Football-netball league presidents throw up ideas as competitions enter 'foreign territory' due to coronavirus

Sponsorship and social functions - two of the biggest drivers of revenue - are expected to take a hit during the hiatus while player payments are also a hot topic.

Leaders are hopeful the Hampden and Warrnambool and District leagues will return to play a shortened season but are also bracing for the worst-case scenario of the pandemic wiping out their entire 2020 campaigns.

Koroit president Steve Hoy said clubs would need to be creative.

He said the Saints understood the valuable role they played in the community and that their importance stretched beyond the playing arenas.

He said a mini series could be an option.

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"If you have four weeks left and the world has returned to normal, we're not going to have a season," Hoy said.

"But if you all get a chance to host a home game, we can bring our community back and give our people a chance (to watch) and kids to play.

"What are we playing for? You're not playing for points, you're playing for the community, members and sponsors because it means so much to them."

Clubs are also bracing for the financial pitfalls of a postponed season.

Social events, such as weekly teas which are a regular source of income, will be impacted under the federal government's ban of non-essential gatherings of more than 100 people.

"We'll be doing a financial plan to work out what it looks like if we resume on May 31 and if we don't get a start by then we'd assume we won't get a season at all so what's that going to look like," Hoy said.

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He stressed it was paramount to include everyone - staff, players, volunteers and members - "even if it's just emotional support" during the coronavirus ban.

"We need to be staying in touch with those people throughout to make sure there are some connections," Hoy said.

South Warrnambool president Steve Harris said health and well-being were the Roosters' number one priority but the unusual circumstances had also shone a light on the importance of financial planning.

"The challenge for us at all clubs is to position ourselves at a worst-case scenario - how the club looks after a season with no football and netball at all," he said.

"We're in the process of budgeting for a worst-case scenario and working back from there but maintaining contact with our long-term sponsors to ensure we can support them in any way we can."

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Harris said clubs "need to be innovative".

"If there is a lesson to come out of this, it is all clubs need to be a little bit smarter in what they do, how they look at revenue streams and not just rely on the traditional ones (sponsors and game days) in order to survive," he said.

Player payments and contracts will be a point of concern for all clubs.

AFL Western District operations manager Matt Ross urged it to be a priority.

"Clubs need to have hard look at player payments. We are hopeful clubs have some strong conversations around player payments and making sure they survive during this period," he said.

Harris said South Warrnambool would take it into account.

"Each club is different and in many respects each contract is different," he said.

"We'll work with our paid personnel to get a balance of what's fair to them and also what's in the best interests of the club.

"I am confident in saying, particularly in our case, the culture we've been able to develop will be one that people will act with integrity and in the best interests of the club."

Panmure president Maree Condon hoped the Bulldogs would also work together for the betterment of the club.

"We're going to have to sit down and talk to them and work out something for everyone," she said.

"We don't want to do the wrong thing by them either. From a club perspective, it's going to be difficult.

"We've got pretty good people coaching the club so we'd hope they would understand the predicament we're in."

Condon said it was important clubs didn't fall behind financially.

"No one will be around the club, so we won't be spending money in that regard," she said.

"But the implications are far as next year - you're behind the eight-ball even before you start.

"It is just so foreign, the territory we're in. This is a totally different thing and everybody is in the same boat."

Old Collegians president Jason Moloney said clubs needed to band together.

"Everybody is in the same boat. If there are things we can do at club, league or even region level that will soften the blow a bit we'd be happy to have those conversations," he said.

"What we've said all along is wait for the advice and where it's coming from, whether it's state or federal governing body, and act on that.

"Rather than doing things ad-hoc or on a bit of a whim, we'll accept advice from whomever it is and act on that accordingly."

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