THE Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League is set to return on 25 July, albeit with a shortened season and a zero salary cap.
The league’s return is subject to the further lifting of COVID-19 restrictions which would allow up to 500 spectators to attend matches.
The top two divisions of the senior football and netball leagues will return on 25 July, with Grand Finals to be played on the weekend beginning 17 October.
Division one football will consist of nine rounds, with teams playing each other once. A top five finals series will begin on 25 September.
Division two football will be 11 rounds this year with clubs playing each other once. A top four finals series will take place starting 10 October.
A bye has been introduced to the second division to accommodate for the exit of Chelsea. The club pulled out of the season earlier this month.
A statement from AFL South East read that “netball will remain an integral element of the MPNFL competition and operational staff will continue to work with clubs to ensure that this remains the case in 2020. Maintaining a strong community football and netball environment is a key factor in the strength of the MPNFL community.”
“MPNFL clubs will be surveyed over the coming days to confirm their engagement in all levels of competition.”
The path back to competitive sports was outlined after AFL South East’s Richard Black and Shaun Connell, MPNFL operations manager Haydn Parsons, and representatives from MPNFL clubs met on 18 June.
The Frankston Dolphins VFL squad is also gearing up for the start of the season, with the VFL’s 2020 campaign set to get underway on 1 August.
Frankston will be one of eight teams taking part in the state’s premier competition this season, alongside Box Hill, Casey, Coburg, Port Melbourne, Sandringham, Werribee, and Williamstown. The AFL affiliated clubs will not have access to AFL listed players this season.
Dolphins players returned to training at SkyBus Stadium on 2 June with a modified program. Full contact training will be allowed for VFL clubs from 13 July.