BREAKING IT DOWN

IN A NUTSHELL

ALL senior football and netball across the region’s four leagues — GFNL, BFNL, GDFNL and CDFNL — has been cancelled THAT includes reserves football; and all senior netball sections to E Grade IT IS the first time in 77 years that football will not be played in the Geelong region, with no sanctioned games in 1942-43 due to World War II THERE is a commitment to ensuring junior football and junior netball seasons go ahead

THE AFL Barwon senior women’s football league will also attempt to play

MAJOR REASONS FOR THE CALL

Concerns raised by senior football and netball clubs included: UNCERTAINTY around a clear path back to return to play CHALLENGES around generating revenue without the bars and canteens, including social functions THE burden on volunteers THE inability to effectively manage crowds to comply with the State Government restrictions HEALTH concerns with COVID-19 VARYING financial implications.

WHAT’S NEXT?

“ALTERNATIVE COMPETITIONS”, such as a lightning premiership, will be explored for later in the year AFL BARWON will work with clubs to shore up their survival CLEARANCES remain open, so players could land at a club in a league that decides to play on

THE Warrnambool Standard yesterday reported online: “Southwest football and netball clubs could be in the prized position to scoop up players from AFL Barwon after its four member leagues voted to cancel their 2020 seasons.” The district’s major league, the Hampden FNL, is yet to publicly commit to a deadline on its season. The link between Geelong and Warrnambool-based clubs is long established