Seven teams set for new look AFL

THE Chronicle spoke with AFLQ operations manager Barry Gibson about how the sport will look on the Downs in 2020.

YEAR OFF: The Chinchilla Suns will not take part in the 2020 AFL Darling Downs competition. Picture: File

AUSSIE RULES: The AFL Darling Downs senior men’s competition is set to push ahead with seven teams for the upcoming season.

Expressions of interest were received by the league, with all clubs except University and Chinchilla indicating their intention to play in 2020.

This includes the return of the Dalby Swans to the top-flight after sitting out the season last year.

The current plan remains for the competition to get underway on July 11, with eight regular season games to be played.

This will be followed by a three-week finals series, culminating in the grand final on September 27.

AFL Queensland state football operations manger Barry Gibson said they were in the process of finalising fixtures with the new look competitions.

“Chinchilla and University haven’t been able to go forward, and we understand that. It’s an unfortunate circumstance but no doubt they’ll be back next year,” Gibson said.

“We’ve got seven men’s teams and we’re working through that now.

“With some of the other age groups, some teams won’t have access to the same number of players. But we will certainly have a competition in every age group.”

The news of University dropping out of the 2020 means just three clubs remain entered for the senior women’s competition.

Gibson said that despite the numbers, they would push ahead, and remain hopeful that a fourth team can be formed.

“We’re currently working on the potential to create a fourth team,” he said.

‘There may be the players to do that, and it’s something we’re working on in the background.

“We’ll have a better understanding of where we are at with that next week, but we might have to press ahead with three teams.”

While the situation across all levels

“They all acknowledge it will be difficult, but this has been buoyed by resilience of clubs and volunteers to try and find a way,” he said.

“With COVID restrictions it is very challenging, but we will find a way.

“It’s a unique year, but the fact is we are getting back to football. The sentiment across the state is that we are all incredibly fortunate to get the chance to come back and play footy.”

Originally published as