Victoria’s second shutdown forces country football league to cancel season
A local football league on the fringes of Melbourne’s north-west suburbs has been forced to cancel its 2020 season after the state government enforced a secondary lockdown on Tuesday.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Victoria’s second COVID-19 shutdown has claimed the Riddell District Football Netball League’s 2020 season.
The league had been determined to stick to AFL Victoria’s return to play guidelines in the hope of getting a season off the ground but Tuesday’s announcement proved too much.
The state government put 36 Melbourne suburbs back into lockdown, the majority in the city’s north-west.
OUT: ROMSEY PUT COMMUNITY HEALTH BEFORE FOOTY
LEADER: GET YOUR RIDDELL FOOTY NEWS HERE
DECISION: EVERY LEAGUE IN VICTORIA’S STATE OF PLAY
With several clubs nearby and a host of players living in the area, it was a body blow to the RDFNL’s hopes.
The league released a statement on Tuesday night expressing their disappointment.
“The board wishes to thank all of our clubs for their patience and commitment to forging ahead with a 2020 season,” it read.
“In light of the state government’s decision to lockdown 10 suburbs in Melbourne’s north west, the board feels as if there is no way that our competitions can commence.
“The RDFNL will meet with our junior clubs on Monday night to discuss the future of the RDFNL junior competitions in 2020.
“The RDFNL looks forward to working with all of our relevant stakeholders to begin the planning and preparation for a return to Senior Competition in 2021.”
Even if a season had gone ahead it would have been without Romsey.
The Redbacks officially withdrew from the season on Sunday citing health and safety and burden on volunteer concerns.
“Ultimately, it was the health and welfare of our supporters, our community and our players,” Romsey president Eden Jedwab said.
“When you look at businesses like Coles and McDonalds and they can’t keep it under control.
“For a community football club to keep it under control is a big ask and to put that responsibility on volunteers, it’s just too much.”
Only the Bendigo Football League is still holding out in the region.
Five community football competitions have yet to cancel their senior seasons – Bendigo, AFL Outer East, Southern, VAFA and Omeo District.