Dear VCFA members,

Following the announcement that Stage 3 lockdowns will recommence across Melbourne, we are saddened to confirm that no VCFA season will be able to proceed during the 2020 calendar year.

Under Stage 3 restrictions there are only four legal reasons to leave home. Unfortunately community sport is not amongst those reasons. All community sport has therefore been cancelled for the next 6 weeks or until further notice.

It is each club’s jurisdiction whether you choose to allow training until tomorrow evening 11.59pm. If teams intend to train over the next 24 hours, please ensure you follow the return-to-training guidelines strictly, clean your hands and maintain social-distancing. As from Thursday 9 July, all community sport activity must cease in line with the lockdown restrictions.

We note that having no revenue in 2020 will have a significant financial impact on the association. However it is the opinion of the Board that the needs of players and clubs must be prioritised at this time. As previously advised, the VCFA intends to refund all fees invoiced to clubs in respect of the 2020 season over the coming weeks.  Please be patient as we work through this process without a treasurer.

From the bottom of our hearts, we wish to thank you, our club volunteers, for your attempts to return to a modified season. It was an incredible effort to follow the guidelines put in place for the safety of our members in order to return to training, and your efforts have not gone unnoticed. Wa truly are grateful for each of you and your heart for our players, our clubs and our Association.

Understandably this news will bring disappointment among our football community, as we ourselves are disappointed. We intend to keep open and ongoing communication with all our members via email and social media, to the best of our ability over the coming weeks and months. Please do not hesitate to get in contact with us if we can support you or your club in any way.

In His Service,

The VCFA Board