Despite the salary cap being slashed by 50 per cent, clubs are wary a lack of income from sponsorship and functions could place them under too much strain.

Clubs believe it could also alleviate problems if the government caps the number of people allowed at community-based matches.

"I hope we can a find a way to play senior football but it's going to be difficult with a lack of income and government restrictions," Lockhart president Bob Mathews said.

"Clubs may not be willing to lose money they have worked hard to build up over the years.

"If we can't find a way to play senior football, I still think we could play junior football as well as netball because it doesn't cost a lot of money.

"We need to remember that our major role as clubs is to provide the community with sport and enjoyment.

"On a day at Lockhart we would have around 200 players and there would be 500 people at the games and I can't see the government going from two people to 500 in a week."

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Mathews said Lockhart was open to playing in a two conference competition involving northern and southern divisions but believes details will only become clearer when the government announces further guidelines in the next fortnight.

While Culcairn president Andrew Godde said the Lions' preferred option was to play football over a 12-round season in the seniors, he welcomed the northern and southern conference competition for juniors.

"We aren't keen on the conference for seniors but we like the round robin for juniors to give them some football and netball," Godde said.

"I think that has a lot of merit.

"We have 50 Auskick kids in Culcairn and those kids are keen to play as well.

"With the seniors it gets a bit more complicated with the numbers and everything else that comes into it."

CDHBU president Chris Scott echoed the comments of Mathews and Godde in regards to juniors.

"I know our under 17s are a bit thin in the ground at the moment but our under 14s are building up and it's a long time until next season for the kids," Scott said.

"Nobody knows what is going to happen with the seniors yet, but If we put together some grounds which are nearby I think something could be worked out for juniors and netballers.

"It would be a good catch-up for the parents as well.

"We would be all for looking at any sort of format for the junior football and netball."

The Hume league has floated three options for 2020 including a two conference competition, matches starting on June 15 and football being abandoned.

The two conference proposal involves the league being split into northern (Osborne, Rand-Walbundrie-Walla, Billabong Crows, Henty, Lockhart and CDHBU) and southern (Brock-Burrum, Culcairn, Holbrook, Howlong, Jindera and Murray Magpies) divisions.

It is believed most clubs like the two conference plan but only as a junior competition.

League president Brendan I'Anson is hoping there will be at the very least be junior football and netball played this season.

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