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STRATHDALE-Maristians captain Ben DeAraugo says he and his team-mates are shattered they won't get to experience another BDCA grand final this weekend.
The Suns were due to take on Huntly-North Epsom in this weekend's first XI grand final at the QEO. It would have been the Suns' ninth grand final in the past 12 seasons, but on Tuesday was abandoned.
Following a recommendation from Cricket Australia in response to the coronavirus pandemic to cancel all cricket, the BDCA has called off all this week's senior and junior grand finals.
"We're shattered that we don't get the chance to play in a grand final this weekend," DeAraugo said on Wednesday.
"We got together as a team last night and went around the group discussing how we were all feeling. The general feeling is that while we're disappointed, it pales into insignificance on the impact this situation is having on the health of some people, on business and people's general livelihood.
"At the end of the day, it's a game of cricket, so while we are disappointed, there are plenty of people hurting more than we are."
Although the grand finals are cancelled, the BDCA still has a decision to make on Thursday night in regards to who it will award premierships to given - unlike weather - there are no rules for dealing with the impact of a pandemic abandonment.
Courtesy of an outright win over Bendigo in round 12, the Suns finished on top of the ladder by one point from the Power.
"It's not the way we'd want to win a premiership, but we believe we deserve it given we've finished on top of the ladder and defeated every other team, including Huntly-North Epsom twice (in season-proper and one-day final)," DeAraugo said.
While bitterly disappointed the grand final won't proceed, DeAraugo says the BDCA has made the right call to heed the recommendation of Cricket Australia.
"The health and safety of not only the cricket community, but the broader community, needs to be a priority and we totally understand why the decision has been made and support it," DeAraugo said.
Power captain Elliott Massina agrees.
"With everything that is going on, it's just not worth the risk. While we would loved to have played off in a grand final and maybe won it, there's bigger things in the world than a game of cricket," Massina said.
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