A Ballarat Football Netball League club president believes the unbalanced nature of an abbreviated season could put some clubs under financial stress.
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Melton's Greg Davis says if some form of home and away season goes ahead the BFNL should look at a pooling income from gatetakings.
He said with the best case scenario for the BFNL appearing to be an 11-round competition in which every club played each other once, some clubs would be substantially disadvantaged in their ability to maximise match-day earnings.
Davis used the Melton and Melton South rivalry as an example.
He said the Melton derbies were major earners for each club.
Davis said in a normal season each club hosted a derby, but in a COVID-19 shortened fixture only one club would get that opportunity.
"I believe this would be unfair. There'd need to be some way of sharing the proceeds across the board."
Davis said while costs were minimal at the moment, it had to be remembered that clubs had lost the ability to run pre-season fund-raising and numerous social events which provided essential income.
He said clubs were going to be limited as what they do in a lead-up to playing, based on time limits and the possible continuation of government-enforced restrictions.
Davis said clubs would not be able to meet all the costs, including player payments, through income raised from five home matches.
AFL Victoria has community football on hold until at least May 31.