WARRNAMBOOL and District league has cancelled its 2020 season, citing concerns around coronavirus restrictions.
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League president Kylie Murphy told The Standard on Wednesday night it was the right decision for its long-term future.
The competition's 10 clubs - Allansford, Dennington, Kolora-Noorat, Merrivale, Nirranda, Old Collegians, Panmure, Russells Creek, South Rovers and Timboon Demons - met and voted to abandon the senior football and netball grades.
"It was unanimous for the senior competition," Murphy said.
"It was quite an easy decision but not taken lightly of course."
Murphy said there was belief a season could be run before Premier Daniel Andrews spoke on Saturday announcing a tightening of social distancing restrictions.
"There was hope but with the new restrictions coming out it definitely changed the clubs' minds not knowing when we were guaranteed a starting date for contact training or any form of competition," she said.
The league will run a junior competition, which will start on August 1 and run for eight weeks.
"We have a format placed out," Murphy said.
"There will be no finals though. We will finish on September 19.
"We will still have to comply with state government restrictions and with the AFL Victoria and Netball Victoria protocols."
Murphy, a first-year president, said she was keen to retain the role in 2021.
"The clubs have been really supportive with me and my position," she said.
"The support from the board has been fantastic and that is what you need.
"I am hoping to see at least a game of football and netball under my control.
"But that is out of my control as well, we'll see what happens in October or November when we have our annual general meeting."
Panmure president Maree Condon said it was a relief to have a decision.
She agreed with Murphy, saying the weekend's announcement made it easier to make a call.
"That was the end basically for the seniors," Condon said.
"It's community football and if you can't have a crowd there to watch it, it's not financial for us.
"You need a gate, you need a canteen, you need all those things."
Condon said it was a priority to get juniors playing this year.
"They need something I think," she said.
Kolora-Noorat president Paul Dunn said it was "a relief we have a decision".
"There are too many variables to go ahead," he said.
He said a policy where players could switch leagues for the season would've also "opened a can of worms".
Dunn said Kolora-Noorat - the league's senior football reigning premier - was confident it would retain its list for next year.
"I know we had a few blokes who were thinking this might be their last year so hopefully they are fresh enough to go one more season," he said.
South West District on May 27 became the first league in the region to cancel its season.
Hampden league followed suit on June 10 and Mininera and District also abandoned its season tonight.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced all grassroots sport to halt in March.
It came just weeks out from the Warrnambool and District league's original start date.
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