The prime minister's talk of an 'early mark' out of coronavirus restrictions could allow for people to train together in groups of 10 as soon as next week.
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The national cabinet is to meet on Tuesday and then again on Friday when it's expected to outline what society restrictions can be eased.
At the same time, the Australian Institute of Sport has released a 'framework for rebooting sport in a COVID-19 environment'.
Current conditions are labelled Level A. The next phase, Level B, raises the limit on people training together to up to 10. It also allows for sharing balls and equipment, but maintains a ban on contact.
The guidelines encourage a 'Get in, train and get out' mentality, arriving ready to train, and to leave immediately afterwards to avoid sharing change rooms.
A return to full training and competition has to wait until the final phase, Level C. But the framework at least offers hope, and a glimpse of normality.
Importantly, Level C doesn't indicate any ban on spectators. Returning without crowds appears a non-negotiable for local clubs.
"Absolutely not. It can't be done. It's where a lot of finance and income comes from for clubs," Coleambally football and netball club president Glen Tooth said.
"But apart from the financial side of it, it's getting everyone together. Coming out of this situation everyone wants to get together and have a few beers. So not having a crowd just isn't feasible. There'd be no point in playing."
The AIS framework is there to guide governments but health authorities will continue to have the final say.
ut the prospect of a return to play will heighten the need for answers to the questions at clubs.
"It's going to be hard for everyone, even running a short season, financially for clubs," Tooth said.
"I know all our blokes want to play but it's the long-term future of clubs we need to worry about.
"And this stuff about going into October, well, people have got plans that were made 12 months ago. If we come out of this (coronavirus restrictions), their plans are still on track, like weddings. And some of our guys are very keen cricketers.
"So pushing the season later for us isn't a good thing either. But we'll just have to wait and see what they come up with."
Fellow Farrer League club, Barellan, had thought a football and netball season was looking highly unlikely.
But as quickly as things changed in mid-March, so too has the prospect of playing again.
"Without taking any official position as a club, about what we wanted or didn't want, we've sort of thought that nothing was going to happen. But it's probably becoming more likely now," Mickan said.
"I don't know whether it's going to create more interest because we've had a delayed start and everyone's keen. Or whether people have wandered off and it's going to be difficult."
Mickan said easing isolation is one thing but if social distancing is still considered the common sense approach to life, then there's a question of sport resuming. Not to mention contingencies.
"And what happens if one club has a player who gets the virus? Does the whole club get shut out, or does everyone have to get tested? I don't know. It could become a nightmare," he said.
The AFL has recommended league salary caps be slashed in half to start with, then reduced again on a pro-rata basis. It means the $90,000 cap for AFL Riverina would go to $45,000, then be cut in half again if only half a season was played.
Mickan said the Two Blues would never get close to the cap limit, and a 50 percent reduction would be no problem. However, "If it's a quarter of the normal cap, then that'd be a conversation we'd have to have. It could make it tight," he said.
But there's been one big positive in 2020 for rural clubs with widespread rain creating a promising start to the season.