Maitland Magpies coach Mick Bolch believes a 2020 football season is very much achievable but no risks should be taken by prematurely lifting successful coronavirus social distancing restrictions.
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"The boys are chomping at the bit, but I don't see a start to the season any time soon," Bolch said.
"We must not risk the effectiveness of what we have been able to achieve by prematurely lifting the restrictions.
"We'll never have another year like this in our lifetime. Unfortunately, sport is on the backburner and that's the way it needs to be.
"If we get to play football this year it will be brilliant, but if it's not until next year then so be it.
"Who would have thought that we could have lost a complete season through a virus."
Bolch has called for football authorities to give the clubs schedules on how the season could proceed and in what form for a variety of starting dates.
"If we've got those scenarios we can set in place terms for when you need to start training again and issues such as that," he said.
"Setting some parameters makes it a lot easier on the clubs and players.
"Realistically they need to come up with a latest date we can start.
"Even if they went by a month. For example this is what the comp looks like if we start on July 1, this is what it looks like if we start on August 1."
Bolch said a number of suggested formats were being worked on, including starting the competition in July and continuing through to December.
"I think that would work. We only have Valentine which doesn't have control of its own ground, so there's a lot more flexibility.
"The time frame is definitely there if they want to do it. It's just how long it takes before they reduce the restrictions.
"They've floated plenty of ideas even if they play a one-round competition, or a one-round competition with semis or doing away with semi-finals and making it simply first past the post."
Bolch said he felt for the players who had a big preseason and were now maintaining their fitness with individual programs.
"Most of the guys if they are playing at that level they are looking after themselves anyway," he said.
"But we're asking them to continue their individual training for two or three nights a week. If it drags on for three months are they going to be past it.
"I think that's one of the key reasons to have a bit of guidance on a start day.
"If they come in and say the earliest we will start is July 1, then you are not worried about doing anything in April or May.
"I know it's difficult for the league to establish time lines as well, as everything is so fluid."
Bolch said a number of issues needed to be resolved if the competition was extended into summer.
"If they do play it over summer, will it affect player rosters, will the competition allow clubs to sign players, do player contracts need to be extended?" he said.