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From the Club President

Dear MOCFC Community,

 

Earlier tonight the VAFA Board decided to cancel the 2020 Football season. While we are disappointed, we have always followed the medical advice and at this time amid rising cases of COVID-19 in Victoria the decision makes sense.

 

Over the last weeks I have been in profound admiration of the Mazenod OCFC Community in our united desire to offer a season of football to the young men and women at our club.

 

As of last week, we had 65 Senior and Reserve Players, 60 women’s players, 54 Under 19 players and 30 Club 18 players who had trained over the last weeks in preparation for a 2020 season. To our wonderful players thanks for your amazing spirit and resilience during this challenging year.

 

To all our Coaches many thanks for the split shifts, adhering to the unprecedented COVID-19 protocols and displaying great innovation in creating a football experience for our players. Specific thanks to Dylan Cousins, Adam Acreman, Steve Balloch, Marty McMahon, Paul McDonald, Tom De Young, Matt Backhouse, John Boyle, Paul Deegan and Georgia Anderson. Thanks also to our army of line and support coaches.

 

A huge thanks to the Executive Committee who have been meeting weekly for 12 weeks to plan how to raise $40,000 to meet our costs, how to meet the expectations of COVID-19 regulations and how best to communicate complex messages with our 1500 supporters over Social Media and newsletters. Thanks to Steve Mann, Dom Barker, Sam Deegan, Pete McKenzie and Marty O’Driscoll for your outstanding leadership.

 

Special thanks to Simon Grady whose tireless work with sponsorship over the last 6 months gave us a chance of meeting our commitments and special thanks to those sponsors who stuck with the Nodders during this tough time. We owe you big time. Thanks to the 20 Extended Committee members who are relationship managing our Sponsors.

 

A very big thank you to President of the Mazenod Panthers Phil Ryan and his committee who provided financial support just when we needed it. It surely is the most defining aspect of our Community that we have two all-abilities teams. We are so fortunate.

 

Special thanks to Helen Sherlock who answered the call and took on the role of COVID 19 Officer and developed our protocols

 

There will be so many lessons from this season. We remain ‘More than a Club’. Our playing numbers are booming, our volunteers are re-energised, and our values remain more than ever the guiding light for all our decisions.

 

There will be many unknowns heading into the next few months and it would be a foolish man who can predict what season 2021 will look like. However, we know one thing the Nodders have not only survived during this pandemic we have thrived. We look forward with great optimism.

 

We will continue to communicate with our Mazenod OCFC community and please support our loyal sponsors.

 

Gerard Noone

Club President