IT does not matter what form it takes, but if any type of 2020 AFL Central West season can go ahead the Bathurst Bushrangers will back it.
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That is the message from first grade co-coach Tim Hunter, who would love the chance to lead the Bushies into action this year alongside Matt Archer.
Before the season was put on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, there was plenty of excitement at the Bathurst club.
Not only was the first side keen to begin their premiership defence, but the introduction of the second tier meant the Bushrangers were set to have three senior men's teams competing in 2020.
"It was disappointing we got put on hold, it was for all the clubs because they'd all put in a lot of work during pre-season," Hunter said.
"We were really excited to go back to two tiers, we thought we had really good momentum. We were going to enter two sides in the reserves comp and just had fantastic numbers in pre-season, we had a lot of new people come to the club.
"So it was obviously disappointing, but I guess this situation is a bit bigger than local footy. We're hoping that a little way down the track we can get all those people back at the club and get some footy in at some point."
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All leagues Australia-wide are shut down until at least May 31 and AFL NSW-ACT acting CEO Tiffany Robertson admitted in a statement "We are still uncertain about the exact date of commencement for our game."
"[But] Importantly, we have not given up on this season. We are hopeful that we will be back on the field as soon as it is safe to do so."
A more detailed update on the state of the game is due at the end of April, but if the AFLCW does get the nod to go ahead in 2020 it will likely be with a shorter draw.
While less rounds might not be ideal, for Hunter that will not matter if it means players get the chance to compete.
It would mean his Bushrangers side gets the chance to aim for the club's first back-to-back top grade premierships since 2004-05.
"We are hopefully we can get some sort of season in, if it does happen everyone will be raring to go," he said.
"Hopefully things settle down a bit and we have the scope to play a bit shorter season.
"We'd be open to any sort of season, our focus would be on having some sort of season this year, get that off the ground, then looking at what we could do over the summer as well.
"Just getting people back and playing for all clubs is really important rather than having a full season off. But obviously we can't make any decisions on that now until we get the go ahead."
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While the wait continues, Hunter and his fellow Bushrangers are keeping in touch via social media platforms.
"For a lot of people this it is, they love it and they are missing it a lot," he said.
"So we've just tried to keep in contact as best we can, we've started up a facebook page for all the players to keep in touch and have got a senior men's chat where we are posting things people can do to keep fit.
"I'm really, really proud of how the club is managing it, we are all banding together and coming up with ideas. You can't have the club environment, but we are keeping it ticking along as best as we can."
