Aspley Hornets AFC and Redlands Bombers AFC aim to get NEAFL season restarted in 2020

Hopes were high the esteemed NEAFL national Australian football competition featuring local clubs Redlands Bombers and Aspley Hornets can still proceed – even without the four Australian Football League Clubs.

Hopes were high the esteemed NEAFL national Australian football competition featuring local clubs Redlands Bombers and Aspley Hornets can still proceed – even without the four Australian Football League Clubs.

Players and officials at the Redlands and Aspley clubs were under starters orders, with fingers and toes crossed a competition would start by mid-July at the latest.

“We are working to try and find a solution,’’ said Aspley AFC football manager Mark Perkins.

AFLQ plot pathway to possible return of QAFL competition

“All hope is not lost and all the clubs are united to try and get someone type of NEAFL competition up for 2020.’’

Aspley Hornets' James Neils celebrating a goal. IMAGE: TJ Yelds/NEAFL.

If the competition was played, it would resume without teams from the Sydney Swans, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns and Greater Western leaving a five-team shoot out between Queensland clubs the Hornets, Bombers, Southport Sharks, as well as Canberra and Sydney University.

The short term goal was to get players from the Bombers and Hornets back on the training park in groups from June 12 – when stage 2 of the federal government COVID-19 health plan is activated.

Mitchell Johnson celebrates during the Sharks win against Aspley Picture: TJ Yelds/NEAFL.

The Stage 2 restrictions involve:

• 1.5 metres between people.

• Non-contact activity permitted for up to 20 people (indoor and outdoor)

• Pools can operate for up to 20 people.

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“Obviously we’d like a decision (from the AFL) by then so we can start training,’’ Perkins said.

The competition would need to be heavily funded by the AFL.

Redland Bombers Football Club president Colin Tobiasen said he wanted to see players back into training but wondered whether it would be worthwhile.

NEAFL, Southport Sharks v Redland Bombers, Picture Glenn Hampson

“If we even do get back to training, which will hopefully be sooner rather than late... then it’s a case of what are we really training for?” Tobiasen said.

“I think it’s fair to say the 2020 competition for the NEAFL is fairly shaky.

“Until the AFL comes out and makes a decision, we’re at a bit of a standstill.”

He said while no public date had been announced “there are discussions behind the scenes”.

“Obviously our players and the coaches are all being kept in the loop.”

Despite the delay, the club remains primed to get back to it having managed to keep four of five interstate players in Queensland for the Covid-19 shut down and equip players with a training kit including balls and treadmills.

“We’ve given them all the training equipment we could muster up,” he said.

He said players were expected to be able to train together by mid-June, a date that could be at risk of changing if the state’s Covid-19 cases jump.