WRFL 2020: Hoppers Crossing coach wants local footy season cancelled
Former AFL player and Hoppers Crossing coach Steve Kretiuk says he is confident his club would survive a season without crowds but does not think the 2020 season should go ahead. And he explains why.
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One of the Western Region Football League’s most experienced coaches has declared the 2020 season should be scrapped.
Former Western Bulldogs defender Steve Kretiuk, who has been calling the shots at Hoppers Crossing since 2014, said clubs should reset for next year for the health of the competition.
Victoria’s six senior metropolitan leagues – the WRFL, VAFA, NFL, SFL, EDFL and EFL – are set to decide on the viability of a campaign early next month amid the coronavirus crisis.
Clubs are concerned the costs to run half a season combined with the absence of their usual game-day revenue and loss of sponsorship could put them in a perilous financial position.
“Personally, I don’t think the season should go ahead,” Kretiuk said.
“At Hoppers Crossing, we’ll be fine. Financially, we can cover this season without crowds and we don’t rely on the game-day crowds to generate money.
“We’ve got other avenues – we’ve got some great sponsors and we’ve had a couple of functions already. We’re fine.
“But there is going to be a lot of clubs that will really struggle. I feel for them. We shouldn’t have our blinkers on and just worry about ourselves.
“It’s a footy community we’ve got to worry about.”
Football and cricket sources have told Leader that AFL Victoria has asked the government to help get football up and running by allowing up to 500 spectators to watch games.
The AFL said no approach for an exemption had been made.
On the back of Cricket Victoria’s agreement with AFL Victoria to extend the football season in October and approval to return to non-contact training, crowds would be a significant boost for clubs.
But even without player payments, clubs could face costs of $50,000 for a nine-round season.
“I understand players want money, but the club is bigger than any individual going around,” Kretiuk said.
“We’ve got to be mindful of club survival and club longevity in the whole of Victoria I think. We’ve got to be smart and make sure we put that first before players.
“Players will come out next year and they’ll get their money, but there will be some clubs that don’t survive this. They won’t be able to generate the income for their players this year.
“You can’t have a season without every club and without every competition because it just creates too many headaches with transfers and stuff like that.
“I think it’s one in, all in.”
Two country competitions – the Millewa and Heathcote District leagues – have cancelled their seasons.
WRFL chief executive Matthew Duck said the “vast majority” of clubs favoured a season going ahead if it was safe to proceed.
AFL Victoria head of community football Stephen O’Donohue said: “AFL Victoria will continue to talk to leagues, but I can’t comment on what decisions leagues may or may not make. That is a question for the leagues.”
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