After extensive consultation and communication with clubs and AFL North East Border throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the league's board moved to cancel its football and netball competitions for the year.

Bright president Peter Ricardi has described the year as a "double whammy" for the club having already been on the back foot after the bushfires in January.

"I think it's the right call and if they make the call throughout the region it will be best for everyone," Ricardi said.

"There's a lot of work involved, but it was more that we had the fires and it put us behind from the start.

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"We've probably got to find a different avenue next year. I think footy clubs have got to be smarter with the way we go now.

"We're probably one that's lost all our sponsors because no-one was around."

Whorouly president Eddie Costenaro said the majority of his club was prepared to play, but "probably knew the writing was on the wall" in regards to the season being scrapped.

"We'd done a lot of work during the off-season and it was a hard one because a lot of blokes wanted to play and a few didn't," he said.

"We put it to all the guys and the netballers and probably 75 per cent were keen to play and 25 weren't.

"If it was up around the 90 per cent we would have been happy, but that was telling us something.

"Hopefully everybody will hang around, but unfortunately I can see the older guys that could have been going into their last year might go out on that and you're probably going to lose a few young ones that like their weekends free.

"The toughest thing will be trying to keep them all positive and get them back to the club, but I think everybody is in the same position.

"It's going to be a long six months."

Milawa president Steve Williamson added it was nice to have some clarity after weeks of uncertainty around a possible resumption.

Ovens and King chairman Peter Byrne believed it was the right the decision.

"All the clubs were comfortable with the decision. A couple said they could play on if they had to but could understand if we came up with a decision and they were for it, but there were clubs that said they wouldn't continue," he said.

"The main thing is they're in a healthy position now health wise and wealth wise.

"If the spectator numbers don't increase from 100, it wouldn't be practical to play in the country and for the volunteers to wash the rooms every time someone walks in and out. The rules at the moment are too difficult and they're probably the right rules."

Prior to making the major decision, Byrne said the Ovens and King board was committed to beginning 2021 with all its clubs in the strongest possible position to succeed in the long term.