Last weekend regional leagues were allowed to operate with up to 150 spectators, however both the Ballarat Football Netball League and the Central Highlands football and netball leagues opted against playing over the long weekend.

This weekend both senior football and netball competition were hoping to return to play, however the Ballarat league would only be able to do so if Melbourne residents are given exemption to travel to regions given three teams are metropolitan based.

The Wimmera Football Netball League was one that went ahead last weekend with 150 capacity with varying success across its venues.

Ballarat Football Netball League operations manager Shane Anwyl said at this stage, the league hoped to go ahead this weekend, but clubs would need to understand the ramifications of what zero or minimal crowds would mean to their bottom line.

"We plan to play," he said. "But as it stands right at this minute, the 150 crowd limit has been scrapped.

"Essentially what the ruling states is that the only people allowed at venues are those directly associated with the game itself.

"We're obviously hoping for clarity on that, and the earlier in the week the better."

Anwyl said should the games go ahead, clubs would need to agree to the circumstances, particularly surrounded economics.

"What needs to be clear is that when we talk about financial viability it does not just mean for players to be paid, it's everything associated with running a club, the payment of umpires etc," he said. "Clubs do their budget relating to the revenue they expect to receive. It's important they understand exactly what it means to them to have no crowds."

Anwyl said the league needs at least 11 rounds to have a viable season where every team had played each other once, meaning at least five more matches needed to be played.

Anwyl said the league hoped to have around 500 spectators able to attend matches which would allow for clubs to make some revenue on the day.

The Central Highlands football and netball leagues also hope to play even with the possibility of low or no crowds.

"Whatever we've got this week it's important we start going forward with it," football president Doug Hobson said.

"We're still waiting on direction, but I think everyone understands we need to get back to football for sporting wise, mental health wise. People want to get back to playing and enjoying the sport they love.

"Realistically, you're looking at an outdoor venue. Do they actually take numbers in Bunnings, in Dan Murphys, in supermarkets?

"Country football is doing the right thing, the cleaning, the QR codes, all the other things we need to do. but we need to get back to playing. You keep pushing people away from football they will eventually go away for good."

The Wimmera Football Netball League was one country competition to go ahead with four matches played last weekend.

Region manager AFL Wimmera Mallee Jason Muldoon told The Courier that different venues operated different ways.

"We had a game in Stawell, where we were able to use two different venues, one for football and one for netball," he said.

"There was a game at Murtoa where the netball and football were split by fencing and had two separate entrances and two separate QR codes. We worked closely with the council and police to deliver that.

"The Horsham Saints have an indoor netball facility, so they sectioned that off and kept it separate from the football. Nhill has two different entrances. There was a lot of work but we did get by.

"The biggest issue was change rooms, basically you couldn't have access there unless you needed to go to the toilet. Players essentially had to turn up ready to play."

Muldoon said while only 150 were allowed in venues, very little could be done to stop people watching footy from outside the oval, as was noticed at the Horsham venue which has a rise just outside the ground.

He said a league meeting on Monday night had voted to continue to play this week, even if it meant no crowds.

"The government has now basically said to AFL Victoria, that it's effectively no crowds," he said.

"While clubs voted to continue this week, that has a limited lifespan if they can't generate the revenue to survive.

"That's what community footy is about, it's good for mental health, good for everyone. Locking people out goes against everything we advocate.

"What frustrates people in the sporting community in our region is the inconsistency across the board. All our clubs and leagues have a first responsibility is to keep the community safe, but they get frustrated with the inconsistencies we see across the board.

"The priority needs to be about getting people back playing and enjoying sport."