Why a major metro league made the decision to cancel 2020 season
The chief executive of one of Melbourne’s major metro footy leagues has explained why the 2020 has been cancelled, saying there was more to the decision than just financial pressures.
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Northern Football League boss Peter McDougall says the decision to cancel the 2020 season was made with the full backing of its clubs.
On Wednesday, the NFL and Eastern Football League were the first metropolitan leagues in the state to officially call off the season due to ongoing financial and health and safety concerns.
The decision was ratified at a league board meeting on Monday, the day before a scheduled meeting with AFL Victoria and fellow leagues on Tuesday.
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McDougall said the league had undertaken an exhaustive consultation process and the long-term viability of clubs had been a driving force throughout.
“It’s been really beneficial because I’ve been able to have an extended conversation, walking them through the pros and cons and giving them an opportunity to have their say,” McDougall said.
“Club presidents are more than across the challenges if we did try and play.
“The senior presidents were all very supportive, very understanding and we didn’t have one president saying we should play at all costs.”
The move comes ahead of AFL Victoria’s return to play roadmap release, which is expected to confirm dates for a season restart.
The remaining metropolitan leagues – WRFL, EDFL, VAFA and SFL – are expected to make final decisions on their seasons on June 22.
However, given the information at hand McDougall said the risks far outweighs the positives of playing football.
“Clubs have said to us ‘our clubs about our people and if our people can’t watch us play then we don’t want to play’,” he said.
“Ultimately, that’s what a local football club is, it’s a meeting place for the community to come together on a Saturday to have a beer and a chat and watch the footy at the same time.
“If we say (to clubs) you can’t have spectators or you can only have 100, our clubs were really concerned about managing the logistics of that.
“What happens if more people turn up than are allowed? Who’s responsible? What if the police turn up and say you’ve got too many people and have to stop the game until people leave.
“What pressure does that put on volunteers? Does that create incidents at the ground where people get caught up in confrontations that they shouldn’t have to be as volunteers.
“If we want 500 to 1000 people at North Heidelberg watching Boomer Harvey play, when we’re realistic that seems a long way away.”
While the COVID-19 curve has flattened, the pandemic remains a threat in Victoria.
Under AFL Victoria guidelines, clubs would be required to have government certified safety officers, clean surfaces continuously and limit access to facilities, which all come with associated costs.
The fear of an outbreak was another factor in the decision.
“It would be great to play footy this year, and we all want it to happen, but at some stage your head has to overrule your heart,” McDougall said.
“If there’s an outbreak what happens? How do we manage it? Does it wipe out an entire team and opposition for two weeks in isolation?
“Then you look at sanitisation, continually cleaning the changerooms, benches and all of a sudden the list of challenges to get a game up is too much.”
While senior football has been called off, junior football and netball remain strong chances to return in some form in 2020.