The Griffith District Football Association all age men’s competition will be played under a single tiered structure in 2017.
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2016 saw both first and reserve grade competitions played but they will now merge into one.
Clubs will be able to nominate multiple teams for the competition.
GDFA president Angelo Cirillo said there was likely be a difference in skill level between sides in the competition but the association was looking at a split finals set up to maintain interest.
“There’s no denying the fact there could be a separation between some top clubs in that division and some other growing clubs,” Cirillo said.
“We will look at a conference style set up where there may be two final series.
“Your top half of the competition and bottom half of the competition [split and] both play finals.”
Whether a split final series eventuates will depend on the amount of team nominations which are due on February 28.
The magic number for Cirillo is 10 and from what he’s being told, things are looking good.
“It’s not a minimum but I think we could run into the avenue of the maximum, from what we’re hearing,” Cirillo said when asked the minimum amount of teams GDFA was looking for.
“That’s an exciting prospect. The difference [in 2017] is, when you’re down to five clubs in a club construct of first and reserve grade, the competition structure’s not too exciting playing everyone three times.
“If you go to one tier and you play everyone once or twice, you have that variety.”
Cirillo said 2017 was the perfect chance for younger players who have been out of the game for a few years to come back in.
“If there’s interest from the 18, 19, 20 years old guys that are out there wanting to play football again, this year is the best year to come in and have a kick,” Cirillo said.
He also said there was a potential for people to create their own teams under the affiliation of a club.
“It could be a group of 16 friends who decided they want to come back and play football,” Cirillo said.
“They join a club, they go and play and they affiliate under that club and they get back on the pitch.”
GDFA and Football Wagga have also agreed to hold a joint pre-season tournament in Wagga on the weekend of March 11.
