Drought effects

[Mr66]

Two of the biggest country Victorian leagues, Ballarat & Bendigo
announced today that they may delay the start of their seasons
because of the state of their clubs' grounds. There is even talk
that Ballarat might crap the 2007 season.
Is the drought in SA bad enough to affect the SANFL or any of the country leagues?

[Wedgie]

There is even talkthat Ballarat might crap the 2007 season.

Does that mean they'll shit it in?

[Mr66]

Freudian slip there Wedgie.
SCRAP was the verb I was after.

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

I heard Lake Wendouree's dry as a bone...
With regional & country footy grounds turning into dustbowls.
Next season we'll have footballs or worse still bodies getting punctured by bindies & three cornered jacks!
Bit of a worry eh!

[Mr66]

Lake Wendouree was one of the clubs mentioned in the news report.
The whole ground looked like bitumen covered by gravel (and just as hard) with the token patch of grass here and there.
Some of the suburban grounds in Melbourne are heading that way too.
Raises some interesting OH&S problems.

[Jimmy]

instead of scraping the season, maybe those teams hardest hit could just play away games???

[Dutchy]

Dare say Insurance premiums for these clubs will be rising also, putting further strain on finances.

Maybe they could have 2-3 ovals per league that they water (with permission) and play all games on these ovals...surely thats better than not playing at all, considering how important footy is to these towns, they are hurting enough already

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

Hard playing surfaces can also cause knee, ankle & hamstring injuries.
Local councils should give footy clubs a little leeway when it comes to ground maintenance (i.e. water)
Country footy generates a lot of money thru sponsorship & such...
The AFL should address the situation & throw some cash their way as well... we hope!

[Dogwatcher]

At this stage - the Riverland and Mallee seems to be doing okay in regards to ovals being watered.
Most councils, where possible, would have highlighted the ovals they wish to have watered (at least Loxton Waikerie Council has) and those would include all sports ovals.
Some ovals are watered by river water others bore water and from driving past and watching film of many, they all seem to be doing okay at the moment.

But....if the crunch comes, councils, I'm thinking, will have to consider whether they continue watering the ovals when local irrigators are having their water cut back. It seems the irrigators are safe at 60 per cent of their allocations at the moment (which is a scary reduction). But there's government talk of zero allocations next watering year (starting June) - which would mean football in the Riverland could be in trouble in 2008.

Snaggletooth - your sentiment that clubs should be given leeway is fair, but in many cases that leeway's already occurring. And the AFL throwing money at the situation won't help, because if there's no water, there's no water.

Scary times for all - let alone footballers getting sore shins on a dry oval.

[TroyGFC]

I heard Lake Wendouree's dry as a bone...
With regional & country footy grounds turning into dustbowls.
Next season we'll have footballs or worse still bodies getting punctured by bindi & three cornered jacks!
Bit of a worry eh!

I thought Irwin got punctured by a stingray!!!

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

If you keep quoting me & then adding your own stupid, braindead comments Troy!
Next season I'll forcefully make you clean the transportable dunnies down Bay Oval's Southern end
with your tongue!!!

[giffo]

Pretty bad situation. Everyone used to laugh at the wetlands that Salisbury Council put in, (starting with the Paddocks in the late 70"s) but now they are able to reclaim this water to use on their reserves. A pity a little more forethought hasn't been used by other councils and governments.

[Footy Chick]

Unfortunate story but true...

As I said in my "whinging about water restrictions" thread, the Wimmera District League are looking at reducing the number of ovals played on next year to 3 due to the state of the grounds..most are, as snaggletooth said, mere dust bowls layered with prickles. As far as I know, 3 of the better ovals will be waterproofed for use next year. It'll be a prick of a year for those clubs that have to travel, as theres about a 2 hour trip between the furthest 2 clubs.