GDFL NETBALL BOOST

GEELONG & District Football League president Neville Whitley expects his competition will take a year’s break from interleague football before looking at a potential local derby for 2021.

AFL Victoria this month binned its annual country championships due to pressure from clubs and leagues throughout the state.

Leagues are still allowed to fixture their own interleague matches in 2020, but Whitley did not believe the GDFL would go down that path next season.

“A lot of our players don’t commit to interleague, but it always gives a chance for players to play at the highest level,” Whitley said.

“It’s a little bit of a shame that it’s not going to go ahead in the format they’ve had in the past few years. We will just see what happens.

“We might have a spell from it and then have a look at what’s available in the next couple of years.

“We might play the Colac & District or the Bellarine again. I think local derbies are the way to go, probably.”

The GDFL and BFL squared off at Queens Park this season, drawing a strong crowd as part of a triple-header of interleague clashes.

While the GDFL was belted by its seaside rival, Whitley said the model of playing a local interleague derby was the way forward.

“It creates more interest,” he said.

Whitley said getting full buy-in at club level was also crucial for its success.

“I just think that we were outgunned this year because our top players probably didn’t commit. You need full commitment from your players, clubs and coaches if it is to be played in the future,” he said.

AFL Barwon, which governs the GFL and BFL, is reviewing its interleague involvement for next year.