Riddell District Football League adopts new post-lockdown finals structure
Riddell District Football League clubs have approved a new finals format and season extension to accommodate the rounds lost to Melbourne’s lockdown.
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The Riddell District Football League has adopted a new finals format and extended its season.
The majority of the league’s nine clubs signed off on the plan this month to ensure the competition’s home-and-away season will be played in its entirety.
The decision will see the finals reduced from five teams to a top four and played over three weeks.
The season will also be extended by one week, with the grand final now to be played on either the AFL Grand Final public holiday on Friday, September 24 or Sunday, September 26.
It allows the two rounds lost during Melbourne’s fourth COVID lockdown to be played, with the season restarting from Round 7 on Saturday.
It’s a unique move among metropolitan leagues with the majority deciding the cancel the games scheduled during the lockdown.
RDFL general manager Jordan Doyle said getting a full 16-game home-and-away season finished was a priority for the league.
“We picked the season up at Round 7, which is where we were up to, and we’ll play all of our home-and-away games as scheduled,” he said.
“Our finals will be a top-four over three instead of a top-five over four weeks.
“There was an overall majority, so everyone was on the same page, which was good.”
The finals series will commence on September 11 with a qualifying final between the top two teams and an elimination final between the third and fourth-placed clubs.
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The winner of the qualifying final will progress directly to the grand final, while the loser will meet the elimination final winner in the preliminary final.
There are currently six teams vying for the four finals spots with just eight points separating Diggers Rest in sixth from ladder-leader Wallan.
Every win will be critical for the Magpies, Riddell, Macedon, Romsey, Woodend-Hesket and Burras in the second half of the season with percentage sure to play a major role.
A decision on the RDFL grand final date will be made in the coming weeks.
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