THE Bendigo Football-Netball League won't make any further alterations to its latest finals format as it remains hopeful of a resumption and an on-field resolution to its 2021 season.

The BFNL on Friday released its pathway forward based on when - and if - it can return to the field and court post lockdown, which remains in place until 11.59pm next Thursday.

The league's finals scenarios are based around returns on the weekend of September 4-5 should lockdown end on time, September 11-12; September 18-19 or its final weekend of September 24-25-26.

The BFNL will not extend its timeframe beyond the September 24-25-26 weekend, which also coincides with the AFL grand final.

While the number of Victorian leagues that have cancelled their seasons has begun to grow this week, including the Goulburn Valley and Murray leagues on Thursday, the BFNL - which pivoted from a top-five to a top-six finals system - remains committed to trying to return to action in 2021.

However, should restrictions prevent a return to play this year, no decision has been made on whether premierships would be awarded to the teams that finished on top.

The Goulburn Valley league chose to recognise its teams that finished on top as the premiers, while the Murray league opted not to award premierships.

The Heathcote District league has indicated it will award top teams premierships if no grand final can be played.

The revamped three-week BFNL finals series was meant to start this week with 1^st v 2^nd qualifying finals and a pair of 3^rd v 6^th and 4^th v 5^th elimination finals.

The league can stick with its original three-week format with all six teams remaining should the season be clear to resume on either the weekend of September 4-5 or September 11-12.

However, if the season hasn't re-started by the September 11-12 weekend the league will need to begin culling teams, potentially down to just a 1^st v 2^nd grand final, which in the senior football would be Strathfieldsaye v Golden Square, while in the A Grade netball it would be Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.

Should the season be given a green light to resume on the September 4-5 weekend, it would only be the under-18 football and 17-under netball finals played, with all open-age teams being given a week of training under their belts to prepare for a return on September 11-12.

The league believes the younger players would be better equipped for an immediate return to play without a week of training, while there's also the added element of it easing the pressure on fixturing given the league's desire to still play all its finals at the QEO, but having to factor in an extra elimination final in week one.

September 4-5 return - Top-six finals structure remains for all grades. Only games to be played will be under-18 football and 17-under netball qualifying finals on Sunday, September 5.

September 11-12 return - Top-six finals structure remains for all grades. Qualifying and elimination finals for all grades to be played across the weekend.

September 18-19 return - Top-four finals structure to be implemented over two weeks with only the top four teams to participate. 1st v 4th and 2nd v 3rd preliminary finals with winners to progress to grand final.

Senior football - Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne; Golden Square v Sandhurst. South Bendigo and Eaglehawk drop out.

A Grade netball - Kangaroo Flat v South Bendigo; Sandhurst v Gisborne. Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye drop out.

September 24-25-26 return - 1st and 2nd to play off in the grand final.

Senior football - Strathfieldsaye v Golden Square.

Reserves - Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst.

Under-18s - Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye.

A Grade netball - Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.

A Reserve - Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst.

B Grade - Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.

B Reserve - Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat.

17-under - Gisborne v Sandhurst.

Any weekend of matches prior to the grand final that can not proceed due to regional Victorian restrictions will be cancelled. If the top six finals series has already started, the top-ranking teams from cancelled preliminary finals will proceed to the grand final.

"From a BFNL board's perspective, it has been clear for the past 18 months the importance of participation and we still feel there is an opportunity to proceed using this roadmap," BFNL manager Cameron Tomlins said.

"Our intent is there to try to finish the season off if we can. The season certainly hasn't panned out the way we wanted it to, but there is still a a strong determination to finish it in the timeframe we've allotted. We want to give our clubs and players the best opportunity to participate in finals this year."

The league is yet to settle on a preferred grand final day given it will need to fixture around the AFL grand final, but it would have three options - the Friday public holiday (24th), Saturday (25th), dependent on the timing of the AFL grand final, which could be a twilight match in Perth, or the Sunday (26th).

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