AFL Barwon releases ‘Return to Play 4.0’

FOLLOWING the Victorian Government’s pause on community sport on August 20, the AFL Barwon Commission has adjusted the remaining fixture dates, as the sporting body scrambles to complete the disjointed season.

Changes to football and netball leagues across all senior and junior divisions have occurred, with various scenarios across all leagues taken into account last night for both football and netball competitions regarding dates and formats.

Fixtures shall recommence once government restrictions have been eased, but AFL Barwon reiterates that community sport is subject to government health advice and adjustments may be made depending on unexpected developments.

“The AFL Barwon Commission has outlined it is our intention to ‘Play On’ if restrictions and protocols allow,” Acting Region Manager Sean Atkinson said.

“Whilst it would have been our preference to keep the traditional finals structure and for everyone to play each other once in the Geelong Football Netball League, time is against us and it isn’t possible to do so.

“Moving to a final six allows the Geelong Football Netball League to be played over three weeks and gives us the best possible chance to complete the season.

“We really appreciated the support that has been provided to us by the Geelong Cricket Association by allowing us to use the first weekend in October to give us a chance to finish our season.

“We are committed to trying to complete all of our competitions this season if restrictions allow us to do so.”

The updated fixtures and scenarios set forth by AFL Barwon are as follows:

Bellarine Football Netball League

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 4th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 4th September
Week 3 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September
Week 4 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 11th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September
Week 3 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September
Week 4 – Weekend of Saturday 25th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 18th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September
Week 3 – Weekend of Saturday 25th September
Week 4 – Sunday 3rd October

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 25th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Teams who are fixtured in a 2nd Semi Final play off in Grand Finals.
Grand Final – Sunday 3rd October

Geelong Football Netball League

All Geelong Football Netball League Competitions will not play round 17 fixtures and will move straight into finals. The 2021 finals series will be a top 6 played over three weeks.

The structure of the final 6 will be as follows:
Week 1 – 3rd vs 6th, 4th vs 5th
Week 2 – 2nd vs Winner 3rd/6th, 1st vs Winner 4th/5th
Week 3 – Grand Final

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 4th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 4th September
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September
Week 3 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 11th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September
Week 3 – Weekend of Saturday 25th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 18th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 25th September
Week 3 – Sunday 3rd October

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 25th September, the top two sides on the final ladders will compete in the Grand Final.

Finals dates would be as follows:
Grand Final – Sunday 3rd October

Under 19 Football & Netball

All Under 19 football competitions will recommence playing in line with the aligned senior dates.

Under 19 Division 1 Football / Under 19 GFNL Netball – GFNL Return to Play Plans
Under 19 Division 2 Football / Under 19 BFNL Netball – BFNL Return to Play Plans

Under 19 Division 3 Football – The finals structures will revert to 1 vs 4, 2 vs 3 with the winners progressing to the Grand Final. The scenarios are as follows:

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 4th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 4th September
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 11th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 18th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 25th September Finals dates would be as follows:
The top two sides on the final ladders will compete in the Grand Final.
Week 1 – Sunday 3rd October

Epworth Senior Female Football Competitions

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 5th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Sunday 5th September
Week 3 – Sunday 12th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 12th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Sunday 12th September
Week 3 – Sunday 19th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 19th September Senior Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Sunday 19th September
Week 3 – Weekend of Sunday 26th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 26th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Weekend of Sunday 26th September
Week 3 – Sunday 3rd October

Under 18 & Under 15 Female Football Competitions

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 5th SeptemberFinals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Sunday 5th September
Week 3 – Sunday 12th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 12th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Sunday 12th September
Week 3 – Sunday 19th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 19th September, junior sport can recommence on the 19th of September, a grand final will be played between the winner of the 2nd semi-final, and the highest ranked team in the current fixtured preliminary final.

Junior Finals dates would be as follows:
Grand Final – Sunday 19th September

AFL Barwon Junior Football Competitions (Under 17, 15, 13)

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 4th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 4th September
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 11th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 11th September
Week 2 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 18th September, the top two sides on the final ladders will compete in the Grand Final. Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 1 – Weekend of Saturday 18th September

Friday Netball Competitions

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 10th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Friday 10th September

If the Government restrictions are lifted by 17th September Finals dates would be as follows:
Week 2 – Friday 17th September

Tuesday Netball Competitions

All Tuesday night junior netball competitions will not recommence playing this season.