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WHAT was meant to be a centenary season of celebration for the Stanhope Football-Netball Club will instead be remembered as the year football and netball was cancelled.
The Kyabram District league made the decision on Wednesday night after a meeting between the executive and clubs to cancel its 2020 season due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, becoming the third to do so behind the Heathcote District and Millewa competitions.
A fourth regional league, South West District, confirmed on Thursday it too was cancelling its season.
The Kyabram District league said in a statement that football and netball must "finish second on the ladder of importance right now and our whole focus must be turned towards rebuilding and future planning."
"To our clubs, thankyou. Your support, patience and commitment to the league has been outstanding," league president Fraser Kerrins said.
"To our players, you will always have a home within the Kyabram District league. We know that you were looking forward to this year and no matter what happens we look forward to you joining us again in 2021.
"To our sponsors, your faith in our league and commitment to football and netball has been outstanding.
"And to our fans and supporters, we know you're heartbroken. But as we have said all along, football and netball will be back stronger than ever before."
Stanhope, which joined the KDFNL from the Heathcote District league in 1995, had centenary celebrations planned over the Queen's Birthday weekend next month.
But instead the Lions will have to wait until next year to commemorate their 100th milestone.
"We had a lot planned... we were going to have a big centenary dinner with a lot of people coming back to the club, we had a book to be published and special jumpers to be worn in our game against Girgarre, which is also in its centenary season," Stanhope president Jason Leocata said.
"So it's unfortunate we won't get to do that this year and we'll have to park our celebrations for the timebeing and look to next year."
Meanwhile, the South West District league notified AFL Western District on Thursday of its decision to abandon its 2020 season.
"The biggest concern for all clubs is the health and wellbeing of their players, coaches, supporters and volunteers. Due to there being so many unknown variables in relation to restrictions on contact training, competition contact play commencing and crowds, our clubs feel that the best and safest decision moving forward for their members and volunteers is to cancel our 2020 season," the league said.
"We believe this decision is in the best interests for all those involved within our league. Our members health and safety are our clubs and the league's top priority.
"We believe that at this point in time the risks outweigh the benefits when it comes to running a competition in the current COVID-19 environment."
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