AFL NSW/ACT STATEMENT

Monday, 16 August 2021 AFL Sydney community football season cancelled It is with regret that AFL NSW/ACT has made the difficult decision today to cancel the 2021 AFL Sydney community football season due to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the current COVID-19 outbreak across Greater Sydney. This decision also extends to our NAB AFL Auskick programs in the region. The impacted competitions are:

 AFL Sydney Seniors  AFL Sydney Harbour Juniors  AFL Sydney Western Sydney Juniors  All NAB AFL Auskick Centres We appreciate today’s announcement to cancel all AFL Sydney competitions for the season will disappoint our many players, coaches, umpires and volunteers who invest so much time, effort and energy in the season. AFL NSW/ACT shares in the immense disappointment to be unable to complete the 2021 competition in its entirety however today’s outcome is the unfortunate reality of the challenges the pandemic continues to throw at the community. AFL Sydney would like to take the opportunity to thank our stakeholders for the constructive feedback provided in enabling this difficult decision to be made. In reaching our decision, it became increasingly apparent that with the continued escalating health crisis there can be, understandably, no NSW Government sanctioned roadmap out of the lockdown for sport provided at the moment. It is equally clear that the timeframes of a possible return and ability to resume competitions are now not viable for winter sporting codes. Accordingly, no premierships, medals or awards will be given for 2021 cancelled competitions. We’d like to acknowledge the collegiate approach shown by our colleagues in the other major winter codes, particularly NSWRL, Football, Netball, Football, Rugby Union and Hockey, who have been forced to make similar heartbreaking decisions in relation to their own competitions. Our priority remains supporting our clubs, players, officials and volunteers through these challenging circumstances and focusing on preparing for playing footy again in 2022. If the opportunity arises to gather our football community in an informal manner prior to the traditional end of the winter season we will do so, as well as provide further opportunities for participants and Clubs to join our spring alternate format competitions of AFL 9s and Junior AFLX if they are able to proceed in October. AFL Sydney is committed to working closely with our network to minimise the financial impact of the cancellation on our clubs and participants and further detail will be communicated by League Managers in the coming days.

We will also seek opportunities to engage clubs and participants in the months ahead and prioritise season 2022 planning and player retention incentives to ensure a strong return to footy as soon as it is safe to do so. AFL NSW/ACT STATEMENT

As for the status of the other Leagues in the Greater Sydney and the surrounding regions that have been under stay-at-home orders since late-June, the AFL South Coast Seniors and Illawarra Juniors’ competitions have been cancelled. This decision has been already communicated to clubs and affected stakeholders. The AFL Hunter Central Coast Board will meet this week and, in conjunction with AFL NSW/ACT management, to decide on the future of its 2021 season. Clubs and affected stakeholders will be notified when a decision has been reached. We look forward to a return to a sense of normality in the coming months for community sport and working together to get back to footy when it’s safe to do so.

Emma Highwood, Community Football Manager NSW/ACT