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AFL CENTRAL Victoria has put its competition structure review on hold given the COVID uncertainty leagues and clubs are already dealing with.
The AFLCV commission has met twice in recent weeks with the region's four senior leagues - Bendigo, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and North Central - regarding potential new governance models and a re-structuring of competitions.
Leagues were presented with a proposed Central Victorian Football-Netball League structure featuring four "sectional" competitions, womens and juniors.
The proposal was in response to feedback from last year's review into underage competitions in the region.
While the underage review recommended no age group changes for this year, the review stated: "Many clubs expressed concern with the current structure of football within the region."
However, AFLCV commission chairman Nicholas Rolfe said that while a re-structure would be looked at in the future, the handbrake had been put on any change for the meantime.
"It was universally decided at this stage leagues wanted to retain the status quo because of the uncertainty in relation to COVID and how it could affect their landscape in the sense that there could be some clubs that don't continue, some that may look to combine or some have a different structure," Rolfe said on Wednesday.
"There was no discussion about who could that be, but if the pandemic continues into next year then that's going to affect the outlook going forward.
"Everyone wants to retain the status quo for the short term, but there is an openness to having further discussions... the door hasn't been completely shut on it."
The AFLCV region's four senior leagues are made up of 36 senior clubs, which range from Gisborne to Sea Lake - a span of 300 kms.
THE CENTRAL VICTORIAN FOOTBALL-NETBALL LEAGUE PROPOSAL:
SECTION 1 - Clubs must provide a full complement of teams for both football and netball. In the current circumstances this would include a senior, reserves and under-18 football team, four senior grades of netball and a 17-under netball team. If facilities and club interest allow, this could be extended to a 15-under team.
Clubs must also provide a minimum of one boys football team in the CVFNL junior competition in each of the under-12, under-14 and under-16 age groups.
SECTION 2 - Clubs must provide a full complement of teams for both football and netball as per section one.
However, clubs are not required to enter a boys football team in each grade of the CVFNL junior competition.
DISTRICT 1 - Clubs are not required to enter a team in all grades. Grades could include senior, reserves and under-17 football, four senior grades of netball and 17-under and 15-under netball teams, which could be extended to 13-under.
Clubs may or may not have junior teams.
DISTRICT 2 - Clubs not required to enter a team in all grades. Grades could include a senior, reserves and one or two junior football teams, three senior grades of netball and two junior grades of netball, as well as hockey teams.
WOMEN - clubs should be working towards also entering an under-18 girls team.
Clubs not required to enter a girls football team in each grade of the CVFNL junior competition.
JUNIORS - graded competition will be conducted for both boys and girls from entry level to under-16.
The proposal stated the proposed CVFNL structure aimed to promote the sustainability of clubs while factoring in:
* competitive balance;
* meet the growth or decline of population within the region;
* provide all clubs the opportunity to find their competitive and sustainable level;
* promote competition equalisation; and
* geographic and economic factors.
In June an Addy poll asked if a divisional structure should be introduced. 69% said yes; 31% said no.
How competitive have AFLCV senior competitions been over the past decade:
BENDIGO LEAGUE
Average margin: 59 pts
Average margin since player points/salary cap introduced in 2016: 64 pts
Who have won finals: Golden Square (16), Eaglehawk (13), Strathfieldsaye (13), Sandhurst (10), Gisborne (5), South Bendigo (2), Maryborough (1).
Who have won flags: Golden Square (4), Strathfieldsaye (4), Eaglehawk (1), Sandhurst (1).
Who have finished bottom: Castlemaine (4), Maryborough (3), Kangaroo Flat (1), Kyneton (1), South Bendigo (1).
HEATHCOTE DISTRICT
Average margin: 56 pts
Average margin since player points/salary cap introduced in 2016: 64 pts
Who have won finals: North Bendigo (16), LBU (11), Leitchville-Gunbower (9), Colbinabbin (6), Heathcote (6), Huntly (5), Mount Pleasant (3), Elmore (2), White Hills (2).
Who have won flags: LBU (4), North Bendigo (3), Leitchville-Gunbower (2), Heathcote (1).
Who have finished bottom: Elmore (3), Huntly (3), Heathcote (1), Leitchville-Gunbower (1), LBU (1), Mount Pleasant (1).
LODDON VALLEY
Average margin: 53 pts
Average margin since player points/salary cap introduced in 2016: 46 pts
Who have won finals: Bridgewater (17), Mitiamo (14), Pyramid Hill (8), BL-Serpentine (6), Calivil United (5), Newbridge (5), Maiden Gully YCW (3), Marong (2),
Who have won flags: Bridgewater (7), Calivil United (1), Mitiamo (1), Newbridge (1).
Who have finished bottom: Inglewood (8), BL-Serpentine (2).
NORTH CENTRAL
Average margin: 47 pts
Average margin since player points/salary cap introduced in 2016: 46 pts
Who have won finals: Wedderburn (9), Wycheproof-Narraport (8), Charlton (6), St Arnaud (5), Birchip-Watchem (4), Sea Lake Nandaly (4), Boort (3), Donald (1).
Who have won flags: Wedderburn (4), Wycheproof-Narraport (3), Charlton (1), Sea Lake Nandaly (1), St Arnaud (1),
Who have finished bottom: Boort (4), Birchip-Watchem (2), St Arnaud (2), Donald (1), Wedderburn (1).
NOTE - Sea Lake Nandaly joined league in 2016.
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