MOST BACK RULING

“IT’S a sad day for football,” is how local administrators and coaches described the move to abandon the 2020 season.

In an overwhelming show of support for AFL Barwon, almost 80 per cent of clubs in the GFNL, BFNL, GDFNL and CDFNL were supportive of a decision to cancel the season amid the coronavirus.

But not everyone was in favour of the decision, with St Mary’s premiership co-coach Travis Robertson lashing out.

“I’m very disappointed,” Robertson said last night.

“I just think it’s wrong. I still maintain it’s lazy and we’re not trying hard enough to make things work.

“And if there’s clubs that don’t want to participate, don’t participate. Come back next year.”

He said the club was also supportive of his views, declaring senior Saints officials were desperate to play.

“We have discussed as a club what we’d like to see happen right the way through, and I have said all along that a decision on this day (June 9) was too early,” Robertson said.

“We’re talking about a survey that’s four weeks old at the minute. The world changes weekly and we’ve explored all avenues and the clubs that want to play are being impacted by the clubs that don’t want to play.”

While he expressed his anger at the call, rival clubs backed the decision.

“It’s what everyone was expecting and I think it’s justified,” Colac president Matt Gibson said.

“It covers off what we’re trying to do . . . make sure that everyone is still here in 2021 and we can reset.”

Lara president Shane Bennett echoed those sentiments.

“It’s super disappointing for everyone involved — players, supporters, sponsors, members and volunteers — but by the same token, I am 100 per cent supportive of the decision,” Bennett said.

“There’s more at stake than a game of footy. It’s the greatest game there is, however, we have to be realistic from not only a financial point of view, but community clubs are staffed by volunteers and with uncertainty around everything, it’s too difficult to go ahead.

“Volunteers shouldn’t be charged with the responsibility of ensuring protocols are met with social distancing. It’s unrealistic to expect someone to police that sort of thing and they are the things behind the scenes, rather than going out and having a kick, that seriously need to be considered.”

Modewarre president Mick Fitzgerald lamented a season without community sport at senior level, but felt the correct call had been made.

“We’ve been of the view that we would support AFL L Barwon with whatever decision they make,” Fitzgerald said.

“It’s a difficult decision and a sad day for local footy, but in the grand scheme of things, there’s plenty of sad things happening in the world and you take it all into account.

“It’s gives people six months to focus on 2021. From a community point of view, our club isn’t closing the doors . . . we’re going to continue to run almost as a social club once restrictions have eased.”

Initially one of three GDFL L clubs pushing for a return to play, Bell Post Hill football manager Tony Dosen admitted his club was now content to be sitting the season out.

“With no easing of restrictions, that’s all they could do, really,” Dosen said. “We’re disappointed . . . we wanted to have a season, but with no contact training in place anywhere, how could we have a season as early as the 11th of July?”

Bannockburn premiership coach Peter Riccardi agreed.

“Considering what the AFL has to go through, for local leagues to get going with no return to play (date) and no canteens, bars and social events . . . and we’re struggling to make money to pay players, it just couldn’t happen,” Riccardi said

“Not only that, the safety of our players and volunteers has to come first.

“If one player gets COVID-19 and plays against another club, that’s two clubs shut down and it would just be a snowball effect. Until restrictions are eased, I don’t see how we could have played.”

Barwon Heads will not have the chance to unfurl its BFL flag, but president Tim Goddard declared AFL Barwon had got it right.

“We would have liked to have played, but we fully understand AFL Barwon’s decision and back it,” Goddard said.

The Seagulls are not, however, overly supportive of a modified competition.