Premiership coach Mark Bayliss says GSFL needs to introduce rule for clubs hit heavily by COVID this season

Railways coach Mark Bayliss has called on the Great Southern Football League to introduce a ruling for clubs hit heavily by COVID in the same week during the 2022 season. The new GSFL season gets under way on Saturday week and Bayliss said his club, like the others in the competition, was already being affected by players either contracting COVID or deemed close contacts. Bayliss is concerned if a club is affected significantly by those forced into isolation, they have to bring up colts and reserves players and that may have a negative effect on the league fixture or the quality of the minor grades. His suggestion is that if six or more league players are ruled out, then a league match should be called off and each team awarded two points — rather than one club being forced to forfeit the fixture, which is something that has been discussed in footy circles. “At the end of the day we all want to play footy and get a full season in,” Bayliss said. “However the reality is all clubs are going to be affected by COVID at some stage. “We already are and I know other clubs are in the same boat. I think there has to be a tipping point, perhaps six league players from the previous week. “Maybe it’s four or five, whatever the number I think we have to have something in place and what we need to remember here is there will be a lot of close contacts. If they are all out I believe we should split the points, rather than a team forfeit. “We can go to the reserves or colts and pinch all of their players but does that force those teams to play short or forfeit and how detrimental is it to the quality of the league competition?” Bayliss coached the Tigers to a premiership last year and said he hoped the GSFL discussed the issue ahead of round one next week. “I just think it should be on the table for discussion,” he said. “This is not going to help one club and not another, it’s about having a fair competition and keeping the standard of the league competition to a level that attracts people to come and watch games.” GSFL president Terry Eaton said the issue would be the major discussion point at a meeting involving club presidents next Wednesday. “It’s number one on the agenda,” Eaton said. “We are hoping club presidents and coaches can have a chat, come up with ideas and bring it up then at the meeting. Everyone needs to know what the game plan is. “I think a certain number out of the league side, you just share the points. “What that number will be I’m not sure and perhaps it’s a lower number in the minor grades. People can play up but we have to be careful.” Eaton expected a decision to be made at the meeting and in place ahead of round one on April 23.