2021 WRFL SEASON DETERMINATIONS
The WRFL Board met this week and made a number of key determinations following the cancellation of the 2021 season.
These determinations are as follows:
Promotion and relegation (relevant to senior men’s football competitions only)
The WRFL Board determined that promotion and relegation will not be applied ahead of the 2022 season.
In making this determination, the Board identified that fundamental to the promotion/relegation process was the completion of a finals series. As desperately as the entire WRFL community wanted to complete a finals series this season, the Board acknowledged the reality that this had not been able to occur.
In reaching its decision, the WRFL Board also took into consideration the minimal number of senior matches completed over the past two seasons (2020-21), recognising the significantly reduced sample size of completed matches to adequately inform any promotion/relegation process. The Board also recognised the inequities between different club fixtures as a result of intermittent lockdowns throughout the season, acknowledging the varied implications these lockdowns had on respective club fixtures and in turn the make-up of competition ladders at the time the season came to an abrupt end in early August.
All clubs were recently surveyed for their views on promotion/relegation, with responses showing that the decision not to apply promotion/relegation at this time aligned with the majority view of WRFL clubs.
Minor Premierships
The WRFL Board determined to acknowledge and recognise the team on top of the ladder when the season was cancelled with a Minor Premiership (all competitions).
While consideration was given to the awarding of Premierships as opposed to Minor Premierships, the decision to award Minor Premierships only again acknowledged the reality that despite its best efforts, the League was unable to play a finals series across any one competition, with the completion of a finals series again considered critical in order to recognise and award fully fledged Premierships.
Junior Minor Premiers will be presented with Minor Premier medallions.
The decision to award Minor Premierships for the teams on top of the ladder when the season was cancelled again aligned with the majority view of WRFL clubs.
League Best & Fairest and associated awards
The WRFL will present individual awards (Best & Fairest, leading goal kickers, Coaches MVP etc), with the award ceremonies to be presented online over the coming weeks. Further details to follow.
Aspects relating to senior Team Points and ‘salary caps’ will be finalised over the coming week.
The WRFL Board wishes to again take this opportunity to thank all clubs, players, parents, volunteers, officials, umpires and commercial partners for their support and understanding throughout a challenging 2021 season.