The Ballarat Football League season is on hold with the COVID-19 virus having brought sport to a standstill.
AFL Victoria has suspended all as aspects of community football until at least May 31.
Hopes remain that an abbreviated football season might be able to be played.
If this comes to realisation, let's take a look at how teams will shape up.
Sharing leadership responsibility.
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This has been a linchpin in first-year Darley coach Dan Roy's pre-season.
Although new to the role, the Devils premiership player and past assistant coach, arrived back at Darley Park with a clear vision of the player resources he had to achieve his key objective.
"I've asked the group to take on more responsibilities (on field and around the club)," Roy said.
He said there had probably been an inclination to leave much of the workload to the more experienced players.
Roy said there was now a significant group with 50-plus senior games under their belt ready to step up.
"I'm not talking about cameos."
He said he was looking to them to take on leadership roles to guide the next group of youngsters through the ranks.
Roy said it was clear that some players had already accepted the challenge and were ready to take on new responsbilities.
In playing terms, Roy said he would be looking for a more instinctive approach - adding some chaos to keep rivals guessing. "I want to take it on. Be daring."
ON THE FIELD
And along with this consistent pressure.
He said 20 tackles a quarter woiuld a major KPI.
Darley finished third on the ladder last year in the same number of wins as minor premier and eventual premier East Point.
The Devils appeared a real chance to earn a second premiership in three seasons under coach Heath Scotland.
Their season came to a screaming halt though as they suffered a shock loss to Redan in an elimination final.
A big part in Darley getting that far was the development of its under-19s, with several spending a large part of the season in the senior line-up.
The Devils in one game had half its line-up made of players from under-19 ranks.
Roy is confident Darley will see the benefits of that development in its next campaign.
PLAYER MOVEMENTS
Take three players of the calibre of Heath Scotland, and Nick and Brian Graham out of a side, and it is going to hurt.
The trio has been among the best talent to enter the BFL over the past three years.
It would have been easy to give a knee-jerk reaction, and go out and recruit in big numbers in attempt to rebuild.
New coach Dan Roy, himself a quality addtion to the playing list, has done the reverse and focused on getting a small, but select band of new faces including a former teammate George Steven and Ben Said.
Take three players of the calibre of Heath Scotland, and Nick and Brian Graham out of a side, and it is going to hurt.
The trio has been among the best talent to enter the BFL over the past three years.
It would have been easy to give a knee-jerk reaction, and go out and recruit in big numbers in attempt to rebuild.
New coach Dan Roy, himself a quality addtion to the playing list, has done the reverse and focused on getting a small, but select band of new faces including a former teammate George Steven and Ben Said.