Robert Hyde has experienced just about everything in football during his 39 years as a coach.
However, the postponement of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic has provided a new experience for the newly appointed Eltham coach.
It was announced in March that the NFNL, in line with the state’s other metropolitan football leagues, had been forced into delaying the start of the season until at least May 31 due to the ongoing pandemic.
Hyde told NFNL.org.au that the delayed start to the season had just started to sink in.
“It is what it is unfortunately. I’m the same as everybody else in just trying to do the right thing,” Hyde said.
“I think the longer we can do that, with nearly everybody doing it, it may end a little bit sooner. You never know.
“It hit home the other week. Usually you’re getting ready to play Good Friday then for us we head off down the beach for a bit of a break and now it’s just not happening.”
Like many others, the 65-year-old is unsure about the prospect of football resuming any time soon.
But he believes local sport will have an important place in the community at the end of the pandemic.
“It’s such an unknown. If I was a betting man, I wouldn’t think it’s going to happen, especially if the AFL can’t even get going.
“But local footy will get back and going. It may be that we become amateurs to a certain degree and if that’s the case and people want to play footy, then that’s the way it’s got to be.”
One of the most respected figures in local football, Hyde signed with Eltham following the club’s A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 preliminary final defeat to Whittlesea last year.
The timing of the pandemic has been far from ideal as he aims to make his mark at Panther Place, however he continues to communicate with his players and staff when he can.
“For now, I just post something on the Facebook page every now and then, just telling them to stay safe and that the young blokes need to continue to exercise,” he said.
“We had 110 players at training one night so for me it was about putting names to faces and to listen and watch and see how they play. I was just started to get a grasp on that.”
One thing that is driving Hyde throughout the extended break is the potential he sees with the football club moving forward.
Following a grand final and preliminary final appearance over the past two years, along with success at reserves and under-19 level, Hyde is confident the club is well placed in its quest to make the jump to Division 1.
“Eltham is a really strong club. They had two under-19s last year, two under-19s again if we play this year and lots of success in the 19s and the reserves,” he said.
“I just think the culture itself is really good. The committee and the people behind the club and the junior program is first rate.
“I think most of those players will sign up again. Then it’s just about being able to get up into Division 1 with such a powerful group of players.
“There will a lot of enthusiastic people at the start of next year when it’s up and going and I think the one thing to come out of it will be that people will appreciate the option to be involved in footy, or any sport, again.
“I think that’ll be an exciting thing.”
