One league-tag player and cricket organiser said she won't take up Aussie rules this season, but was instead recharging for a better 2021.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
"I'm actually loving having a winter off and makes me keen as for next year," the player - who wished to remain anonymous said.
She said following on from the horrific bushfires, the COVID-19 pandemic has been an exhausting and ongoing issue to deal with.
"In our normal work lives, this covid stuff has been exhausting, trying to add sport on top of that would burn people out," she said.
"My partner is also happy for the season to not go ahead, he wants to rip in next year."
However, the player said she felt the suspension of season was justified for club volunteers and the extra stresses on them moreso than players this season.
"Personally I think the volunteers need the break more than players do."
She said she was supportive of junior sports going ahead after evidence suggested kids were both less likely to catch COVID-19 and were more resilient to it.
However, she said it was a wise choice to suspend senior competitions as an ageing volunteer force would be putting themselves at extra risk.
With the additional demands and challenges of providing COVID-19 officers at grounds and committing to social distancing, while rules about crowds remain unclear, suspending was the wise choice the player said.
While the player said her league club had been on the front foot for player numbers she could also understand how other clubs may have been left short-handed should play have gone ahead.
She said it was pretty common around the area to get an influx of players near registration deadlines as the season looms, but clubs had barely got into their pre-season sessions and had little momentum following the fires when the lockdowns loomed.
However, she said she was taking the extra time to gear up for the summer cricket season and thinks Group 16 will bounce back with renewed energy next year.
"I think the league will come back bigger and better to be honest. I'm not just saying that, I truly believe it," she said.