Clubs to consider ‘thirds’

AN expression of interest has gone out to local football clubs about creating a “thirds” competition next year.

After many clubs became worried that hundreds of players would be lost to the game given the under-19 competition will revert to under-18 in 2022, flooding senior ranks with an entire year level of players, AFL Barwon has yielded to calls to consider creating a new competition.

AFL Barwon boss Bruce Harwood said the details of the league were yet to be finalised.

Clubs will be canvassed on ideas such as it being an under-23 competition, teams playing with 16 a side and without league umpires.

Harwood said it was likely the league would play on Friday nights if it came together but enough clubs needed to sign up first.

“We won’t start any formal competition unless we get at least six teams,” he said. “There is no point playing with four.

“There are certainly clubs that have the potential to do it that are obvious but there are others who might tackle it and see how it looks for them.”

Ocean Grove football manager Cam McGregor was one of the driving forces behind the idea and he estimated that six to 10 clubs were ready to jump on board.

He said the competition needed to be finalised as soon as possible to ensure players weren’t dismayed about getting a game in 2022 and the league would be a “great result for local footy”.

St Mary’s is another club which will put its hand up to field a side.

While some players who were left out at their home club would find a new place to play without a third grade, Saints co-coach Travis Robertson said too many youngsters would be lost to the game without extra sides. “I ran into one of our kids on Saturday who hadn’t been to training and I asked him what he was doing and he said ‘I don’t think I will play (at all)’,” Robertson said on Monday.

“When I told him there might be a third side his whole demeanour changed within seconds.”

Harwood said AFL Barwon had considered the flow-on effects of players who left their home club and helped round out lists elsewhere.

WE WON’T START ANY FORMAL COMPETITION UNLESS WE GET AT LEAST SIX TEAMS. THERE IS NO POINT PLAYING WITH FOUR.

AFL BARWON REGIONAL MANAGER BRUCE HARWOOD, LEFT