Local footy 2020: Melbourne’s suburban leagues split on season
Melbourne’s six metropolitan football leagues have made their feelings known internally about whether the 2020 season should go ahead as local footy’s D-Day looms. LATEST HERE.
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Suburban football leagues are divided on whether the season should go ahead as a final decision looms.
It is believed three of Victoria’s six senior metropolitan competitions remain keen to continue to explore the prospect of a truncated campaign, while the remainder are at this stage in favour of pulling the plug on 2020.
The Essendon District Football League is understood to be among those that remain hopeful of a season.
The Victorian Amateur Football Association, Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western Region leagues are the other suburban competitions, with the six holding weekly meetings amid the coronavirus crisis.
In a letter to members last week, VAFA powerhouse Collegians said: “The club is confident of a season start date in July or early August (most likely Saturday, 18 July, 25 July or 1 August).”
WRFL chief executive Matthew Duck said the “vast majority” of his clubs favoured a season going ahead but only if it was safe to proceed.
It appears likely the six competitions, which operate independantly, will ultimately agree on a decision.
The prospect of some leagues taking the field and others not would create issues given the fear that players from competitions not participating would likely seek transfers.
The clearance window closes on June 30 but another option for AFL Victoria would be to block transfers between leagues given the unprecedented circumstances.
AFL Victoria head of community football Stephen O’Donohue said: “AFL Victoria will continue to talk to leagues, but I can’t comment on what decisions leagues may or may not make. That is a question for the leagues.”
Football and cricket sources have told Leader that AFL Victoria has asked the government to help get football up and running by allowing up to 500 spectators to watch games.
The AFL said no approach for an exemption had been made.
On the back of Cricket Victoria’s agreement with AFL Victoria to extend the football season in October and approval to return to non-contact training, crowds would be a significant boost for clubs.
But the split is an indication there is a long way to go to get a season off the ground, with leagues facing the task of convincing clubs a season is viable.
Next month will be a key period for local football leagues and clubs as the State Government decides on the prospect of further easing restrictions.
It is understood a decision on the season could come as early as June 5.
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