AFL Southern NSW boss Marc Geppert is confident AFL Riverina clubs will hold off from making a premature decision on the 2020 season.
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Geppert held a videoconference with AFL Riverina senior clubs on Friday night to provide the latest update on the suspended 2020 season.
The Rock-Yerong Creek last week hinted they were on the verge of withdrawing from the season, while many other Farrer and Riverina League clubs are uncertain as to the viability of a coronavirus-impacted competition.
Geppert labelled the meeting as 'really positive' and is confident that all AFL Riverina clubs will continue to be patient in waiting for the necessary information to make an educated call on the 2020 season.
"All the clubs and every person involved in footy at the moment has concerns. There's no doubt about that," Geppert said.
"But we're obviously getting in more regular updates from the NSW Government than what we were a couple of weeks ago. The more information that clubs receive, it gives them a little bit more confidence in regards to setting a season for 2020.
"I think to provide a lot of context on Friday to how the AFL makes their decisions, I think that helped really well.
"We're obviously now just waiting our announcement for a return to play and contact training date and I believe if that's coming shortly then we're not far away from all systems go."
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Monday that she would have announcement on community sport in the 'near future'.
It is that announcement that is expected to provide the clarity for AFL NSW-ACT to make decisions, in consultation with leagues and clubs, about the viability of a 2020 season.
In preparation for that, Geppert distributed a survey to clubs on Monday that he hopes will provide valuable feedback surrounding specifics related to the return of football and netball.
Among the topics covered in the survey are player points systems and transfers, insurance and affiliation, season length and finals series, team numbers, game day scenarios and game times.
"In the current format of meeting via the internet, it's pretty hard to gauge everyone's opinions so to send out a feedback form so clubs can sit down as club committees, and engage their players, then it gives them a chance to provide some collective feedback, rather than just the people that are jumping online," Geppert said.
"They've got a feedback template that if they could get back in the next few weeks, it will just assist us with planning for the season because there are a lot of specifics...that we're going to have to work through.
"It would be good if clubs can buy into that, because they're the ones who are ultimately playing in the competitions."
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