THE decision to cancel the Mid South Eastern Football League 2020 season came Wednesday night to add the final piece to the puzzle regarding the sport in the region.
The COVID-19 pandemic was clearly the issue, as it has been with both the Western Border and Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara leagues.
While disappointing, it opens the door to the possibility of what has been described by some as a “Super League” between some clubs from the three different leagues in the interim.
A decision on that scenario is down the track, which was given further fuel after the MSEFL decision.
MSEFL president Peter Mitchell said it was a tough decision to call the season off after much deliberation over the preceding weeks.
He said the presidents of each club were under pressure to make a call, with various scenarios forcing their hands.
That included work arrangements for clubs who rely on fishermen and farmers to make up their playing ranks, the lateness of the season and the general protocols which had to be put in place and adhered to regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
In the end it was not a unanimous decision, but enough to call an end to the season.
“I gave every club a chance to have their say,” Mitchell said.
“There was not any point to have a formal vote – it was clear.
“There were only two clubs who were really keen to play and another one if we had six teams.
“A number of clubs were concerned about support from their reserves players and even some of the senior players had dropped off a bit of support, so there were a number of different factors.
“There were some big challenges and some of the clubs thought they could not see a way to handle it all.”
Mount Burr and Kalangadoo were both keen to go ahead, while Tantanoola was on the fence.
Given the longevity of the league in its different forms, Mitchell said it was certainly a disappointing end to the season.
“This would have been our 75th year since they started playing again after the war,” he said.
“In 1946 they started again.
“The league was an association before that, which was first formed in 1936.
“It became a league in the early 1950s, so it is disappointing from the point of view it has been a continuous league in that format – with only changes to a couple of clubs – and we have not been able to get it up this year.”
Like the other two leagues in the region, the MSEFL is keen to run a junior competition, but there is also the possibility of the combined competition for those clubs who want to participate and even players from other clubs who may want to have a game.
But for the MSEFL this year, Mitchell had a simple message.
“I reiterated to clubs they need to still engage with players, supporters and sponsors and look at what they can do to remain in a positive financial and sustainable position to move forward,” he said.
“Hopefully over the summer and the rest of the winter they may have some social activities when the restrictions are lifted a bit.
“They may be able to do a few more activities to raise some funds for their clubs.
“From a league point of view I want to thank the clubs in general and our sponsors.
“Hopefully we will be in a much better space at the start of 2021.”
