FOOTBALL Federation Sunraysia (FFS) has cancelled the remainder of the home and away season and the impending finals series, however titles will be awarded across each grade.
Unlike a majority of sports in Sunraysia, S-League and J-League titles are awarded to the team who finishes on top of the ladder at the end of the season, meaning Mildura City are Senior Men’s champions, while Irymple Knights are the Senior Women’s victors.
FFS general manager Susan Watts said while it was disappointing to have to cancel the season, it has been a relief to at least get results for 2021.
“In soccer the premier event is the league so that was always our focus to finish that, but when the announcements were made Sunday (by premier Daniel Andrews) we could see the writing was on the wall for our local league,” she said.
“It is unfortunate but I think there is also a bit of relief because everyone seems to be struggling with all the uncertainty, where at least now we have been able to make a firm decision.”
The FFS board met via Zoom on Wednesday night to discuss how to move forward with the rest of the season, however following the recent release of the document by the Victorian Government
‘Victoria’s Roadmap, delivery of the national plan’, it has become clear there would be no possibility for the S-League to resume, or to play a finals series (for another trophy) prior to October 26 at the earliest.
Cups and medallions will be awarded to the winners and runners up of each age group, as per how they have finished on the ladders after Round 10.
The exceptions will be in Under-14s where Mildura City and Nichols Point will both be awarded equal winners with no runner up, and in Over 35s who had only played two rounds of their official competition.
Watts said there was hope that the Over-35 competition could continue as part of the Summer 7s, before trophies and medallions could be handed out at completion.
The usual season best and fairest, goal kicking, goal keeper and referee awards will all still be presented at the soonest possible date.
“I’m sure most clubs will still try to have their awards days as well, and we’re hoping we can do a league presentation of some sort, we’re just not entirely sure how that will work as yet,” Watts said.
The FFS board also made a decision to reduce the FFS portion of the 2021 player fee by 20 per cent, in line with the 20 per cent refund that Football Victoria is issuing to all registered players for that portion of the player fee.
According to the statement, FFS is still hopeful Summer 7s will still take place and could possibly start around Tuesday, November 9, for six weeks.
