MPNFL clubs agree to wait before deciding on season 2020
MPNFL clubs will wait a little longer before deciding if they will play a season, but some have made their feelings known at a league meeting.
Local Footy
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MPNFL club presidents considered setting a starting date for season 2020 at a meeting last night.
Some suggested it would be a great opportunity to take a positive approach after the Eastern and Northern metropolitan leagues cancelled their seasons yesterday.
But in the end clubs agreed to hold off until the State Government’s announcement on June 21 before deciding on a ’20 season.
It’s understood most MPNFL clubs are keen to play, although a handful want to scrap the season, citing financial stress, waning player interest and undue expectations on volunteers.
AFL South East is in the process of conducting a financial analysis of each club to determine if a season would be viable.
The issue of player payments was also discussed, and the consensus was that players want to be paid if a season was to go ahead.
Some clubs with ageing committee and volunteers said they were worried about a season amid COVID-19.
In a statement, AFL South East said the 22 MPNFL clubs would “review the status of the 2020 MPNFL football/netball season’’ following a further easing of State Government COVID-19 restrictions relating to sport and exercise on June 21.
The statement read: “Our consistent approach during these unique and challenging times has been to take advice from Federal and State Government, our sporting bodies – AFL Victoria/Netball Victoria – and to work collaboratively with our clubs to ensure the best path forward.
This will remain our approach, and we are fully aware of the importance of a safe environment for all participants involved and the ongoing sustainability of our clubs.
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“Consultation with clubs from the Frankston and District Junior Football League (FDJFL), South East Juniors (SEJ), Mornington Peninsula Junior Football League (MPJFL) and South Eastern Women’s Football (SEWF) will also continue, with competitions to be considered independent of the MPNFL process.’’