Push for Hampden 23 and under football competition in November

Warrnambool businessman Clinton Baulch put an idea to the HFNL in an effort to create playing opportunities for youngsters after 18 months of interruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

"It's really about giving people in your club and community the chance to participate and do something they've actually missed out on in the past two years," he said.

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The competition would run from October 30 to November 27 with four rounds and a grand final.

Games would consist of two 20-minute halves plus time-on, except the grand final which would be a full game. All games would be at one venue each day of competition (5x50 minute games).

Gate takings, canteen and booth would be shared with all profits split evenly between participating clubs.

HFNL media manager Troy Logan said the league executive would always encourage new ideas and acknowledge people for coming forward.

But he said there were numerous reasons why the league wasn't picking up the proposal.

"I can confirm an idea was put to president Garry Perrett who said he'd take the proposal and talk to some of the executives and it was discussed by a sub-committee of the executive," he said.

"At this point in time, we didn't see it as a feasible option."

Logan said one of the biggest challenges was the agreement in place between footy and cricket.

Under the agreement, the footy season should be confined to April 1 to September 30 each year.

"It's not just a matter of ground availability, it's respecting cricket and the leagues and the agreement in place with the government, AFL Victoria and Cricket Victoria," he said.

He added if the HFNL was entertaining anything in the off-season it would consult the relevant cricket associations before making any decisions.

He said another other issue was the 23 and under footy teams would likely want to train and use their club ovals.

Logan said the league also had to be mindful of volunteers.

"Everyone has had a tough year and we're still really hopeful we can play junior grand finals if restrictions allow," he said.

"We're just mindful of that, in particular, the club volunteers have had a tough year.

"We're not wanting to overload volunteers."

The media manager also noted the HFNL wanted to provide equality across football and netball if there were any playing opportunities.

Baulch feels it's been a particularly tough time for young players.

"They're in the time we're you're going out and having a good time and participating in sport," he said.

"And they've missed that for two years."

The proposal would see teams compete for a $10,000 prize courtesy of Warrnambool Nissan. Rafferty's Tavern would put up $2000 for the runner-up while Sungold Milk would provide footballs and 3YB Coast FM would also sponsor.

Baulch invited any other sponsors to jump on board.

He was quick to point out the focus of the competition was about participation and not the money on offer.

He wanted to get players on the park and said teams shouldn't be scared off if they didn't think they would be a chance to win.

Baulch emphasised it was certainly not about taking away from cricket.

He said he would encourage cricketers to keep playing cricket or other sports if they didn't feel they could do both.

Baulch understands club committees have been stretched and said club presidents had done a terrific job the past two seasons.

He's buoyed by the feedback he's received from parents of 23 and under players.

"They're actually willing to step into the committee and drive it for their clubs," he said.

He explained it could be similar to Hampden league under 16 football where all the parents chip in to make it happen.

Baulch has also touched base with Warrnambool and District Football Umpires Association which is keen to be part of it.

"I rang them straight away and within five minutes got a phone call to say 'we're in'," he said.

Baulch is still trying get the league on board and he appreciates how hard it has worked in the past year.

"I put it to the league, it was sort of a not interested straight away from the get-go, which I would like them to revisit for the good of all the 23 and unders and for the Hampden league generally," he said.

Baulch said the HFNL didn't have to do any of the work but he would like to get the affiliation so the players are covered for insurance.

Logan said there would be a lot of considerations in regards to ensuring players were covered by the AFL Victoria program.

At the moment, what Baulch wants to know from clubs is whether they are in or out.

He wants the buy-in first and before putting it all together logistically.

The proposal suggests having the games at Friendly Societies' Park, Leura Oval (Camperdown) and Gardens Oval (Port Fairy).

Baulch said those grounds hadn't been locked in yet but they were picked because the don't have a cricket pitch in the middle.

He's hopeful it's possible and will approach the relevant councils about getting approval.

Baulch also harbours hope the HFNL could challenge the Geelong Football League to a 23 and under interleague match in March next year.

Logan said the HFNL was open to discussing other ideas for its off-season.

"We will discuss that at our next executive meeting, in terms of any opportunities for off-season/pre-season ect.," he said.

"Given we now had two interrupted seasons we would need absolute certainty and confidence that play can resume.

"We still don't have confirmation about how play can resume from a COVID-19 perspective."

Hampden League 23 and under football proposal

Competition

Major sponsors

Venues

Qualification

All players must be one-point players and played football for their club this year. Must be a new coach, can't be the current under 18, reserve or senior coach. All games will be played at the one venue on the one day. The games will consist of two 20-minute halves plus time-on. The competition will run for four weeks, with a grand final played on the fifth week at the Friendly Societies' Park. The grand final will be a full one-hundred-minute game, consisting of four quarters of 20 minutes plus time-on.

Hampden Live

Will call all 50-minute games each week. Hampden league live current sponsors will have all current rights.

Grand final

To be played at 3pm and will finish at 5.30pm, with all presentations, vote count and under 23 team of the year to be announced at Rafferty's Tavern starting at 6:30pm.

Umpires

Warrnambool umpires have agreed to supply all umpires. Central umpires will consist of one senior umpire and one under 25 umpire. There will be no tolerance to abusive behaviour. The umpires have agreed that all rules will be the same as this year's Hampden league rules, with the introduction of a last touch out of bounds rule.

Entry Fee

$5 to all patrons over the age of 16, under 16s will be free. All profits to the gate will be split evenly between participating clubs. This will require clubs to man the gate at different times.

Canteen

The canteen would be manned between participating clubs, with the profits also being split between participating clubs.

Booth

Will also be manned between the participating clubs, with profits also being split evenly between the clubs.

Competition to start

The competition is to start on October 30 (Saturday) and the grand final to be played on November 27.

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