Now that the 2020 Central Victorian Football League Women's season has been officially cancelled, plans are already in place to the make the competition even bigger and better next year.
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AFLCV regional operations manager Norm Sheahan said the league waited as long as it possibly could before it made the announcement on Thursday night.
"The possibility of a season was starting to look harder and harder each week and the decision to cancel was made in the best interests of all the clubs and the community," Sheahan said.
"The players are disappointed as they were keen to get out and play football, in one way they were happy to go ahead, but at the same time happy to give it a miss with all that's going on.
"They are now focused on next year."
The CVFLW has teams from Kyneton to as far as Kerang, who were locked in for their first season in the league.
"It was a real blow for Kerang, but they were supportive and happy with the decision."
Kangaroo Flat coach Mark Hull said the club supported the CVFLW's decision to cancel the 2020 season.
"With everything that's happened recently, 100 per cent it's the right thing to do," he said.
"It's more of a relief now that we know that the season won't be going ahead as it was in limbo for so long which was undoubtedly weighing on the girls.
"I was also really excited for this season. All the league's teams had improved and it was shaping up to be a very exciting year.
"The standard and professionalism of the league was getting better and better."
Even though there was uncertainty in recent weeks, Roos players had been hard at work at training sessions, but as time went on the numbers started reducing.
"When we first came back from lock down numbers were really good and enthusiasm was through the roof. But as the second wave hit a few weeks ago, numbers started to drop off as there was so much uncertainty," Hull said.
One thing that is for certain is the CVFLW's determination to not let the cancellation of the 2020 season impact the league's growth.
Sheahan said there were plans for the addition of an extra team in 2021, bringing the total to eight.
"It would be nice to lock in one more team which would then avoid a bye and we have a few possibilities for teams that will have an opportunity to join."
The current teams in the competition are Kangaroo Flat, Kyneton, North Bendigo, Eaglehawk, Kerang, Strathfieldsaye and reigning 2019 premiers Golden Square.
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