The Eastern Football Netball League has finalised its plans for the remainder of the Eastland Senior Men’s 2021 campaign.
The league in consultation with its club has developed a roadmap to the end of the season. These dates are dependent on the Victorian Government’s Health Guidelines and Restrictions.
Rounds and Finals will be removed if they are unable to be played and should play be unable to resume before the 18th of September, then the Grand Final(s) will not be played.
The Premier Division, along with Division One and Division Three will take part in a Top Six finals series, with 1st playing 6th, 2nd playing 5th and 3rd playing 4th if a return to play is possible by the 28th of August.
The three winners and the highest placed loser (second chance) will progress to the Preliminary Finals.
The Preliminary Final matchups will be determined once clubs advance through the Top Six playoff matches. This will be based on their playoff match outcomes and the playoff match ranking.
FinalsSemi-Final #1 (Highest Ranked Match)Semi-Final #2 (Match Rank 2)Semi-Final #3 (Match Rank 3)August 28th/29th1st v 6th2nd v 5th3rd v 4th
If the Top Six playoff matches are completed and the Preliminary Finals are unable to be completed, the highest placed winners based on ladder positions would move to the Grand Final.
If a return to play is any later than August 28th, those three divisions will join Division Two and Division Four in playing out a Top Four knockout finals series.
The EFNL is working with clubs to confirm the minimum preparation period required before a return to play.
Below are tables which outlines the roadmap for each of the five Senior Men’s Divisions remembering that any matches that cannot be completed will be removed.
Premier Division:
Return to Play
August 28/29th RTP
Sept 4/5th RTP
Sept 11/12th RTP
Sept 18th Date Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played August
28/29thRound SevenSep
4/5thSemi FinalsPreliminary Finals
(1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd)Sept
11/12thPreliminary Finals
(Three Winners + Highest Ranked Loser)
Grand FinalGrand Final
(1v2)Sept
18thGrand FinalGrand Final
(1v2)
Division One:
Return to Play
August 28/29th RTP
Sept 4/5th RTP
Sept 11/12th RTP
Sept 18th Date Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played August
28/29thSemi FinalsSep
4/5thPreliminary Finals
(Three Winners + Highest Ranked Loser)Preliminary Finals
(1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd)Sept
11/12thGrand FinalGrand FinalGrand Final (1v2)Sept
18thGrand Final (1v2)
Division Two Return to Play
August 28/29th RTP
Sept 4/5th RTP
Sept 11/12th RTP
Sept 18th Date Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played August
28/29thPreliminary Finals
(1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd)Sep
4/5thGrand FinalGrand Final
(1v2)Sept
11/12thGrand Final
(1v2)Sept
18thGrand Final
(1v2)
Division ThreeReturn to Play August 28/29th RTP
Sept 4/5th RTP
Sept 11/12th RTP
Sept 18th Date Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played August
28/29thSemi FinalsSep
4/5thPreliminary Finals
(Three Winners + Highest Ranked Loser)Preliminary Finals (1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd)Sept
11/12thGrand FinalGrand FinalGrand Final (1v2)Sept
18thGrand Final
(1v2)
Division Four Return to Play August 28/29th RTP
Sept 4/5th RTP
Sept 11/12th RTP
Sept 18th Date Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played August
28/29thPreliminary Finals
(1st v 4th, 2nd v 3rd)Sep
4/5thGrand FinalGrand Final
(1v2)Sept
11/12thGrand Final (1v2)Sept
18thGrand Final
(1v2)
The Bendigo Bank Netball season will take a similar shape, with the EFNL targeting a Return to Play on the 27th of August – Health Restrictions permitting.
The top four divisions will play their final Home and Away round before heading into a Top Four knockout Finals Series, whilst Division Four to Seven will begin their Finals Series on the 27th.
Across all divisions – assuming a Return to Play on the 27th of August – there will be an extra playoff round to provide clubs who miss the finals a chance to play an extra game.
These games would be fixtured as 5th v 6th, 7th v 8th etc.
Below are tables which outlines the options for the Eight Divisions of Netball.
Premier Division – Division Three Return to Play August 27th RTP
Sept 3rd RTP
Sept 10th Date Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played August 27thRound 18Sep 3rdSemi Finals + PlayoffsSemi Finals + PlayoffsSept 10thGrand FinalsGrand FinalsGrand Finals (1v2)
Division Four – Division Seven
Return to Play August 27th RTP
Sept 3rd RTP
Sept 10th Date Matches Played Matches Played Matches Played August 27thSemi Finals + PlayoffsSep 3rdGrand FinalsGrand Finals (1v2)Sept 10thGrand Finals (1v2)