Junior footy numbers have dwindled across the state after two Covid-ruined seasons.

League officials say too many Victorian kids are unwilling to resume the sport, having become accustomed to staying at home during the pandemic.

Both metropolitan and regional leagues are feeling the pinch of the player shortage.

South Metro Junior Football League CEO Matthew Brown said his competition was about half a team worse off per club when compared to the same time last year.

“We’re down about three per cent. We typically have a membership of 11,000-plus,” Brown said.

“Our boys are down about 3.2 per cent at the moment on the same time last year, so about 230 participants and on average about 10 people per club.

“Girls are down a bit more than that – about 5.8 per cent.”

The Northern Football League told the Herald Sun numbers were promising in its junior ranks but there was some concern around lower age groups given the Auskick pathway was also impacted by the pandemic.

Auskick is struggling again in 2022, with the typically popular East Brighton centre having around 100 players registered so far. It had over 300 participants last year.

East Brighton Auskick chief Mark Stevens said some kids have turned to year-round sports instead.

“Soccer and basketball, they played (during the pandemic) a bit more,” Stevens said.

“With Covid we were sort of shut down and couldn’t restart again. With basketball, that can run all year. That’s affected us, I feel.”

Country footy has also been left with shortfalls after two Covid-marred campaigns.

Leagues in the Goulburn-Murray region have had to combine at under-15 level after Seymour District copped a significant drop in numbers and appeared unlikely to produce more than three teams.

Mornington Peninsula JFL, meanwhile, is experiencing trouble with older age groups in its girls’ competition.

“We’re a little bit worried with our older age groups with girls,” said CEO Andrew Souter.

“They’ve found themselves a bit, ‘Do I, don’t I?’ to start up again.

“They probably see football now – because they haven’t had it for two years – they probably see it as, ‘Oh, can’t be bothered anymore’. We’re trying to get that interest back.”

But there are still hopes of a late-registration rush.

League chiefs say the start of the AFL men’s season, the beginning of the AFLW finals and the return of Auskick are all likely to drive up numbers.

“The (AFL) males have started and we’ve seen an influx of players now registering, so fingers crossed that continues,” Souter said.

“We’re trying to do as much as we possibly can to keep the interest up. There are many areas we’ve got to focus on because the interest has gone away due to Covid.”

Brown said signing up for the footy season was an opportunity for kids to be healthier after a pair of challenging years.

“It’s such an integral part of Australian society. We know that when people participate in sport and recreation, they’re healthier,” he said.

“And we know that healthier people are happier people.”

Stevens echoed that sentiment, saying it was time for kids to “get off their iPads”.

“That’s what they’ve become accustomed to because they’ve done it the last two years, so get them outdoors,” he said.

Souter added: “We’re trying to do as much as we can to stimulate registration and keep kids playing footy, because it’s pretty important.”

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