LAST weekend the Millewa Football League (MFL) grand final was scheduled to be played, today it would have been the Sunraysia Football Netball League’s (SFNL) big day.
But unfortunately, because of COVID-19, neither league will be crowning a champion team in any grade of football or netball this year.
Eternally etched into the history books the words: “No football, 2020”.
You have to go back to World War II and 77 years ago to find the last time footy wasn’t played here for the entire season.
It’s a stark reminder of the impact this unpredictable virus has had on our lives, but unfortunately I think we are going to have to endure more pain before things get better.
Like businesses across the country and the world, sport has been affected and will continue to be as administrators plot a path forward.
We have already seen the AFL react, slashing jobs and restructuring second-tier competitions like the VFL, NEAFL and its elite junior pathway, the NAB League.
All prompted by the financial impact COVID-19 has had and will continue to have on the funding of sport.
How it affects the leagues in this region is a discussion which needs to be had now.
We can’t wait until next year to see how things pan out and, unfortunately, I think the writing is on the wall for the Millewa.
No one wants to see football clubs and leagues disband, but I can’t see how the competition survives.
It has been hanging on by a thread in recent years, but COVID might be the tipping point.
If the rumours are right, a couple of clubs are struggling and with a competition that only has six teams, it only needs one or two to fall over for the league to be unviable.
I know I will be crticised by some sections of the football community for coming out and saying what I have, but now is not the time to sugar coat things.
The ball is firmly in the court of the clubs and the administrators of the Millewa Football League.
They need to call an urgent meeting to determine if the league is going to be viable next season.
Don’t wait a couple of months and hope clubs will get their houses in order.
Have the tough discussions now with the key stakeholders and develop a plan moving forward, if anything, it will shed some light on where each club sits.
How can it hurt? And it might just be the push everyone needs to ensure the survival of the league.
The MFL has a unique place in the football and netball fabric of this region, but if it’s going to survive, it needs some strong leadership and a clear direction forward.
