Wantaway Hume League players would face little opposition from the AFL should they want to join neighbouring competitions this year.
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The Hume League was the first competition within southern NSW to abandon a premiership season for 2020 last month and remains the only one to do so.
The Riverina and Farrer Leagues remain hopeful a premiership season will get underway this year, with a decision to be made on June 30. A start date of July 18 has been set.
Both Osborne coach Joel Mackie and Lockhart counterpart Mitch Carroll have voiced their concerns about losing a number of players in the wake of the Hume League's decision not to play for a premiership.
AFL Southern NSW regional manager Marc Geppert believes there is still life in the Hume League season yet. But he also believes players have a right to seek alternative options should it not go ahead.
"Following a Hume League meeting between presidents and coaches this week, there is still a clear hunger for senior football to be played by the majority of clubs. So now they need to work out what their season might look like to give their participants some certainty," Geppert said.
"Post this decision, the AFL would need to look at what has been implemented from a season's perspective to see if there are any special circumstances that players could apply for to get a game of footy.
"In a rare circumstance where the Hume League didn't have a season, or play in a heavily reduced season and neighbouring leagues played a premiership season, we would then have to look at the players options and seek to get a good outcome."
Geppert said there are no plans to put a freeze on clearances from Hume League clubs or any other measures.
"At the moment, we will continue to follow the national transfer guidelines until further decisions are made around competition structures," he said.
"It is hoped the Hume League will make a decision when we receive a senior sport announcement from the NSW Government."
A number of Osborne and Lockhart players have already been approached by Riverina and Farrer clubs for season.
AFL Riverina chairman Michael Irons also refused to rule out accepting teams from neighbouring leagues, like the Hume, in any abbreviated season that takes place under its governance.
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