Mathews and Osborne president Jason Gooden are leading the charge to overturn a decision from the Hume League board not to play for a premiership in 2020.

Hume League president Brendan I'Anson revealed that it was decided at a meeting on Wednesday night that it would not play for a premiership in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision has been met with harsh criticism from Lockhart and Osborne, who explained that Thursday's announcement was not what clubs voted on.

"It's a decision that hasn't actually been made. It's not correct. We may need to have an extraordinary meeting to clarify it," Mathews said.

"It wasn't a meeting of the presidents. It was a Hume League meeting. Do we want to go into October was the only question that we were asked. Not one president in the league believes we're not playing football this year, and if we manage to get football, there will be a final."

Mathews is adamant the Hume League will hold a premiership season, if at all possible. He added that there would be significant ramifications for Hume clubs if other leagues did, and they decided against one.

"We're playing football and we're going to play finals, if we possibly can. We're committed to the whole thing," he said.

"Football season is still full bore at this stage. There will be finals and there will be everything. I have no doubt about that.

"The problem is, from our viewpoint, there is already mumblings from other leagues, trying to take our players.

"If we don't appear to have a season then what's going to happen is that people are going to ring up from Turvey Park or from Ganmain or wherever and try to steal our players. And our players would have every right to leave.

"I'm very disappointed with the Hume League, to be honest."

At Osborne, Gooden believes the decision was made 'way too early'.

"Osborne Football Club hope they reconsider their thoughts in their next week or so as restrictions get lifted and maybe overturn the decision," Gooden said.

"When you make announcements like this, for one league to go out on their own and make an announcement is a bit irresponsible.

"It should be one announcement from all of the leagues in the area, one call, these are times when we've got to stick together and work together."

Gooden, like Mathews, pointed out that the Hume League's decision not to play for a premiership was not what was put to clubs to vote on.

"The clubs had the opportunity to vote on whether we consider playing in October," Gooden said.

"That was a pretty straight forward yes or no to that question and then the board went ahead and made the announcement. I really feel for the coaches and players out there, they've been let down.

"As club delegates and league officials, we have a moral duty to do what we can to keep our young generation optimistic and mentally healthy.

"For the league to come out and publicly announce that they've suspended a premiership season, I thought, is totally irresponsible, without any consultation from the AFL.

"You've got to get the information from the health authorities and the protocols we've got to follow. Some of the guidelines might be too out there for country footy but we haven't seen them all. They haven't been put on the table and you can only make decisions when you know all of the facts."

Gooden revealed a number of players were 'gutted' by the Hume League's decision.

"They're a bit gutted, I suppose. As I said, they feel let down, the thought of where to go from here," he said.

"We've just got to guide and support them. To see them flat has gobsmacked me."

READ MORE