NAB League Boys, Girls set to return after 2020 season scrapped by COVID-19

The NAB League Boys and Girls competitions are nearing a return after COVID-19 saw the 2020 season scrapped with a fixture close to finalised.

Matthew Rowell in action for Oakleigh Chargers.

The NAB League’s return is close to being finalised after the 2020 season was scrapped due to COVID-19.

Victoria’s elite underage competition will shift to under-19s in 2021 and boys and girls programs have been combined under one club coach.

The Girls competition is pencilled in to start on February 6, 328 days after the season was called off last year.

Three rounds were played before the pandemic swept across the sporting landscape.

The 2021 season will start almost a month earlier than last year as AFL Victoria looks to align the pathway system with the AFL Women’s season.

Georgie Prespakis in action for Calder Cannons. Picture: Julian Smith

Clubs returned to training on January 18 and will have a three-week block of pre-season training before Round 1 begins.

The season is expected to pause for several weeks before resuming to complete the home-and-away season and finals in May.

The Boys competition didn’t even get off the ground in 2020, cancelled days before the first match, but is expected to return on March 26, 552 days since the 2019 grand final.

The boys’ home-and-away season will also be separated into several blocks to allow draft hopefuls to play at local and school level.

NAB League Boys training is expected to resume in February.

The Under-19 National Carnival will also be broken up, starting in July but played mostly in September and October.

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The increased age limit will allow players who missed their draft year to continue their development and boost draft prospects.

All clubs’ coaching positions are now confirmed.

Travis Cloke (Eastern Ranges), Leigh Clarke (Northern Knights), Ross Smith (Calder Cannons), Marco Bello (Oakleigh Chargers), David Loader (Greater Western Victoria Rebels), Robbie Chancellor (Western Jets), Damian Truslove (Bendigo Pioneers), Jackson Kornberg (Sandringham Dragons), Nick Cox (Dandenong Stingrays), Paul Corrigan (Paul Corrigan), Rhett McLennan (Gippsland Power) and Mark Brown (Murray Bushrangers) have all been appointed.

Bello and Corrigan will also be responsible for Vic Metro and Vic Country respectively.