TIMING and injury concerns meant Warrnambool and District league had no choice but to rule a line through its 2020 season.
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That's the assessment from Allansford footballer Dylan Cross and Merrivale netball coach Carly Peake who applauded Wednesday night's decision.
Allansford footballer Dylan Cross described the cancellation, following months of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 restrictions, as "a no-brainer".
The midfielder, who was preparing for his second season in the blue and white hoops, said time had become a factor.
"I'm obviously disappointed I'm not going to be able to play footy this year but I think it was a bit of a no-brainer in the end just looking at how late it was getting in the year," Cross said.
"I think everyone was losing a little bit of motivation, a little bit of fitness.
"It was meant to be a week of contact training before we were meant to play and that was a bit unrealistic, just to expect guys to have their bodies right for a full game."
Cross said uncertainly around potential start dates would've made planning difficult.
"It was going to be a bit too hard to get it all organised and do it properly and I think everyone would've liked to have played each other once," he said.
"I don't think it was going to be possible with how late it was getting."
Allansford was one of the first clubs in the south-west to return to training in May.
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Cross, 25, said the Cats, under coach Ben Price, would keep that option open for its senior footballers.
"We've still been training right up to now and I think if they're getting enough numbers to training they're going to continue going for the next few weeks," he said.
Cross said he would train in between work commitments with Warrnambool Cheese and Butter.
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He has taken on more work during football's hiatus.
The former East Warrnambool player said Allansford would enter 2021 in a strong position.
"In the practice games we played earlier this year we looked like we had a lot more speed with younger under 18 kids," Cross said.
"That was very promising so hopefully we can hold everyone together and keep training with them kids."
Peake, who led Merrivale to the 2019 A grade premiership, said the decision was a relief. "I think it was the best possible outcome," she said.
"It was probably two months too late to start a season. We're getting to the gritty weather of the winter and you've got to start to think about some older bodies and injuries.
"And at the end of the day, I don't think we'd want to be a winner of a nine-round comp, we'd rather play out a proper season."
Peake is confident the Tigers will maintain their list.
"Most of the girls we had last year were playing again this year and we were just adding in some returning players, so essentially we had no new players to the club," she said.
"The bonus for us is next year all of them girls will be hanging around again."
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