Weekly Times | GEELONG clubs want the restructure proposed by the AFL Barwon Commission delayed, according to region general manager Lee Hartman.
Leagues and clubs had the chance to respond at a forum and in writing last month to AFL Barwon’s recommendations on competition equalisation.
The commission is expected to announce soon after its meeting on Monday whether it will alter the recommendations.
The long-term plan is to develop four divisions of 10 teams with a promotion-relegation system.
Hartman said the written feedback, submitted by April 21, raised concerns with the timing of the changes.
“All the feedback was suggesting to the commission that we do put it back at least 12 months. Some are calling for up to three years,” he said.
Hartman said written feedback was submitted by 60 per cent of the affected clubs, mostly from the Geelong and Geelong and District leagues.
The short-term proposal is to cut the Geelong league to 10 clubs, and the Geelong and District competition to swell to 14 clubs. But any club from the Geelong, Geelong and District or 10-club Bellarine league could move anywhere to reach those figures.
Some clubs want to assess the impact of AFL Victoria’s statewide equalisation measures. But Hartman said while the impact must be considered, they were two separate issues.
“The points and salary cap is around senior football, where our restructure and criteria is around the whole club and community football approach,” he said.
