General News
10 September, 2021
Camperdown’s season still in limbo
CAMPERDOWN coach Neville Swayn admitted his playing group felt mixed emotions following the announcement community sport could not resume for competition earlier this week.
CAMPERDOWN coach Neville Swayn admitted his playing group felt mixed emotions following the announcement community sport could not resume for competition earlier this week.
Premier Daniel Andrews released regional Victoria from lockdown overnight, but community sport was still prohibited from starting games although training could resume.
The news has all but effectively ended Camperdown’s senior and reserves football campaigns, with the two sides finishing the home and away season in fourth place.
Matches against Koroit and South Warrnambool respectively loomed on September 18 under the Hampden league’s return to play but that was contingent on community sport resuming.
While the league was yet to clarify what will occur with its seasons following the latest announcement when Camperdown Chronicle went to print, Swayn conceded the likelihood of finals starting was slim.
He said his playing group was confused and disappointed by the decision.
“Because we can train it was a little bit confusing,” Swayn said.
“We can train with our normal numbers but we can’t play so it was disappointing because we were hoping they would come out and say community sport is all clear and we could look forward to taking on Koroit and South on the 18th (of September).
“Confusion and disappointment were probably the reactions (amongst the group).”
While football and netball matches have been on ice since August 21, players have kept their training standards up in hope of a return.
Players have become accustomed to the stop-start nature which has impacted footy over the past two seasons, but Swayn said in football terms, the latest lockdown had been the most difficult.
“I think this last lockdown has been the hardest over the last couple of years because we’re so close to the finish and have done really well to get to this point,” he said.
“To the group’s credit they’ve kept working hard, as tough as it’s been, because they’ve been basically training by themselves but they’re all still out running two or three times a week.
“It’s been unbelievable from the group as a whole to maintain and keep that motivation.”
With the six-time reigning premier as its scheduled match-up if a return was made, Swayn said his group was looking forward to the challenge ahead.
The Saints had the Magpies measure in round six earlier in the year, but the third-year coach was confident his side could produce a better performance.
“I’ve only been talking to the boys by phone but they were all basically keen to have a crack at them,” Swayn said.
“Outside the four walls nobody would have given us any chance so we were keen to have a good crack at it because we had nothing to lose.
“They beat us earlier in the season and that was by far our worst game of the year so we were excited to get another crack and to see how we go.
“We were also in the position where we were one game away from a grand final so it was something we were really looking forward to.”
The Hampden league was expected to make an announcement on its season overnight.