The Vic metro and country outfits for men and women were scheduled to fly out to WA on Friday and self isolate at Bridgetown School Camp, a location WA police signed off on as a suitable self-isolation facility.
But the WA Government had other ideas, denying the application on Thursday and leaving the team with no suitable accommodation options.
“The only way we can get in now is if they change the restrictions and classify Victoria as ‘very low risk’ rather than ‘low risk’," Vic Country men's coach Josh Waight said.
“We would have flown out last Friday and did two weeks quarantine at the school camp before we moved to where we are staying for the nationals.
“Now, we will be flying out in two weeks’ time as originally planned (if the restrictions ease).”
Despite missing a couple of training sessions due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Waight, who is also in charge of the Shepparton Gators’ Big V side, said the team was improving every session.
“We’ve been able to have a couple of trainings in the last couple of weeks,” he said.
“We had one on the long weekend and one last weekend and we have one coming this Sunday, so we are slowly building.
“They are continually getting better, which is pleasing and we are getting closer to what we want to achieve.”
Before their plans changed, a GoFundMe page was set up to help cover costs of self-isolation and Waight said the donations showed how much the teams meant to the wider Victorian community.
“There was some healthy sponsorships there, which showed the support all four teams had in the community,” he said.
“That was fantastic to see.”
Those who gave money to the teams’ cause will now be refunded.
In other news, Waight expects his Shepparton Gators side to be back on the court as early as this weekend.
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