The Muswellbrook Cats have set their sights on 2021 after withdrawing their teams from AFL Hunter Central Coast competitions for the rest of this season due to COVID-19.
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AFL HCC officials confirmed the move on Friday after the Upper Hunter club pulled out of games last weekend, along with all Newcastle City junior sides, and it follows a disrupted return to an already coronavirus-impacted campaign.
"All games are on [August 15, 16] in juniors and seniors except for Muswellbrook," AFL HCC community football manager Sam Zikman said. "They [the Cats] have withdrawn effective from the end of this round."
The Cats, who have senior squads in the men's and women's second division Black Diamond Plate, announced this week they wanted to limit the "risk of COVID-19 transmission" in the Muswellbrook community.
"While we are heartbroken we won't be continuing our 2020 campaign, we made this decision based on in-depth discussions with council, AFL NSW-ACT and our club members," the Cats released in a statement.
"The health and safety of our players, coaches and volunteers is our top priority and the uncertainty of COVID-19 prevalence in the Lower Hunter is ultimately what caused us to make the decision to withdraw.
"That being said, we will continue to train as a club and keep the love of AFL alive in Muswellbrook ... We now have our sights set on season 2021."
After a round off, City juniors return to the park this weekend while the under-15 and under-17 competitions also resume.
Saturday sees a Black Diamond Cup double header between Cardiff and Terrigal Avoca at Pasterfield Sports Complex.
In the men's main grade City welcome Maitland, Warners Bay tackle Killarney Vale at home, Wyong Lakes visit Singleton and Gosford travel to meet Nelson Bay. In the women's top flight City has Wyong Lakes, Warners Bay clash with Maitland and Nelson Bay-Port Stephens host Killarney Vale.
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