YJFL: League pulls pin on season 2020
Australia’s largest junior football competition has provided its latest update on its season, following stage four restrictions in Victoria...
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Australia’s largest junior football competition has provided the latest update on its season on the back of the state government-imposed stage four restrictions in Victoria.
The Yarra Junior Football League has announced it will not proceed with a traditional season in 2020, a month after it announced it was “deferring, not cancelling” its 2020 competition.
“In response to the Victorian government’s most recent stage four announcements, and the anticipated timing of the restrictions being lifted, it is with great sadness that we announce that the Board has resolved that the League will not offer its traditional, fixtured football season in 2020,” YJFL president Jeff Hooper said in a statement.
The YJFL, which comprises 32 clubs, 550 teams and around 11,000 players in Melbourne’s north and east, was set to kick off on July 12 with a 14-week season.
But the announcement of a six-week lockdown in Melbourne from July 8 forced the league’s hand to shelve the season for the time being.
The latest lockdown in metropolitan Melbourne, which is set to last until at least September 13, has proven to be a bridge too far after the league was optimistic that a fixtured season would get underway at some stage.
Despite the significant setback, the YJFL hasn’t given up hope just yet of providing some form of action to its thousands of participants this year.
“We understand the importance of football and activity to young people, and are committed to supporting clubs who have an interest in running other types of football activity, later in the year, should that be possible,” Hooper said.
“This may include club training sessions, practice matches against local teams, AFL 9s type games and perhaps even training or matches during the school holidays.
“The League will maintain its insurance coverage for our players, and we know Clubs are maintaining their ground tenancies to enable some activity, should it be permitted by the government.”
The YJFL board will meet with clubs next Tuesday to finalise the “nature and extent” of the reimbursement process.
“It is important to note there will be a continuing approach for families experiencing hardship,” Hooper said.
Hooper thanked all involved with the YJFL.
“The Board thanks all our member clubs, officials, players, volunteers and sponsors for their hard work and support. It has been the most challenging of years for our club officials, requiring hard work, flexibility, resilience and commitment,” he said.
“We look forward to bringing football back to our community.”