Listen: Allansford coach Ben Price floats idea to fix player shortage issues

The Allansford coach told The Main Break podcast it was important to think outside the box when it came to improving player numbers and lessening pressure on reserves footballers.

Price coaches in the Warrnambool and District league but has spent time in the Hampden league competition.

"I think Hampden league, being the premier league around, doesn't need a reserves side," he said.

"I think if you had Hampden league senior footy, maybe an under 19 premier group of the better kids and then had feeder teams coming from the district league that would support the Hampden league senior sides.

"Week in, week out, if they're looking to top up numbers or have injuries at senior level they either go to the under 19 group...or you have that affiliation with a district league club that then provides extra bit of depth.

"You'd just have a seniors and reserves competitions at district league level."

Listen to The Main Break in full with Ben Price:

Price said such a concept would require zoning.

"Ultimately it would take two or three years to get that zoning right as well," he said.

"If you had a South Warrnambool affiliated with a Merrivale and a Collegians that would work."

Price, a father of two who works as a site manager for Metricon Homes, conceded it could be considered fanciful.

"If no one is thinking of it what is going to happen is there's going to be clubs disappear quicker than you know," he said.

"It is about being proactive and you're better to throw up a crazy idea and have people knock it on the head than have nothing at all and see football waste away."

The fourth-year Cats coach spoke to The Main Break about concussion protocols, balancing football with work and named former Timboon Demons coach Mick Hunt as his toughest game-day rival.

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