AFL Barwon has set its sights on an August 1 start for junior football with a shortened season to be played through until the end of September.
However, in a memo to local clubs, AFL Barwon said play getting underway will be dependent on the easing of government restrictions by July 18 to allow for two weeks of contact training before starting the season and at least 100 spectators at venues.
The local governing body also wrote, “please note that we won’t proceed if the restrictions are deemed to be too taxing on club volunteers”.
Under AFL Barwon’s proposal, competitive age groups (under-19, under-17 and under-15) will play two rounds of grading before a further six home-and-away rounds, after 86 per cent of clubs told AFL Barwon that eight weeks was the minimum number of games they wanted for a season.
Sixty-four per cent of clubs also said they were happy to play without a finals series.
All teams will play on the final day of the season (planned to be September 26), with first and second playing off in a grand final, and all other teams playing consolation matches based on descending ladder positions.
Non-competitive age groups (under-13 down) will play nine matches.
There is also the potential to play on the first two weekends of October, with October 11 set as the last date junior football can be played across the state following an agreement between AFL Victoria and Cricket Victoria.
No best-and-fairest or premiership medals will be awarded by AFL Barwon, which is working closely with AFL Victoria on the finer details of match-day operations around hygiene and social distancing requirements.
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