AUGUST PLAN FOR LOCAL FOOTY, NETBALL REBOOT

AFL Barwon has unveiled plans for modified local football and netball competitions to start as soon as August 15.

And it will use the opportunity to trial a last-touch out-of-bounds rule in senior men’s and women’s football.

All four local leagues were cancelled on Tuesday because of the coronavirus pandemic in a move to ensure the viability of all clubs in the region.

Under the plans, clubs from rival competitions could face off.

An AFL Barwon survey revealed 80 per cent of senior clubs supported or were interested in a modified competition.

An August 15 start hinges on government restrictions easing to allow 500 spectators at venues by August 1, and allowing contact training by the same date.

It would provide a twomonth window for games to be played inside the Sunday, October 18 deadline agreed between Cricket Victoria and AFL Victoria.

Leopold star Marcus Thompson said he would not hesitate putting his hand up to play.

“I’d love to play any sort of footy, to be able to hang with your mates,” Thompson said.

“Obviously the fitness side of it is really important — but I just want to play footy. I’ll do anything to play footy.”

Thompson said his eagerness was shared by his teammates.

“There’s a large majority, especially at Leopold, that I think would want to play,” he said.

“Looking at the way coaches were pushing to try and play, it’s a fair indication a large chunk of the league would want to play.”

Barwon Heads co-coach Mitch Herbison said his group was keen to “play footy in some capacity”.

“A fair chunk of the list have indicated that they’re keen to do a bit of training throughout the next couple of months leading up to some games if that’s what’s made available,” Herbison said.

“There’s other elements to just playing on a Saturday, there’s the social side of being involved in a footy club.

“Our guys are a pretty close-knit group and they like the social side of things. Getting down to training and running around with their mates for an hour or so on a Tuesday and Thursday night is pretty appealing.”

St Joseph’s captain Alex Hickey it was important to have crowds “and some of the other things that go with football” to make it feel “normal”, including a post-match drink in the clubrooms.

“We’ve got a lot of younger boys in our group and they’re attitude is to play whatever football they can,” Hickey said.

“I’d be very surprised if we weren’t, across the board, keen to play.”

Games would not count towards a career tally and the player-points system would be scrapped in football and netball.

But player points would remain in the Division 1 women’s football competition.

Players would also not receive payment and there will be no discounts on their points allocation for 2021 if they decide to play.

Senior GFNL, BFNL, GDFNL and CDFNL clubs would be placed in pools, preferably of six, depending on how many entries are received, and there would be a limit to the number of players in a squad. At least one football side and two netball teams must be entered. A finals format is also being thrashed out.

Senior women’s matches could start on Sunday, August 2, as part of the proposal. An August 1 start date has been set for junior competitions, which includes under-19s. That would depend on the State Government easing restrictions by July 18 to allow at least 100 spectators at venues.

A junior season can run until Sunday, October 11. AFL Barwon is treating the concept with urgency and more details are expected to be released following club feedback.