The Belconnen Magpies have become the third AFL Canberra club in three weeks to forfeit their lower grade matches in Batemans Bay against the Seahawks.
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This week's latest south-coast COVID-19 outbreak has forced two Batemans Bay schools to close, leaving Belconnen no option but to pull out of its men's third and fourth grade arrangements, and its women's second grade fixture.
Ainslie made a similar decision last weekend, while two rounds ago the Woden Blues also decided not to travel.
Belconnen president Scott Reid said his club wasn't prepared to risk exposure to the virus.
The ramifications of someone contracting the virus, it can spread throughout your whole club," Reid said.
"If one person gets it, it's the whole club out and that goes across all grades. If that does occur, we've made a decision one out all out - it's just such a massive risk."
The Magpies have strongly encouraged their players and staff to inform the club of their travel plans, particularly if they visit a coronavirus hotspot.
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"It's a matter of communication it's a matter of constantly talking to the player group, and if we're conscious someone is coming from the affected areas then we act on it," Reid said.
"We can only follow the guidance of the government and what they're communicating. We had to have the chat [to Batemans Bay] and say listen, we're terribly sorry."
Batemans Bay's top men's team made a preliminary final last season, while the women finished second in the UNSW Canberra Women's competition.
But due to the virus situation, none of the club's three senior teams are yet to play a competitive match this season.
Their men's teams are due to play the Googong Hogs next weekend, although there's no guarantee those fixtures will be fulfilled.
"We'll leave it up to the individual players as to whether they play," Hogs president Josh Ebert said.
"I'm sympathetic for them [Batemans Bay]. They had the bushfires at the start of the year and now they're having to deal with this."
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
