Panthers decide to keep 2020 in-house
BELL Post Hill will organise its own AFL 9s-style games to keep its group together during the abandoned season.
Clubs across the region’s four competitions were given a deadline of Wednesday night to respond to AFL Barwon’s proposal of a modified competition.
But the Panthers have elected not to take part in the games, which have a target start date of August 15 and will run until the end of September.
AFL Barwon is working through club feedback and formalising plans for the competition, which could be released today or early next week.
Bell Post Hill coach Justin Tarr said the group would continue to meet once a week for training and organise its own internal games.
“We’ll probably just be training one night a week or doing AFL 9s or something like that,” Tarr said.
“Once we’re allowed to have dinner at the clubrooms, we’ll be doing that as well just once a week to keep the boys together.”
Tarr said the group could start games by the end of the month as a “bit of a muck around” to keep its players socially engaged.
The modified competition hinges on the State Government allowing 500 spectators at local venues by August 1.
Clubs can begin contact training from July 13.
“We’re not really interested in playing a modified comp if it’s not for points and no premiership,” Tarr said.
“I agree with what (Thomson player) Andrew Hodgson said a little bit, that they’re sort of glorified practice matches.
“For some of our older guys as well, if they were to play that modified comp, would they maybe not play next year?
“If they get injured; and if they haven’t got that pre-season or work into them, they’re at a higher risk of injury as well.
“At least if doing it ourselves, if guys are a bit sorer or whatever, then just rest them.”