Southern league prepared to extend season to AFL grand final weekend

The Southern league is resigned to having no crowds should finals games go ahead, putting a strain on its finances.

Lucas Walmsley on the move for Dingley. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Southern league is holding on to the hope that premierships can be awarded and a seal set on a stop-start season.

The SFNL has outlined a road to grand finals for all four divisions, prepared to go into AFL grand final weekend if necessary.

Only the top four teams will contest the finals, should they go ahead.

But SFNL CEO Lee Hartman acknowledged it was unlikely crowds would be allowed to games, dealing the league a financial hit.

Revenue from finals is crucial to the league’s coffers: in 2019 it brought in more than $200,000, with Hartman calling it “critical for league operations’’.

“We would definitely take a massive hit,’’ he said of the repercussions of playing finals without spectators.

“We’re planning for no crowds. If we get them it will be nothing but a bonus.

“But we would like to get a conclusion to the season. We’re committed to doing it if we can.’’

The league has booked Sandringham’s Trevor Barker Oval as a contingency for the Division 1 grand final on Friday, September 24.

A week of training has been factored into the SFNL finals schedule.

Finals would be played over two weeks, with first playing fourth and second meeting third and the winners going on to the grand final.

Southern is prepared to go straight to grand finals between the top two teams if the Victorian lockdown extends to September 16.

Hartman confirmed promotion and relegation would apply for 2022. The league has the ability to make the gradings as it sees fit, taking into account more than final ladder positions.

League medal fancy Kwame McHarg of Port Melbourne Colts.

Cheltenham senior coach Des Ryan applauded the league’s commitment to playing grand finals.

“I think everyone would like to see the season finish, not just be left where we are,’’ Ryan said.

“The whole football community would be flat if it turned out to be a non-event, especially after not playing at all last year.

“So good on Southern for keeping the door open. They did that last year too. I think they’ve done a good job.’’

Ryan said it would be difficult for players to come up for a short finals series, having not played since July 31.

“Extremely tough, I reckon. Big grounds, finals intensity, there is going to be a lot of ball going a lot of different ways,’’ he said.

“But the players are still keeping themselves going based on that hope of getting out there. I know our boys are doing a lot of work. I’ve been unbelievably impressed with them.’’

Southern league finals

Option 1: resume on September 11 if lockdown ends on September 2

Preliminary finals on September 11-12, grand finals on September 18-19

Option 2: resume on September 18 if lockdown ends on September 9

Preliminary finals on September 18-19, grand finals on September 24-26

Option 3

Resume on September 24-26 of lockdown ends on September 16

Grand finals on September 24-26.

Top four teams

Division 1: Dingley, Cheltenham, St Kilda City, Port Melbourne Colts

Division 2: Springvale Districts, East Brighton, Caulfield, Keysborough

Division 3: Black Rock, Clayton, Narre South Saints, Ashwood

Division 4: Carrum Patterson Lakes, Lyndhurst, Cerberus, Hallam

Women’s Division 1: Endeavour Hills, Casey Thunder, Lyndale, East Brighton