However, in 2020 that will not be the case for the competition, which involves clubs across the southern Riverina in a circle made up of Oaklands, Lockhart, Henty, Holbrook, Jindera and Howlong.

Delegates from the league's 12 clubs took the momentous decision on Wednesday night, with a decisive 9-3 vote not to play for ladder positions and a premiership.

The resolution was prompted by an unwillingness to continue playing into October.

With many of the team lists made up of farm workers there was a concern that spring harvesting in October was incompatible with the time also needed to devote to football training and matches.

Of course the reason for not having a Hume league premier for the first time since World War II, when there was a recess, is the coronavirus.

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COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across society and it is still unclear whether any country league football matches will be staged this year.

If it is possible, the Hume league still want to play matches, something which will be important in terms of morale but also problematic because of likely crowd restrictions.

All those elements will be in play as the region's other football leagues ponder what will happen with their seasons.

Already clubs are facing rigorous rules for training to resume, with requirements including having a dedicated COVID-19 safety officer who will be responsible for keeping a log of all those at practice.

Has the Hume league made the right decision?

That's a question that will be debated, but given the uncertainty surrounding the season it is an understandable response.

There are just so many queries that remain that lead us to think it is the most practical reaction.

All eyes will now be on the region's premier competition, the Ovens and Murray football league.

Like the Hume league, it too was not staged during World War II.