The news comes less than a week after the Kyabram District League cancelled its competition, while metropolitan leagues, Eastern Football League and the Northern Football League also announced yesterday they would not proceed this year.
In a statement from the Ovens and King Football Netball League Board, the league said after extensive consultation with its 12 clubs and AFL North East Border, a motion was passed to cancel the season, which had previously been postponed back in March.
"The Board considered the most recent feedback from clubs together with information gathered from league meetings conducted with clubs during the pandemic,” the statement read.
“The OKFNL Board considered the health and safety of participants, the wider community, and the need to protect them during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was evident that clubs had an overwhelming desire for the future of the 2020 season to be determined immediately and to cancel as the most appropriate action to ensure the long-term sustainability of their clubs and the leagues.”
Club also raised concerns about their exposure to financial risk playing half a season, additional requirements on volunteers, the inability to effectively manage crowds, as well as the likelihood of not playing in front of crowds.
The league said it was committed to helping all clubs return to the football fields and netball courts in 2021.