As a result of the cancellation the highest ranked teams in each grade will be recognised as minor premiers.

The decision comes as three metropolitan-based BFNL clubs - Melton, Melton South and Sunbury - prepare for a further three weeks in lockdown, compounding the ever-growing list of factors working against the league.

"With the unlikely ability of community sport to return to competition from this date, the earliest a game of football and netball could be conducted would be October 9th, given the need to provide a minimum 14-day period for training," the league said in a statement.

"This period would take the date of return beyond the leagues previous latest date of October 2nd.

"It is the belief of the board, given the above, certainty should be provided to our many players, volunteers and supporters who have been in a holding pattern as we live through the current COVID affected period."

A hard date of October 2 was set for the grand finals, with it looking impossible for metropolitan-sides would be able to compete on that date under the state government's planned easing of restrictions.

Victoria is expected to hit its 70 per cent first vaccination dose benchmark around September 23, when the state government hopes to increase the travel limit to 10 kilometres, up from five, ruling out any non-essential travel to regional Victoria.

There are no clues what will happen with community sport on that date - but the state government's plans for the exercise limit to rise from two hours to three per day are a bleak indication of the likelihood of team sport being allowed to return.

If the competition cannot return on Saturday, September 25 the league would have missed eight straight weekends, forcing a mandatory 14-day training period under AFL Victoria guidelines.

That training period would take the season past its October 2 deadline.

Even if the BFNL found a way to proceed with a one-week finals series between the top two sides on October 2, it would require Melton being able to travel in the senior football and E Grade netball, as well as Melton South in A Grade.

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