To the Old Xaverians Football Club family

We have now received confirmation that the VAFA has called time on season 2021.

We had remained hopeful that we would be able to complete a reduced finals series, however, any chance of that was crushed in the recent days with the extension of the current Victorian lockdown.

Thus, the finals series that promised so much for Old Xaverians, with Seniors, Reserves, U19s, U23s, Menages and Crocs all strong premiership contenders, will not proceed.

This is a bitter pill to swallow, though not unexpected given the increased COVID cases in recent weeks.

The VAFA is yet to decide on promotion/relegation, awarding of premierships and competition best and fairests. We will advise once these have been decided.

In many ways, the stop-start nature of 2021 has been harder to manage than last year’s cancelled season. It has been difficult and incredibly frustrating, but I must thank all those at our club who have put in an enormous effort – the club committee and staff, our corporate partners, members and donors, our coaching team, and especially our players.

If we didn’t quite understand it before these restrictions, all in the Old Xavs community now know the central role that our football club plays in our lives.

Somehow, we are stronger than before, and when this nightmare ends, we intend to be stronger again.

We’ve worked hard on 2021, and now our focus moves immediately to 2022.

We can assure all of our community that those of us charged with the guardianship of our great club will ensure that the work we have done and commitments we have made this year will not go to waste, as we use 2021 as a launchpad to even greater success in 2022 and beyond.

This will only be possible because of the amazing character of our players and coaches. We will be ready to go again, whenever we are given the all-clear.

The traditional end of season Presentation Night is unlikely to occur this year. However, we fully intend to recognise our season’s best performers and highlights, by way of an online medal count for each team. We hope to have an event to present these trophies before the start of season 2022.

While we now have certainty about the 2021 season, the Victorian government has set very high barriers for a return of full freedoms. It is important that we stay in touch with each other, not just for our club, but to ensure that our families, friends, and mates are doing OK. I encourage you to use ZOOM, your phone, WhatsApp groups and emails to stay in touch with each other. Take nothing for granted. Look after yourselves and each other.

As always, the club has a raft of wellbeing resources available at oldxavs.com.au

We will continue to work diligently so that when VAFA football returns, Old Xaverians will be there, and we will be a force. We will aim, as is our tradition, to be again a club that maximises both participation and success.

Until then, stay tuned and updated via our social media channels and website for all the latest news from your club.

If you have any questions or queries on the above, I encourage you to contact me via matt.cosgrave@colliers.com

Go Xavs!

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Matt Cosgrave
President