Football and netball leagues in the region have announced roadmaps of how they hope to play final series, should Victorian end lockdown in September.
The Northern Football Netball League’s, NFNL, released its roadmap last week directing the fixture of all 50 football and netball competitions, with different structures in place for the various divisions.
Should sport recommence from Friday, September 3, for division three, in which Kilmore, Mernda and South Morang play in, a knockout top four finals format will be played with semi-finals scheduled for September 4 and 5 and the grand final on September 11.
As for the netball, section one to six will play round 14 on September 3. They will then move onto playing a knockout top four finals format with semi-finals scheduled for September 10 and the grand final to be played on September 17.
Sections seven to 13 will also play a knockout top four finals format, playing its finals on the same days as sections one to six.
In a statement explaining the roadmap, NFNL said many factors went into determining the final rounds of the leagues and the timing of finals.
“This includes the availability of suitable venues, staffing of each venue, managing and adhering to COVID protocols, the finals structure of each competition and the changeover period of grounds between football and cricket seasons in September,” the statement read.
“To work through these complexities, the dates of grand finals are staggered between competitions to ensure all games are hosted at suitable venues.”
The roadmap for the Riddell District Football Netball League, RDFNL, accommodates for grand finals to be played at the beginning of October, if restrictions ease later in September.
Currently, Wallan sits atop the ladder across all football grades, meanwhile Romsey is fifth in the seniors.
If the league returns on September 11, the RDFNL will go into a top six, four-week finals series. The grand final will be at Romsey Recreational Reserve on October 3, and the finals series will be played the same as previous years.
If able to return on September 18, the RDFNL will play a top four, a three-week final series, again with the grand final at Romsey on October 3.
If sport returns on the weekend of September 24-26, the RDFNL will play a top four, two-week finals series, again with the grand final to be played at Romsey on October 3.
AFL Outer East has implemented the same finals structure across all its men’s and female’s divisions of football and netball.
The league has considered feedback from the clubs and will also ensure that a one-week training block before competition resumes.
Broadford’s under 17s and all netball grades are set to play finals this year.
If lockdown ends by September 6, semi-finals will be played on September 11 and the grand final will be played on September 18.
If lockdown has not ended by September 13, a grand final between first and second will be played, with the latest date a grand final to be played will be October 9.
For more information, visit the league’s websites nfnl.org.au, rdfnl.com.au and afloutereast.com.
