Football and netball in the Geelong region has been cancelled for 2020.
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The AFL Barwon Commission, the Colac and District Football Netball League board and Geelong and District Football League executive announced today the decision to cancel the Geelong Football Netball League, Bellarine Football Netball League, CDFNL and GDFL senior football and senior netball home and away competitions for season 2020.
This decision includes senior football home and away seasons (including seniors and reserves) for all listed competitions, as well as all senior netball home and away seasons (including all senior grades).
An AFL Barown statement said clubs were fully supportive of a united approach to the outcome of the 2020 senior football and netball premiership seasons.
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"All governing bodies/leagues remain committed to providing alternative competition models in a modified format for both senior football and netball, which will continue to be canvassed with the clubs and developed over the coming weeks,'' the statement said.
"All governing bodies/leagues also remain committed to conducting junior football, junior netball and senior female football competitions in 2020 and believe all players should be given the opportunity to play in some capacity safely in 2020, if they opt to do so with the support of their club.
"Based off extensive feedback and our duty to support clubs across the region, the difficult yet necessary decision to cancel senior home and away seasons ensures the sustainability of all clubs in the region.
"79% of senior clubs surveyed across the GFNL, BFNL, CDFNL and GDFL said they were either unsupportive of a premiership home and away season or were willing to follow an AFL Barwon Commission decision, and all governing bodies and leagues have listened to them.
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"The intention of AFL Barwon- as stipulated in its strategic plan, and all competitions in the region at the start of this unprecedented pandemic was to maintain the viability of our clubs and competitions, and that we would emerge with 44 senior member clubs. Through this decision, that will happen."
AFL Barwon region general manager Will McGregor said following a lengthy collaborative consultation process where key targets were established, this decision will allow all clubs to return in 2021 in the strongest position possible.
"Unfortunately, cancelling senior football and netball in 2020 is the only viable option to ensure the sustainability of 44 senior clubs," McGregor said.
The four AFL Barwon leagues join central Victorian-based Heathcote District Football League and North Central Football League on a list of competitions to pull the pin on 2020.
The Loddon Valley FNL has its next meeting on Thursday night where it's expected to make a final decision, while the Bendigo FNL is waiting for the next round of state government announcements before making a call on its season.
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