How local footy players are hanging up their boots
AFL Victoria’s long-awaited return-to-play protocols may have been delivered last week but it proved too little too late to save community footy, with a staggering 19 leagues cancelling their seasons in a week.
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Local football in 2020 is on the verge of a total wipe-out in Victoria.
A staggering 19 community leagues have cancelled their seasons in the past week taking the total to 39 abandoned seasons across the state.
Just 10 competitions are still holding hopes of playing — four have set return-to-play targets while six are yet to announce any decision.
The Mornington Peninsula Nepean League was the latest to quit when it cancelled its season on Saturday. “In some clubs there was waning support from the playing group and volunteers to proceed with a formal season,” AFL South East’s Shaun Connell said.
Metropolitan leagues Western Region and Essendon District also cancelled their seasons this week, leaving a combined 76 metro clubs and thousands of players and volunteers sidelined until 2021.
Essendon District boss Ian Kyte said there were too many unknowns to proceed. “It was a difficult decision. The board met seven times over the last five weeks and it got to a point where a decision had to be made.”
AFL Victoria’s long-awaited return-to-play protocols were delivered last week, giving the green light for crowds in groups of 10.
However, it proved too little too late with a return to contact training and competition dates still uncertain.
There had been optimism local football could return this year before restrictions were again tightened last week. After a spike in COVID-19 cases in Melbourne, Premier Daniel Andrews postponed return-to-play dates indefinitely, triggering a wave of leagues to pull the pin for 2020.
Three of the biggest country leagues — Ovens and Murray, Goulburn Valley and Murray — quit on Wednesday and Ballarat on Thursday.
“This decision has not been made lightly. We’ve maintained a glass half full approach throughout this process and we’re bitterly disappointed in making this announcement,” Ovens and Murray general manager Sean Barrett said.
“Our decisions need to be focused on what is best in both the short term and long term for our competition, clubs and community.”
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is targeting a first bounce on July 25 but will wait until July 6 before making a final decision.
The Southern League is also pressing on with plans to play despite Division 1 club Highett withdrawing and speculation East Malvern will follow.
“Although disappointing for the league, we fully understand their rationale,” Southern League boss Lee Hartman said. “There’s no doubt that if things don’t change with the government there are enough teams and clubs that want to play.”
The Picola District League in the state’s north is also pressing ahead and has asked the State Government for permission for Victorian teams to start contact training this week and play home matches from July 18.
The Picola league straddles the Victoria-NSW border and plans to play all Round 1 matches north of the Murray River on July 11.
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Originally published as How local footy players are hanging up their boots