Hurdles to clear but VAFA out to start season on July 25
Issues around return-to-play protocols, insurance, crowd numbers, the burden on volunteers and club viability are at play but the VAFA has settled on a weekend which it aims to start the season — if it does goes ahead.
Vic Amateur
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The Victorian Amateur Football Association is aiming to bounce the ball and get its season started on July 25.
But the association admits there is still great uncertainty about a shortened season going ahead.
Like other metropolitan leagues the Ammos are prepared to wait until June 22 to make a call.
The board met on Wednesday night and briefed its clubs on Thursday.
“Unfortunately there are still too many unanswered questions to enable the board to make a safe decision about a return to play date,’’ CEO Brett Connell said.
“The board does wish to advise that it has agreed to make a formal announcement in the week commencing June 22 on whether a 2020 season will take place.
“There are still a number of matters which the board need to be satisfied with before proceeding with a season.’’
These included confirmation of return-to-play protocols, insurance costs and associated insurance coverage, crowd numbers and safety protocols.
“If by the week commencing June 22 the board is satisfied with the matters outlined … we will aim to start the 2020 season on the weekend of July 25, 2020 – if given approval in line with Government restrictions,’’ Connell said.
“Further information will follow in relation to the structure of the season, umpire costs etc once we determine whether to proceed with a season.’’
Connell said that while he understood some clubs had returned to training and were incurring costs, the VAFA wanted to provide clubs with “some certainty and a road map towards playing, should that eventuate’’.
He said the health and wellbeing of VAFA members, the financial viability of clubs in the short and long-term, club sustainability, the burden on volunteers, legal liability in terms of insurance and “the possibility of a compromised season’’ had to be assessed.
“Rest assured that the VAFA will explore every option available and balance the risks associated with a RTP (return to play) before making a final decision,’’ Connell said.
With the Eastern and Northern leagues scrapping their seasons, the VAFA is expecting an increase in players wanting to transfer into the Ammos.
Connell said the VAFA was working with AFL Victoria to implement a permit system.
“We are proposing that should a season proceed, they (players) will simply complete a permit for the duration of the 2020 season, agreed to by both clubs and leagues, and then the player will be granted a permit to register and play VAFA football,’’ Connell said.
“We implore clubs to discuss with these players seeking entry into the VAFA that they wait until the system is implemented. We also ask that you hold off placing transfers into your respective clubs from either the EFNL or the NFNL until further notice.’’
The EFNL and NFNL officially cancelled their 2020 seasons on Wednesday, breaking away from their fellow Melbourne metropolitan leagues.
Financial strain on clubs, increased pressure on volunteers to police COVID-19 protocols and crowd numbers and a lack of information from AFL Victoria and the state government were key reasons behind the decision.
Both leagues will block clearances until AFL Victoria has implemented a permit system and all leagues announce their intentions to play on or reset for next season.
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