Chris Febvre • July 14, 2020
Ovens & King Football Netball Season Cancelled
Ovens & King Football Netball Season Cancelled
The Ovens & King Football Netball League has announced their decision to cancel their football and netball competitions for season 2020 due to ongoing COVID-19 influences.
Following extensive consultation and communication with their clubs and other regional leagues, AFL North East Border and AFL Victoria throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the Board moved on Monday based on several influencing factors.
Recent feedback from clubs presented to the Board had an overwhelming desire for the future of the 2020 season to be determined immediately and cancelling the season was deemed the most appropriate action to ensure the long-term sustainability of their clubs and the league.
League Chairman Peter Byrne said “The OKFNL Board considered the health and safety of participants and the wider community and protecting them during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“Clubs have raised concerns of their exposure to financial risk that playing half a season would bring; the number of additional requirements for volunteers; the inability to effectively manage crowds to comply with current social distancing rules and crowd restrictions at venues and importantly, not wanting to play matches without their local community being able to attend without restriction” he said, “With current restrictions on a club’s ability to operate canteen, bar and catering services expected to continue and the health restrictions and hygiene expectations on wet areas including showers, it places obstacles in front of clubs to function sustainably.”
“With the ongoing uncertainty around a season being a major concern for clubs, the league believed that clubs needed and were seeking clarity; we have now been able to provide that”
Byrne said the OKFNL had conducted a lengthy and thorough consultation process with all its clubs and key stakeholders prior to making its decision and was committed to beginning 2021 with all its clubs in the strongest possible position to succeed in the long term.
“The OKFNL Board has maintained a view throughout this process that it must lead and supporting our clubs into the future as the most powerful thing we can do” Byrne said.
The OKFNL are committed to working closely with AFL North East Border and all member clubs to manage the associated issues relating to the cancellation of all football and netball competitions in 2020 and will now focus on supporting clubs towards a return to the fields and courts in 2021.
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