TWO Hampden Football Netball League players have begun to prepare for life without their respective competitive sports in 2020.
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The HFNL executive and the league's 11 clubs decided on Wednesday night to abandon the 2020 season in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and because of uncertainty around returning to play.
South Warrnambool defender Harry Lee and Terang Mortlake utility Melissa Burt were both disappointed about the prospect of no football or netball in 2020 but praised the league for the way it handled the decision.
"It's disappointing as I felt we had a good team on the list and also not to be able to play with the boys but I guess it's the right thing to do," Lee told The Standard.
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The 2018 Rooster best and fairest winner said the playing group would continue to meet up weekly despite the cancellation of their season and was eager to return next year.
"Everyone has said they were going to play regardless as I am assuming they all want to have a crack at winning a premiership as a side," the 23-year-old said.
"We have been together a few years now and I don't see why one year will change that."
Burt, who moved to the Bloods in 2019, said momentum would take a hit in 2021.
"I completely understand the decision but it's going to be tough for some clubs to keep momentum going for next year," she said.
The 2020 season was going to be the 26-year-old's last chance to play netball in the league before moving overseas and she felt the side was in a good place for success this season.
"We retained all our players from last year and picked up my sister (Lisa Anders) to come across and it would have been good to play with her again," Burt said.
"I'n moving overseas (to New Zealand) in September and I was hoping to get some netball in before I go. I'm really sad I'm not to be able to play in the district for a while."
Lee said he now had more time for work and weekends free in winter for the first time in a while.
"It will be good to get a weekend free but I am not sure what I will do as it's an interesting time when you can't do everything you want to," he said,
"Hopefully restrictions ease and we will be able to do some stuff other than that I will be sitting at home."
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Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
