AFL Queensland has revealed their preferred return to play date for community football

July 11 has emerged as the most likely return to play date for community football should AFL Queensland get the green light from State Government to return to play as part of Stage 3 restrictions.

JULY 11 has emerged as the most likely return to play date for community football should AFL Queensland get the green light from State Government to return to play as part of Stage 3 restrictions.

THE BIGGEST SEASON SHUTDOWN CHALLENGE FOR REIGNING PREMIERS

AFLQ this week released their 2020 return to play community football guidelines which stated that the organisation is “committed to conducting community football competitions in 2020.”

A statewide postponement took effect from 20 March 2020 but the second weekend of July is now firming as the preferred commencement date.

Gold Coast female Aussie rules teams are rearing to go. Left to right they are, Lauren Theodore Burleigh Bombers, Ellie Parker Robina Roos, Beth McLaughlin Broadbeach Cats, Molly Ritson Bond University, Olivia Salter Surfers Paradise Demonettes. Picture Glenn Hampson

AFLQ’s preference is to conduct a “traditional season” which would consist of a minimum eight home and away games and three weeks of finals between March and September.

If a traditional season is not achievable, a spring season will be formed where teams will have the chance to nominate and pending submissions, AFLQ will be able to pool teams from different divisions to ensure “balanced fixturing.”

COAST CLUB OPENS UP ON CHANCE OF PLAYING QAFL IN 2020

The Queensland Government have indicated that the earliest commencement date for a traditional season would be July 10 with the latest commencement date being July 18.

If a Spring Series cannot commence by 19 September 2020, then all community football in Queensland will be abandoned for 2020.

The QAFL season is hoping to commence on July 11, (L-R) Bryce Retzlaff (Labrador), Stephen Thynne (Palm Beach Currumbin), Brody Haberfield (Surfers Paradise) and Matthew Fowler (Broadbeach). Photo by Richard Gosling

The vast majority of leagues hope to formulate a fixture whereby each team plays each other once with the exception of QAFLW who had already played three games before the season postponement and QFA D2 South which contains 12 teams.

QAFL, QAFLW, QFA D2 South, QFA Colts, QAFW D1 are all pencilled in to return on the weekend of July 11 with Grand Finals to be staged the weekend of September 26, except QFAW D2 South who hope to commence on July 18.

COAST CLUB DISCUSS 2020 QAFL PLANS

Game lengths have been shortened to reflect the interruption to player preparation, and attempt to minimise the effects of fatigue-related injuries.

Formal awards nights like the Grogan Medal and league awards have also been scrapped for 2020 and all team levies and affiliation fees will be reduced by 50% in the event of a traditional season.