The NFNL wishes to announce several determinations following the cancellation of the 2021 season.
The NFNL Board has made several important decisions in relation to the 2021 season, which are outlined below.
PROMOTION AND RELEGATION
The NFNL Board determined that promotion and relegation will not be applied due to the shortened home and away season and cancellation of the finals series.
The decision to not apply relegation was announced in July following the second lockdown to impact the season. The NFNL Board has now determined that promotion will also not be applied.
As promotion and relegation only applies to the senior men’s football competitions, the NFNL can confirm the following divisional structure for its men’s football competitions for the 2022 season.
Division 1 – 10 teams
Division 2 – 10 teams
Division 3 – 8 teams
For all seniors and reserves men’s football competitions, teams will remain in the same competition they competed during the 2021 season.
PREMIERSHIPS AND MINOR PREMIERS
The NFNL Board determined it was necessary to recognise the teams that finished first on the ladder across all competitions.
The following determinations were made regarding the recognition those clubs will receive.
For all seniors, reserves and under-19s football competitions (men’s and women’s) and all netball competitions, the team that finished first on the home and away ladder will be presented with a Minor Premiers cup and Minor Premiers flag.
The NFNL Board adopted a different approach when making its determination on the junior football competitions, with encouraging participation and enjoyment the overriding priority in all junior sport.
As such, it was the NFNL Board’s view that there was not the same requirement for a finals series to determine the outcome of the season.
For all junior football competitions, the team that finished first on the home and away ladder will be presented with a Premiership cup and Premiership flag.
Additionally, players from the first-placed team in all junior football competitions will receive a premiership medallion, while players from the second-placed team will receive a runner-up medallion.
The table below outlines the silverware that will presented to the first-placed team in each competition.
| Men’s Football | Women’s Football | Junior Football | Netball | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premiership Cup | No | No | Yes | No |
| Minor Premiers Cup | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Premiership Flag | No | No | Yes | No |
| Minor Premiers Flag | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Premiership Medallions | No | No | Yes | No |
| Runner-Up Medallions | No | No | Yes | No |
As previously advised, the league will present individual awards (best and fairest, leading goal kickers and Coaches MVP), with the award ceremonies to be presented online throughout September.
The NFNL Board wishes to take this opportunity to again thank all clubs, players, parents, volunteers, officials, umpires and commercial partners for the support and understanding you have shown throughout the 2021 season and applaud the resilience displayed under challenging circumstances.
We hope the determinations provided within this update allow you prepare for next season with greater clarity, and we look forward to working with you all again in season 2022.
