A season that started with crowds two to three heads deep, pushed through three statewide lockdowns and closed gates before the weight of a global pandemic proved too much.

Despite his side finishing top of the table, North Ballarat coach Brendan McCartney couldn't help but feel the season had been robbed of a fitting climax.

"The beauty of every finals series is that six clubs can win a flag," he told The Courier.

"Sunbury and Ballarat can feel just as aggrieved because they haven't had the chance to play a final and move through and win something for their club.

"My wish and my urge is that everyone in the competition just soldiers on and gets ready for another good season next year."

Ballarat was preparing for its first finals campaign in seven years after Joe Carmody led his young group to fifth - the Swans' best finish to a season since 2014.

"From a club perspective, we're massively disappointed, but it was inevitable that it was going to happen," club president Karl Drever said.

"It's the players who I really felt for throughout this whole situation - continually training, not knowing what they were actually training for.

"It's not the closure we wanted for the season, but it's good we've got closure now.

"There's no doubt we're upset with the decision, but we'll live with it. We understand the reason why it was made."

Sebastopol president Darren Hammill said the club was prepared to play but understood why finals weren't possible.

"I think it was inevitable; it was coming. It's a shame for all involved because I think the reality of it all was that you couldn't have a finals series with no crowds or all those restrictions," he said.

"It's a flat feeling. I feel sorry for all involved, especially the sides that did make finals. There is a lot of hard work that goes into that."

By virtue of statewide lockdowns and changeroom re-developments, Sebastopol only hosted three home games this season - one of which was played behind closed doors under strict return-to-play guidelines.

"It's been a tough year for sure, with the lack of gate takings and crowds and functions," Hammill said.

"It would have been nice to get some more home games in and get the season flowing. We feel like we've been distanced from our home for the whole year, really."

For Melton, it was one of the club's toughest years off the field, asking everything of its members.

A first-year at the redeveloped MacPherson Park brought expected teething problems, but those were soon placed into perspective.

Beloved senior footballer Dyson Stevens severely damaged his spinal cord in a freak accident during the Bloods' round three win and was placed in an induced coma upon arriving at hospital.

Stevens spent three weeks at the hospital, before moving to a rehabilitation centre, where he will be until late September, re-learning, training and preparing his body for his life moving forward.

More than $120,000 was raised for Stevens' recovery with his injury touching the wider football community.

"We had a tough year, on and off the ground. So we're more than happy with where we finished with what happened throughout the year," club president Brian McNabb said.

"My belief as president, it's a bit of a cliche, but I always say move on.

"At first, I was a bit shocked, but once you see what the rules are now, there was just no physical chance of playing finals."

East Point was the best-represented club across senior finals. In football, its reserves and under 19s sides clinched minor premierships, while the seniors finished third.

The Roos topped all of C Grade, D Grade and E Grade, while also qualifying for finals in A Grade and B Grade.

"(The season-ending) is obviously not the news we wanted to hear, but unfortunately, it comes as no surprise," East Point president Gary Wilson shared.

"(I'm) super proud of the five teams that had finished as minor premiers, and the three sides that also made finals. The year that could have been. To have eight out of nine (senior) teams in these positions is amazing.

"We are all down in the dumps at the moment, but as a club, everyone should be super proud of our achievements."

Sunbury was also well-represented, with four sides eventually having their premiership dreams dashed.

"With our men's senior and reserves teams, our women's football team (in the EDFL), B grade and D grade netball having an opportunity to play in the finals series and not being able to play off, is bitterly disappointing," club president Hedley Duhau said.

"The 2021 season has been very difficult on a number of levels, and the cancellation or rescheduling of events and the fixture has presented many challenges.

"I'd like to thank all players, coaches, members, committee for the way we have endured this difficult year."

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