The unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic has finally defeated one of its most worthy sporting opponents, after the AFL North West announced the cancellation of its season.
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With all of New South Wales under stay-at-home restrictions until September 10, AFL North West said time had run out to stage a finals series.
The competition match committee had pencilled in September 18 as the deadline to conduct finals. By that stage, seven weeks would have elapsed since the final round on July 31.
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Teams have been unable to train since the season was suspended on August 7.
As myriad competitions collapsed around them last year, AFL North West staged a successful shortened season.
But the emergence this year of the highly contagious Delta variant of COVID-19 has resulted in record infections in NSW and a protracted statewide lockdown.
AFL has joined the New England Rugby Union and the Central North Rugby Union in abandoning the season.
In a statement on Wednesday, AFL North West said: "As previously communicated, it was hoped that we would be able to resume and run a final series.
"The announcement that regional NSW will remain in lockdown until 10th September has ruled out any further final games."
This year has been full of challenges.
- AFL North West
The decision, AFL North West said, also applied to "junior/youth rep footy".
"North West will no longer be sending representative teams to participate in the North Coast Carnival in Coffs Harbour, planned for the upcoming school holidays," it added.
The dates of planned Northern Heat trials, it continued, would be announced at a later date.
"This year has been full of challenges," AFL North West said, adding that it was "fortunate, unlike many other leagues", to have concluded its regular season.
Without a completed final series, the league has opted not to crown premiers.
The minor premiers are the Bulldogs (women), the Kangaroos (men), the Saints (under-17) and the Bulldogs (under-14).
AFL North West is now eyeing the 2022 season, with the hope "the worst of COVID will be behind us by then".
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