HARD YARDS: Pre-season training for teams in regional Victoria can now begin for the 2021 season.

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SENIOR teams in the region keen to begin their preparations for, hopefully, the return of community football in 2021 can now do so in groups of 10.

AFL Victoria has released an updated set of return to training and games protocols for clubs given pre-season training will now be on the horizon for some.

Protocols are separated into regional and metropolitan competitions given the varying levels of government restrictions between the two.

Currently no senior or junior training for metropolitan teams can commence.

For senior teams (aged 19 and over) in regional Victoria, non-contact training (no tackling, bumping, marking contests) is permitted in groups of 10 at an outdoor facility.

Multiple groups of 10 are permitted, but a distance of 100m must be maintained.

Players who reside in a "restricted area" are unable to participate, while the use of indoor facilities other than changerooms and toilets is not permitted.

For junior teams (aged 18 and under) in regional Victoria outdoor training can commence with no group number restrictions, but like seniors, can not include a player who resides in a "restricted area".

"From AFL Central Victoria's perspective the protocols have been provided, so as long as clubs adhere to the protocols they are free to do whatever is best for their club in terms of return to training," AFLCV regional manager Carol Cathcart said on Thursday.

"Our clubs have been really good at adhering to the policies all the way through and we need that to continue because what we do now will provide us with a much better chance of getting back to where we all want to be next year, which is playing football and netball again."

AFL Victoria says it's essential all clubs and individuals work within the protocols and do not move ahead of the restrictions in place.

"If these protocols cannot be achieved, training and competitions should not proceed," AFL Victoria said.

There was no senior football-netball played across the region this year with AFLCV's four senior leagues - Bendigo, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley and North Central - all cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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