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THE Loddon Valley league has no regrets at making the call to abandon its season just days before return to full contact training and competition dates were announced.
The LVFNL made the tough decision after meeting with its clubs last Thursday night to cancel its 2020 season.
One of the continued concerns for the league and its clubs prior to making the cancellation call was there was still no confirmed dates as to when full training and competition would be permitted to begin.
That confirmation though came on Sunday morning when the state government announced that sport for 18-and-under participants could begin full training and competition from next Monday, while a senior pathway return was also revealed.
Full contact senior training can resume July 13 and games on July 20, meaning the first weekend available for games would be July 25.
Given that July 25 date and the league's intention to not encroach into October and impact on harvesting season given its strong farming base, the league could have played 10 Saturdays.
That would have been enough for a nine round home and away season where all teams play each other once, which was considered the minimum, but just one week of finals.
"With the dates that were announced on Sunday, that July 25 start would have put it outside of our timeframes," LVFNL chair Simon Tuohey said on Tuesday.
"As frustrating as it is, that (dates for full training and playing) is the clarity we had been after the whole time with no answers until after we've made our decision.... at what point do you say enough is enough?
"So you make a call and you've got to stick by it."
Loddon Valley clubs voted 8-1 at last week's meeting to cancel the season, with only Maiden Gully YCW voting to delay a final call.
In announcing its decision, the LVFNL outlined four key concerns for clubs:
* the significant burden placed on volunteers;
* the uncertainty around how to generate revenue;
* no confirmation of key dates as to when full club training can commence, or season may start; and
* lack of information surrounding crowd numbers permitted to venues.
While there will be no LVFNL season this year, AFL Central Victoria has flagged the possibility of an added under-18 age group to the Bendigo Junior Football League to cater for Loddon Valley and Heathcote District junior sides, as well as running junior netball for the cancelled competitions.
This is the first year without an LVFNL season since 1944.
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