Dear Members,
As many of you know following senior medical advice regarding the Corona virus COVID 19 Pandemic the AFL has announced that the VFL competition will be suspended until May 31st with a current view to commencing games in June.
See WHO news re Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic here; WHO Coronavirus Updates
See news from AFL here: AFL: VFL Season Update
This decision is part of a concerted effort by leaders of our Australian communities to ensure we keep our people as safe as possible and do everything we can to reduce the transmission and impact of Coronavirus COVID-19. We fully support this decision as it is in the best interests of all our valued members, our players, coaches and club staff, our sponsors and business partners – your health and wellbeing is our priority.
See State announcement re Government State of Emergency here: VicGov announcement
Following on from a meeting of all VFL Clubs last evening the Frankston Football Club is suspending all Club events in the immediate future. This includes the Dolphins IN Business breakfast (Mar 19th) ,Friday nights Pod Bar operation, Season Launch and the Practice Matches scheduled for March 21st and March 28th. During this time the football department will work to outline the steps to be taken in our football program in the period between now and the scheduled re-start of the VFL Competition in June.
Last night our CEO Adrian Lloyd and I attended a VFL phone conference meeting chaired by AFL Head of Talent Pathways (VFL, WAFL, SAFL, NEAFL, TSL) Tristan Salter and we have also scheduled several meetings for the rest of this week including a meeting with the Club Executive, the Board, the Football Department and a meeting of the Stand Alone VFL Clubs on Friday. During that time we will create guidelines regarding our football program and the conduct of the club. We will provide you with updates as they come to hand.
Please be assured that we will be making every effort to keep our club vibrant and alive during 2020 and whilst much of our activity in the next 2 months will be curtailed our focus is on the future and the season start which is now scheduled for the weekend of June 6th-7th.
Of course, we are very aware of the significant contributions of our members, volunteers, sponsors, MPNFL clubs and business partners over the last 3 ½ years and ask you all to stick with us during this trying time. We aim to consult with all stakeholders as we re-set our club and football program for 2020 and ask for your patience at this time as we handle the pressing priorities around our staff, players, coaches and football program. Be in no doubt that we will be having broader discussions that will cover all aspects of our great club.
The Frankston Football Club has faced immense challenges in the last four years and it has hardened our resolve to survive. As such we are well situated to handle this difficult time and have every confidence that if we stick together as a committed team of players, coaches, staff, members, stakeholders and business partners we can endure these trying times and come out the other side even more committed to realising our noble purpose of being the Hub of Peninsula football. We will also look at ways to ensure that everyone of you can ‘be part of it’ as we move through the next few months together as one.
Finally, I wish you and your families all the best – please care for yourselves and your community and I look forward to seeing you back at the club when we recommence our full club operations.
Sincerely yours,
Peter Geddes
