‘Absolute clarity’ is coming

AFL Barwon’s commission was last night still receiving and reviewing critical information ahead of one of the most important meetings in local footy history.

The local governing body will today make an announcement on the fate of the 2020 GFL and BFL seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Commissioners will dial into a Zoom meeting to discuss the season’s future after weeks of digesting information from football and health authorities.

AFL Barwon has promised to deliver a statement by tonight at the latest.

“The commission hasn’t made a decision yet,” AFL Barwon chairman Craig Keating said late yesterday.

“We made a commitment to make an announcement on the night. That was a month ago. We have accrued a whole lot of information since.

“We expect to give absolute clarity tomorrow night, as we promised the clubs we would do, because they’re wanting it and they want the information.

“We’re still processing that and we’re looking at all the options we’ve got open to us.”

Keating said the process had been as challenging as standing down AFL Barwon staff members during the early onslaught of COVID-19.

“It’s a really difficult time,” he said.

“We can’t look up a precedent of something that happened in the past. It is a really difficult time. We are still getting information. Even today, we’re still getting stuff.”

Keating said AFL Barwon was weighing up many factors.

He said the commission had received all relevant information from clubs, both the football and netball sections, to make an informed decision.

“Like I’ve said before, one, it’s about the health of our communities and the viabilities of our clubs,” he said.

“We want to make sure we make a sound decision based on what we know at the time. And we will do that.

“We want to make sure our clubs thrive and survive. That’s what we’re about.”