The Bendigo Football League season has been cancelled for 2020
After holding out hope for more than three months, the Bendigo Football League has cancelled its season amid the growing COVID-19 crisis in Victoria.
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After holding out hope for three months, the Bendigo Football Netball League has cancelled its 2020 season.
The growing COVID-19 crisis in Melbourne’s outer suburbs forced the competition’s hand.
In a statement released on Wednesday night, the league said it had been a difficult decision to abandon the year.
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While the senior football and netball seasons have been cancelled, there is hope a junior season can still go ahead.
“In regular consultation and with the full support of all BFNL member clubs, the difficult yet necessary decision has been made due to the mounting safety concerns and the ongoing uncertainty being placed on the BFNL, clubs, players and volunteers to launch a partial season we felt would be viable, achievable and sustainable, maintaining integrity, but most importantly was in the best interests of community safety and wellbeing,” the statement said.
“In what has been a difficult fortnight for the state of Victoria and as the authorities currently work to manage and suppress a spike in COVID-19 outbreaks across Melbourne, several new concerns were presented to the BFNL.
“These concerns, along with the continued uncertainty surrounding various non-negotiables for a safe and achievable return, have hampered the ability of the league to continue to pursue alternative seasons for our senior football and netball competitions in 2020.
“The BFNL in conjunction with all affiliated clubs remain committed to providing alternative competitions for our under-18 footballers and 17 and under netballers who are governed by a different set of state government protocols to the senior players.”
While the league was still debating its future, Gisborne withdrew from the competition on Tuesday night.
The club said community health must be paramount.
“The expectation that the COVID-19 numbers will continue to increase in the short term led the committee to make this difficult decision,” president John Wood said in a statement.
“Our concerns for the health, safety and well-being of our players, their families and the broader community was the key driver in the decision.
“We are also mindful of our moral obligation to prevent the spread of the virus into regional and rural Victoria.”