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THE North Central Football League has become the second competition in the region to cancel its 2020 season.
Following a meeting of clubs and the board on Thursday night, the decision was made to abandon the season with continued uncertainty around a return-to-play and health and safety concerns for the community in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
North Central joins the Heathcote District league as the two AFL Central Victoria senior competitions that have abandoned its 2020 seasons.
"Without a (start) date yet, it makes it hard for clubs to work out their training schedules and because it's gone on for so long, most of the clubs wanted a decision," NCFL general manager Lance Standfield said on Friday morning.
"We got the opinions of the clubs and the board then discussed it. We've looked at alternatives, but it came back to if there's no crowds then there's no play and the concern of what could happen if the virus got into a community due to the football club."
The Bendigo Advertiser is still awaiting confirmation as to whether the cancellation will also apply to the North Central hockey and netball as the three competitions are all run separately.
The North Central league features Birchip-Watchem, Boort, Charlton, Donald, Sea Lake Nandaly, St Arnaud, Wedderburn and Wycheproof-Narraport.
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