Warrnambool and District league clubs to seek clarity on rules after COVID-19 forces cancellation of juniors

The Warrnambool and District league on Friday announced it was scrapping its junior seasons in a bid to keep communities safe from coronavirus.

It came after six clubs pulled the pin on juniors last week.

President Kylie Murphy said in a statement the Warrnambool and District league was "determined to be part of the whole community response to slow the COVID-19 virus down".

She thanked clubs for their support and asked them to switch focus to 2021.

Russells Creek president Mick Jongebloed said his club was keen to discover if the cancellation meant other football and netball activities were off.

"Ideally, yes, we'd like to keep things ticking along," he told The Standard.

"We'll find out what we're allowed to do - if we can we train, if we can we have practice matches - and go from there.

"It would have been a very tough decision to pull the pin and I'm sure it wasn't taken lightly. It was made in the best interests of the kids and we've got to abide by that and support it."

Jongebloed said the Kangaroos, who are based at Mack Oval in Albert Park, had strong juniors numbers and was keen to play in 2020.

He said the Russells Creek executive was yet to discuss the decision but would meet in coming days.

"We were lucky this year in terms of the numbers we had," Jongebloed said.

"Hopefully we can keep them around and not lose them to other sports."

Old Collegians president Jason Moloney said his committee would discuss its next steps with club members, the league executive and AFL Western District this week.

"You take a bit of a breath now," he told The Standard.

"We'll put in those phone calls and see where we sit with kids being able to train and if we can organise some stuff (other than playing) if our juniors want to do that.

"In the end the decision was tough for the league. We asked them to make a decision through the middle of the week. It is disappointing but with the health and well-being side of it, it was difficult."

Moloney said the club also had queries surrounding the fate of the Western Victoria Female Football League's junior division.

"We've got our girls side as well. There hasn't been any information to say it won't be going ahead as of yet," he said.

"That'll be another one of the calls we make. It's governed by AFL Western District. We'll ask what the plan is for the girls."

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