The BFL will only declare an official premier this year if a minimum of 11 home and away rounds are played - allowing all 10 sides to meet each other once.

Although the easing of COVID-19 self isolation restrictions is imminent, which will allow groups of up to 10 players to train, there is no sign of a possible starting time for community football being set.

There remains a possiblity time might run out for a season-proper, opening up the possibility of the BFL instead running a short-form lightning premiership or like-competition.

Sunbury coach Travis Hodgson, Melton South coach Heath Pritchard and Lake Wendouree's Dale Power are among those ruling out interest in being part of a competition without an official premiership on the line.

"I'd have zero interest," Hodgson said.

"If there's no premiership points and no premiership, I don't see the point."

Hodgson said he did not see a lot to be gained - even if spectators were allowed to attend.

He said the standard would most likely be compromised, with some players not wanting to be part of it.

Hodgson reinforced Sunbury's stance of not wanting to play at all if spectators were not permitted.

Pritchard is adamant he would not put Melton South on the park for anything less than the real deal.

"It's all or nothing. We've put in too much hard work to then play in a Mickey Mouse competition," he said.

"I don't see any point if there's no premiership."

Pritchard said the BFL was a major league and he did not believe its quality should be compromised.

He said playing without crowds would reduce its worth even more, with the whole point of community sport being community engagement.

Power said from his perspective as a coach it was all or nothing.

"What would be the point of playing without premiership points."

He did concede that from a club point of view there would be benefits in playing a handful of games if spectators were able to attend.

Power said it would give the club community an opportunity to get back together and provide some financial benefits.

Redan coach Jarret Giampaolo said for him it was 10 rounds or nothing.

"I don't want to see the competition compromised."

He said there were so many issues to considered when weighing up the return of football - finance, levels of football beyond seniors and crowds.

Giampaolo said he remained hopeful of getting a season up and running.

He said it was important to give players some certainty to keep them focused.

North Ballarat City's Shane Skontra questioned the value of playing anything less than the proposed 11-round season, but at this stage he was prepared to wait for a firm decision before deciding whether to press on or not.

He said any form of engagement within the player group had to be a positive.

Ballarat coach Joe Carmody is open minded to any form of competition - even a modified game along the lines of AFLX, if that is what was needed to see some football this year.

The Australian Institute of Sport Framework for Rebooting Sport in a COVID-19 Environment document suggests modifications be considered in the third of three phases for the reintroduction of Australian rules at community level.

"Full training and competition. Consider maintaining some small group separation (eg. mids, forwards and backs)."

Bacchus Marsh's Tom German said as a first-year coach he was keen to get under way in any form, although ideally he wanted the 10 home and away game format to go ahead.

"I just want to get out there. We've put five to six months into a pre-season, so even if it was only for a few games it'd be great.

German believes that allowing spectators would be essential though.

He said community football was all about community - the volunteers, supporters, sponsors and members.

"They're the ones missing out. Playing some football would mean so much to them."

Melton coach Aaron Tymms said as far as he was concerned he would be happy playing one game.

He said while it might not produce the best football, he would support "anything".

"It'd be a start going into next year.

"It''d hard to sell your club to possible recruits without any footy," Tymm said.

East Point coach Jake Bridges said mental wellbeing of players was one of his major focuses in this difficult time and he believed playing some football would provide an important outlet for those at all levels and age groups.

He said there was a need to look at the picture right across the board - not just at senior level.

He was unsure about playing without crowds though.

"It's hard to make a case for playing without community involvement."

Sebastopol coach Michael Searl said he believed there would be need to be some purpose to playing, but he would not be against playing what would effectively be "friendlies".

He said he would be open to suggestions - even playing teams from other leagues..

Darley coach Dan Roy said his players wanted to do something after a pre-season, even if it was five or six games.

He said he was conscious the mental and physical health of everyone and playing would benefit the players' wellbeing.

Roy said an 11-round season was preferrable, but if this was not possible he would not be against perhaps playing some form of competition with teams divided into east and west conferences.