Bungaree coach Ryan Waight believes he has come up with the best and fairest way to complete a meaningful Central Highlands Football League season in 2020.
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Following news from the state government that senior community football can resume from July 20, Waight has worked on a plan that would see the 17-team senior competition divided into two.
Waight says this should be done based on last year's finishing positions, but staggered so there's a mix of higher-placed and lower-placed teams in each group. Nine teams would make up one group with eight in the other.
READ MORE: CHFL closes window on potential 2020 season
From there, an eight-week home and away season would ensue before the top two in each division progress to a two-week finals series.
The grand final would be played on September 26.
"It is an idea that is not perfect, but nothing from this position is 100 per cent perfect," Waight said.
"Reserves can follow the same plan although I can foresee reserves footy in 2020 being a potential challenge for some/most/all clubs with less emphasis/allowance for social gatherings.
"I know a few of my reserves guys have a few reservations with limited time to socialise after games."
Waight said junior football had more options on the table given the government had allowed all forms of 18 years and under competition - non-contact and full-contact - to resume from June 22.
"(It) can follow (the same) plan or create its own model with an extra month up its sleeve. Player interest/motivation and parents' motivation levels will dictate how fast juniors get off the ground I would think," he said.
"The league may want to run a round robin junior competition later in the year with all invested. Juniors may not be as clear cut."
Last month, the CHFL declared it would not push into October due to a number of different logistical issues.
Over the weekend, CHFL president Doug Hobson said the government's announcement provided some hope for getting a season up and running, but there was still a lot of work to be done.
He said it was particularly encouraging for juniors.
Hobson said a CHFL meeting on Wednesday would continue the discussion, including the logistical challenge of catering for a crowd under the stringent guidelines.
WAIGHT'S PLAN
- Two divisions
- Nine teams in Group A, eight teams in Group B
- Teams would be allocated to Group A and Group B from 2019 ladder positions
- Group A would comprise of 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, 15th, 17th from 2019 ladder position
- Group B would comprise of 2nd , 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th from 2019 ladder position
- Season to commence Saturday, July 25
- Grand Final on Saturday, September 26
- Eight weeks of home and away matches then two weeks of finals
- Play everyone once in your group
- One Group A team would have an allocated bye each round (nine teams)
- Group B (eight teams) would have a blanket bye during a round (could be July 25 then seven-straight matches before finals)
- Top two from each group qualify for finals
- First week of finals (1st from Group A v 2nd from Group B and 1st from Group B v 2nd from Group A)
- Grand Final held on September 26 then premiers declared