AFL WESTERN District commercial and operations manager Matt Ross is calling for clubs to plan ahead due to the uncertain future of the sport in the region.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Mininera and District Football League and the newly named Western Victoria Female Football League (formally DUFFL) sit under the AFLWD.
A memo sent to leagues, clubs and key stakeholders about the impact of COVID-19 outlined AFLWD had followed the AFL and AFL Victoria in restructuring its business operations for the ongoing viability of the sport.
This meant many of AFLWD's staff will be temporarily stood down from March 30 until May 31.
Operations coordinators Mike Farrow and Bel Jones, football development managers Jock Whiting and Alicia Drew, finance manager and club development officer Tim Mason and director of umpiring Jock Hilgrove are the impacted team members.
Ross said it was disappointing to have to let six colleagues go when AFLWD was heading in a positive direction.
"It's a real shame as we were hoping to be kicking lots of goals this season," he said.
"The Hampden league was preparing to film every game and we were doing some good work with our umpiring associations and with our sponsors to drive digital channels and it is really a shame that all if it has to be put on ice."
Ross will continue but with a reduced working week of three days where he will assist clubs in surviving the lockdown, which is in place until May 31.
Ross asked clubs to plan ahead in case competitions are unable to resume in June.
More coronavirus coverage:
"The reality is that we may not get seasons in at all," he said.
"Some sponsors have already felt the impact on their businesses and we need to plan for the worse with no games, no sponsorship and no social functions.
"That's actually a big reality and we have to look into scenarios for the future."
The postponement of the region's six competitions is expected to be reviewed in mid-April.
We have removed our paywall from our stories about the coronavirus. This is a rapidly changing situation and we want to make sure our readers are as informed as possible. If you would like to support our journalists you can subscribe for the Wimmera Mail-Times here, for the Stawell Times-News here, and for the Ararat Advertiser here.
Sean Hardeman
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
I'm a sports journalist for the Warrnambool Standard who covers a number of different sports across the south-west of Victoria. I enjoy watching cycling, surfing, football, soccer and Formula 1.
