With all the metro Melbourne leagues (except for Western Region) delaying the starts to their season - in the case of the DVFL into May - talk is rife now about the possibility of the season being cancelled. Certainly in the north eastern suburbs.

It's all to do with the drought, and the water restrictions. Melbourne has been slow to respond to the crisis compared to regional Victoria, and of course the naysayers will blame the Bracks government.

I blame the councils.

It's quite within their jurisdiction to apply their own water restrictions locally, and it is certainly within their power to sink bores. But city folk don't think of that do they? I think the councils need their tails kicked for not looking after community interests properly. And the result is that a number of senior grounds are apparently deserts.

This isn't unknown in the country areas. It's not a football ground (thank goodness) but Victoria Park in Ballarat is a great example of all brown and no green. A few local grounds in the Central Highlands area are struggling resulting in the Ballarat FL delaying their start to April 28. Geelong and Bendigo are similarly hamstrung.

But I know two grounds in the Central Highlands FL that are doing really well - because of bore water. Dunnstown and Learmonth. Gordon is also in good condition which is interesting because they don't (to my knowledge) have a bore. Grounds that have bore water basically are going great guns.

The Moorabool Shire had the sense to take this on board - and now Ballan has a bore sunk. I don't know what is happening with Bacchus Marsh and Darley, but I think the Marsh's ground is going if anything as well as Gordon's.

If football supporters in the metro areas are smart, they'll beat on the doors of their local council and demanding action. If the councils try and pass the buck to state parliament kick it back - and point at the regional successes of bore water. Then tell them to apply for a grant (money is set aside for this and it's why most of the VCFL leagues are managing to start on April 14) for sinking bores so the ground can get what it needs.