A new era will begin in Central West AFL this year with the hope being it can set the platform for further growth and development in the future.
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A two-tiered system has been locked in for the men's competition, with four sides in the top Premier Division while five will take part in the Plate Division.
The Dubbo Demons, Bathurst Bushrangers, Bathurst Giants, and Orange Tigers will be in the top grade.
The Tigers will have a reserve grade outfit in the Plate while the Bushrangers will field two sides - the Outlaws and Rebels - there alongside the Cowra Blues and Parkes Panthers.
There will also be five teams in the Women's Premier Division, one of those being the returning Dubbo Demons.
The Bushrangers, Giants, Tigers, and Blues are the other sides.
The changes mean two extra men's sides will take to the field in Central West AFL compared to last year.
"It's a good reflection of the popularity of AFL growing in the Central West," AFL NSW/ACT Growth and Sustainability manager Cameron Borgas said.
"Everyone is really excited and looking forward to the season. It's about six weeks away but it feels like the season is right around the corner and we're looking forward to AFL Central West growing."
There will be flexibility in the two tiers, with Borgas hopeful more teams could be added to each as soon as next year.
The Dubbo Demons had hoped to field a second side this season but it failed to materialise while Cowra is another club which could develop another team and the door is also open for clubs which were part of the competition in the past to return.
"We'd love to see Dubbo have a second team and maybe Cowra too and there's the opportunity for towns like Mudgee and Young to re-enter through that Plate Division and hopefully it would be a better fit," Borgas said.
"The two tiers broadens the opportunity and it's much more achievable to get a team in the Plate."
Borgas expects the Plate to be an extremely competitive division as the best from the smaller centres of Cowra and Parkes lock horns with the Tigers and Bushrangers reserves.
Cowra won just three games across its men's and women's sides last year and after plenty of changes behind the scenes hopes are high for 2020.
"Cowra is really optimistic about the season and they see it as a chance to build and hopefully develop a winning culture and be competitive in the Plate," Borgas added.
There's also high hopes for the women's division, where the Demons return after missing the 2019 campaign due to a lack of numbers.
"We've always seen Dubbo as an important part of the Central West competition so to have a senior women's side is fantastic and hopefully it will help maximise the game day experience alongside the men. It's exciting," Borgas said, before speaking about the club's failure to field a second men's side.
"We were really supportive of Dubbo getting a second team and the feedback we got was they'd fall just short but they're a good chance for 2021/22 and we'll support them."
A draw is expected to be completed by the end of next week with round one to be played on April 18.
Borgas said making the most of each and every game day is a real focus and there is the chance up to four games could be played at the one ground on a Saturday in the 2020 draw.