SEVERAL Wimmera league club presidents say the decision to cancel the 2020 Wimmera league season was disappointing but sensible amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Clubs were unanimous on cancelling the 2020 Wimmera Football League and Wimmera Netball Association senior seasons at a meeting with the Wimmera league commission on Monday night.
Horsham Saints president Nathan Martin said the Saints were interested in playing a truncated 2020 season up until the point restrictions were tightened at the weekend.
"It would've been great to get something back, but ultimately time, and the changing of government restrictions on Saturday, just meant that we had to make the decision to call it off," Mr Martin said.
"Right through this period, the Wimmera Football League commission has been open and honest with us about how they wanted to go about it, and we supported that. We needed to give it time, to wait and make the right decision.
"It turns out only with the very recent events that there was no way it could go ahead, and the right decision was made for the community in the end."
Mr Martin said the season's cancellation gave the club a chance to review "back of house policies and procedures".
While some clubs had elected not to train under the strict state-wide guidelines outlined in May, Minyip-Murtoa had been hosting both senior football and netball training once a week.
Burras' president Scott Arnold said that was likely to continue, despite the season's cancellation.
"There's been a good reception to it. It might not be traditional football and netball training, more just some fun activities to help keep everyone connected and allow people to exercise," Mr Arnold said.
"Sport is the thing that brings us together, [but] the social connectivity is what is at the heart and soul of every club.
"We still want to keep connected. Restrictions will determine what that looks like, but we're hoping there could be a few more options a little later in the year."
Mr Arnold said it had been a difficult time for every football-netball club navigating the unknown.
"Like every facet of life at the moment, when you're in charge of something and you can't provide answers, it's frustrating," he said.
"So it's been a challenge, but it's a pretty crazy world at the moment.
"We've got to look at the big picture and come through this strong as a whole community."
Clubs will now focus on junior football and netball, with most clubs interested in running a modified junior program, potentially in conjunction with the Horsham District league.
Horsham Football Netball Club president Rod Dumesny said offering something was incredibly important for the juniors' physical and mental health.
"We'll take a big breath and concentrate heavily on our juniors. That's what makes our club for the future," Mr Dumesny said.
"We rely on our juniors ... it makes us happy to bring kids through the club and nurture them along the way.
"We want to get them playing however we can - it doesn't matter who or what teams we can get together, just getting something going is what we're looking for."