The Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League executive has officially cancelled the 2020 season for all football and netball due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
After months of speculation among the league’s 14 clubs, players and supporters on whether there would be any local community football and netball or not, the league’s much-awaited final decision was announced on Friday afternoon.
“Unfortunately, there were insufficient teams available in any age group to be able to proceed with a season,” the league advised media.
All MCDFNL clubs finally know where they stand, as prospects for a possible shortened season ebbed and flowed as the COVID-19 situation fluctuated in Victoria.
The league’s executive spent considerable time consulting with clubs in recent weeks, providing a range of options for conducting the various football and netball competitions within the league.
“However, the position of the overwhelming majority of clubs over the past two weeks has moved to being uncomfortable with trying to participate in a season within the current COVID-19 environment,” it was stated.
The MCDFL executive members understand that there are going to be clubs disappointed with the abandonment decision after working hard to keep their clubs actively functioning over the past three months.
The league assures all that it will now begin work actively to try and ensure all grades of football and netball can be reformed for the 2021 season, enabling the football and netball clubs to regain their important roles in the local communities.
The decision is probably still hitting home among players and supporters; some leagues have scrapped senior football, but continued with netball and junior matches.
Trentham Football Netball Club’s committee will be meeting soon to weigh up the season cancelled implications.
“Although we would have loved to have played this season the members and supporters of our club and the overall community is paramount,” a spokesman said.
