Two clubs have withdrawn from the Central Highlands Football League junior competition after two more players were linked to a person with a positive COVID-19 test.
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Newlyn and Daylesford informed the CHFL of their decisions on Friday and made the announcement publicly via Facebook.
The latest players - one from Newlyn and the other from Ballan - have each undergone tests, with results not yet known.
Newlyn initially made a call earlier in the week to suspend its junior program pending the results of COVID-19 tests undertaken by another under-18 player and his family after the Cats' encounter with Rokewood-Corindhap on Saturday.
SEE THE FACEBOOK POST BELOW
CHFL manager Diane Ryan said the second Newlyn player tested had no family ties to the first, with the circumstances for each completely independent.
Ballan has an under-15 player with a link to a family member who has tested positive.
Newlyn president Jon Rofe said it was with much regret that the club had made the difficult decision to withdraw from the CHFL junior football competition for 2020.
"This decision was made following discussion with our junior coordinators/coaches and our committee given the increasing reach of COVID-19 into regional Victoria and our local communities.
"While we realise this will be disappointing for many, we thought it was the best option for the health and safety of all involved in our club and the broader community."
Daylesford's Facebook post stated: "We feel that the only safe option for the club is to withdraw our players."
SEE THE FACEBOOK POST BELOW
Ryan said while the flow-on effect of the tests had caused substantial changes to round three fixtures on Saturday, the competition was continuing.
She said the future of the season was in the hands of the clubs, which were operating on state government and AFL Victoria advice, and strict protocols.
In addition to Newlyn and Daylesford bringing down the curtain on their seasons, Rokewood-Corindhap, Bungaree, Learmonth and Springbank will join Ballan in sitting out the under-18, under-15 and under-12 competitions this week, while Carngham-Linton under-18s - the Saints' only team - has been left without a game after the shuffle up.
Rokewood-Corindhap initially planned to only stand out of the under-18s on Saturday, having played against Newlyn.
This has been extended to all grades after Springbank expressed a desire not to play against the Grasshoppers at any level.
Springbank was to have played Carngham-Linton in the under-18s, but has chosen not to play any games.
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Bungaree was to have played Ballan and Learmonth was drawn to meet Daylesford.
Ryan said it had been tough week for all involved - the clubs and their communities as a whole.
She said it was disappointing given all the work each and every club had put in to get the competition up and running in such a short lead-up time.
Weekend fixtures:
Hepburn v Skipton at Hepburn
Waubra v Creswick at Waubra
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