The discussion around cutting the number of on-field players per team in the Central Highlands Football League's reserves competition has been reignited as uncertainty surrounds what will happen to community sport in the months and years ahead.
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CHFL president Doug Hobson said the idea to move to a 16-per-side division had been knocked down by clubs as recently as last year, but believed there might be a different feeling if the submission was put up for vote again.
"We have tossed around in the past about talking to going to 16-a-side plus extra numbers on the bench if you had them," he said.
"But everything is on the table to look at because we really do need a healthy reserves competition to have a healthier seniors competition.
"(16-a-sde) I think that is something we may have to look at, depending on how numbers come up for sides. None of us are really going to know until February or March comes along and people get back on the training track. And that's providing we have a clear run at things next year."
With the potential of dwindling numbers when football does resume, Hobson floated the possibility of allowing clubs to loan each other players on game days, like what occurs in junior grades.
"You might go along to a club that hasn't got as many reserves and the other has got more... you loan the other side a few to get a proper game up and going so everybody gets a game," he said.
"It's not something we've done in senior grades, but something that we may have to look at as we go through."
The CHFL cancelled seniors and reserves competitions before a game was played this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. And after just four rounds, the junior season was also called off on Sunday.
The prospects of football and netball returning soon haven't been painted in a good light by Victoria's Wimmera-raised health and biosecurity expert Dr Rob Grenfell.
"You're making me weep here," Dr Grenfell said in a story published in the Wimmera Mail-Times. "I know how important footy is to all the small towns and communities around here and unfortunately I can't give you a positive answer.
"We're just going to have to wait and see what happens with this virus because it is still going to be around at that time.
"Football and community support is vital for the strength and wellbeing of our communities, but we're going to have to keep working out how we might do it so it's safe.
"At this stage, I don't see a way of that happening."
