THE AFL has been forced to slice two games off the VFL fixture due to the ongoing uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic around Australia.
The competition was originally scheduled to feature all 22 clubs playing 16 matches in a 19-round home-and-away season, but lockdowns in Victoria in May and now in NSW have made that impossible to achieve in the remaining timeframe.
All clubs will now play 14 games across the same 19 rounds, with the top eight finals structure to remain unchanged, starting on Saturday, August 28, ahead of the Grand Final on Sunday, September 19, which returns to Marvel Stadium after being played at IKON Park in 2019.
With clubs having played between seven and nine matches across the first 12 rounds, it means some only have five games left to press their finals claims, starting with Friday night’s top eight-shaping contest between Frankston and Port Melbourne at Skybus Stadium.
"The VFL community has shown great resilience, commitment and dedication to get through an unprecedented year for football," AFL Head of Talent Pathways and State League Competitions Tristan Salter said.
"The season has been different, but the rivalries are fierce, the standard is exceptionally high, and the addition of new clubs has provided a competition like no other.
"The VFL football-starved community of fans across Victoria, NSW and Queensland has been rewarded with the highest standard of state league football in the country this season and there is much for fans to look forward to as we push towards the finals."
Salter said the ladder represented the even and diverse nature of the VFL competition, with three standalone clubs, two AFL-aligned clubs and three AFL reserves teams making up the top eight, with just two games separating fourth and 10th positions and another seven teams being within one further game.
VFL matches will continue to be screened by broadcast partners the Seven Network, Foxtel and Kayo, as well as heard on community radio stations Casey Radio 97.7FM, 3WBC 94.1FM and RPPFM 98.7.
Ticketing information for fans will be released on the VFL league and club digital channels as games are locked in each week, with venues and match times to remain a week-by-week proposition for the rest of the season.
Salter thanked everyone involved in the competition for its patience in difficult circumstances and said the NAB League pathway programs would continue to provide players with opportunities to get a taste of VFL and VFLW senior football as they push towards the AFL and AFLW drafts later this year.
"While COVID-19 continues to impact the community, the health and welfare of our players and the community remains the priority and all matches will operate in a safe manner anchored in the advice of respective governments, public health officials and medical experts," he said.
"The AFL would like to acknowledge the support of all industry stakeholders throughout this process and their patience in the construction of the revised fixture.
"The AFL also thanks the legion of fans and supporters for their patience and acknowledge the changes to the fixture will provide equality in the run home to clubs, players and supporters."
