Wimmera and Horsham District league footballers could temporarily leave their home clubs in search of a game under a new 'COVID permit' devised by the sport's governing body.
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Players from competitions that have abandoned their senior seasons can apply for the special "COVID-19 Type 2 Permit", which was introduced by the AFL on Monday.
In introducing the permit the AFL stated: "where a player's club or league either does not submit any teams or does not otherwise participate in the 2020 community football season, that player will be eligible to apply for a COVID-19 Type 2 Permit."
"In such circumstances, the COVID-19 Type 2 Permit will allow the player to move to another club for the duration of the 2020 community football season and that player will then revert back to their original club on 1 November 2020."
AFL Wimmera Mallee area manager Jason Muldoon said players who left on the permit wouldn't lose ties to their home club.
"It allows in these circumstances players to go to another competition but still be registered with their club and still return to that club in 2021," he said.
"The issue we've got is that leagues all around us are obviously cancelling as well, so I'm not sure where players could go to."
The clearance period has not been extended beyond its usual June 30 end date, with many football-netball leagues still yet to make a decision on whether to proceed with a senior season.
The Mininera and District, Ballarat and Warrnambool and District leagues are among the western Victorian competitions yet to make a ruling on their 2020 seasons, opening the door for potential transfers.
The Mininera and District league board is set to hand down a decision on Wednesday night.
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