BAROSSA, Light & Gawler Football Association coaches say they are excited to be able to focus on the game now that the uncertainty clouding the season has been removed, with players reportedly returning in strong condition.
Kapunda A-grade coach Fraser Evans admitted for a while it was mentally challenging to stay prepared for a season he wasn’t sure was coming, but once it was locked in, it flipped the switch.
“I would put myself in that boat,” he said.
“I think talking to the other guys around the club, and that’s including non-players like administration and supporters, I think everyone was feeling pretty ho-hum about the whole thing.

“Everyone was pretty exhausted with it, but now that the decision has been made, and we are moving forward, and we are going to play – I felt almost immediately re-motivated to get stuck in.
“We trained on Thursday and everyone was really up and about, the energy was great.”
Willaston A-grade coach Shaun Baker said his group stayed in constant communication throughout the break, and the results of the work put in showed up immediately on the track.
“We’ve always been hopeful… I’ve always thought we’d go back, it was just a matter of when,” he said.
“So while we weren’t allowed to train together, the boys were working by themselves and posting in our Facebook group about how many kilometres they’re running, so we’ve kept up our fitness levels.
“There are a couple of guys who need to lose a few kilograms, but mostly we’re in good nick.”
As well as staying active on the track, Willaston also stayed active in recruiting, landing Clinton Voight from Eudunda-Robertstown, and Joel Campbell from Swan Hill in Victoria after both of their respective teams pulled out of their 2020 seasons.
“Joel moved back to Swan Hill to play footy with his brother after he left us, but their league’s been cancelled, and I’ve always stayed in contact with Joel, so he said he’s keen to have a kick.
“He’s a couple games off his 150 for the club, so that’s a really good get for us.
“Clinton lives 500 metres from the club, and he’ll go back to Eudunda in 2021, but he wants to try and win a flag at his home club – hopefully we can lure him back in the future.”
Games for both men and women will return on July 18 and July 19 respectively, with, as it stands, a 500-spectator maximum.