It’s with sadness that we confirm the VAFA board met on Wednesday and determined the 2020 VAFA season will be cancelled.
We know this decision took significant consideration and we commend all at VAFA HQ and the VAFA board for their management and leadership during the COVID-19 crisis to date. We must remember that the health and safety of our community is paramount.
We’d like to thank our players, coaches, medical staff, volunteers, and members who have remained loyal and committed to the club during the uncertainty of the past five months. Despite the adversity thrown their way, they adapted and ensured they were doing all they could to stay match ready. Whilst we haven’t been able to take on our first year in Premier B like we’d hoped or try and claim our first women’s premiership, we will use this as an opportunity to prepare and be even stronger in 2021.
To our valued sponsors, thank you for your support this year – our club simply wouldn’t be standing in the position it is without your efforts and contributions. We know that for many of you, this year has been incredibly challenging for your businesses – we stand with you, we support you and we look forward to continuing our partnerships in 2021 and beyond.
To our committee members, so much of your work is completed behind the scenes and goes unrecognised. Thank you for adapting, for persevering and for doing whatever needs to be done to help ensure our club survives through the COVID-19 crisis.
Financially, the club has been doing all they can to ensure its survival. We are confident we will come through the otherside of this. The club will be running some fundraisers over the coming months to help support our continuity and we would be grateful for any contribution of support, however large or small it will all help. Now that we have certainty over the season, club officials will be processing refunds to all players and members who have paid 2020 season fees. We thank those players and members who had paid their fees for being so patient and understanding during this time.
Whilst the 2020 season may be cancelled, the CY’s are still hard at work. Our coaches will be meeting shortly to put together plans for our 2021 season commencement. We will have some exciting announcements over the next few weeks regarding our 2021 coaching appointments. Our electronic scoreboard was erected last week and looks superb amongst the Fearon landscape. The Harsley Pavilion upgrade is close to being finalised. In addition to this, Hobsons Bay City Council have scheduled upgrades to the Fearon floodlighting which is due to start in September 2020. We will all have so much to celebrate when footy returns in 2021.
Please stay safe, look out for one another and keep footy firmly in your sights – we’ll be back bigger and better in 2021.
Kind Regards,
Steph Payne
President
Rod Ford
Vice President –
Football Operations
Gavin Deller
Vice President – Commercial Operations