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A WIN in any rounds of the North Central Football League where clubs won't be permitted to play Melbourne-based players will only be worth two points.
The new ruling for 2021 will be enacted while restrictions don't allow for those who live in Melbourne to travel in regional Victoria, as is currently the case without an authorised reason, so as not to disadvantage clubs that have a heavy reliance on Melbourne-based players.
"If there's a ring of steel in place in Victoria and players can't come from Melbourne, there's a disadvantage for some clubs over others," NCFL administrator Sharon McColl said on Thursday.
"Therefore any rounds where there is a ring of steel in place will only be played for two points rather than four.
"Clubs like Donald have 13 players who come from Melbourne, Wycheproof-Narraport has 10 and then there's other clubs that have only got two, so to try to even things out the teams will be only playing for two points in those rounds where there's a ring of steel in place."
Following a meeting on Wednesday night the earliest the NCFL season will resume from its pause will be Saturday, June 19, with the Queen's Birthday long weekend holiday bye on June 12 to remain.
If senior community sport has been given the all clear to resume - training can re-start from Friday - the NCFL would move last weekend's called off round seven matches to June 19, after which all teams would have played each other once.
The league would then scrap rounds eight and nine and pick up the season from round 10 as scheduled on June 26 and play through to round 16 whereby all teams play each other twice if there are no further disruptions.
Under that scenario the league's home and away season would be trimmed from 16 to 14 games and the fixturing of teams playing two opponents three times would be removed.
"That's the scenario that is in place if we can come back and play from June 19," McColl said.
"At this stage it's important we get round seven played because it will mean everyone has played everyone once and looking ahead to a worse-case scenario, the season could be extended out whereby the grand final is played the day after the AFL grand final on the Sunday if needed."
At this stage the NCFL grand final is scheduled for Saturday, September 11.
While outdoor junior community sport has been the green light to re-start from Friday under an easing of regional restrictions, the North Central league won't be resuming its under-age competitions this weekend.
The NCFL senior season has provided plenty of thrillers so far, with eight of the 24 games decided by a kick.
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