He hopes attention can again turn to the big picture when a post-pandemic calm settles.

The value of sport and community clubs was drummed home last winter for clubs that took part in a compressed but high-quality AFL Riverina Championship.

But the importance of clubs and communities was also apparent for those who didn't get a senior season in.

In a wide-ranging interview ahead of a move to Queensland for work, Flanigan and wife Kathy - who joined the football and netball league's competition management committee (CMC) before Chris - said they've taken plenty out of their involvement over the past five or six years.

While the chaos caused by COVID-19 meant an independent review into AFL Riverina went on the backburner, Chris believes it will be important to return to those recommendations.

"It's got to happen I think. You can't stand still, you've got to move," Flanigan said.

"Some things may work, some may not but if you don't you try, you don't know. And if you stand still, you die. We've got to get on with it."

Flanigan was, broadly, a fan of the proposal which includes a creating a new senior structure, including a premier league with three grades of football (and a commitment to women's football) running alongside 'platinum' and community leagues with different criteria.

"If you're looking at the criteria and what you have to have (including facilities and other framework, as well as teams), some of the clubs in the RFL may not fit that bill. Some Farrer League clubs may but may not want to.

"It's a matter of working out where we're at and how we accommodate it... How much pressure would it take off some community clubs if they don't have to field a second grade team, they can just worry about their first grade and still have their identity."

He says 2020 was also a sharp reminder of the need for strong CMCs and club administration, when the AFL stood down a majority of its administration staff.

"It reminded us how important it is at club level too, because a lot of work went back on to the committees this year," Chris said.

Maintaining a strong volunteer base is an ongoing challenge for clubs. Flanigan said the biggest lesson he's learnt is that volunteers are often there if asked, but need to be given support and guidance.

The pair said a highlight of being on a league committee is working with other clubs and the reminder that they are all partners as well as rivals.

"Particularly this last season, with COVID, we all relied on each other a lot to find out who was doing what and how they were doing it," Kath said.

She was a late convert to netball... a hockey junior who took up the sport late to help out at Tigers, then ended up on the committee, given her professional experience was in administration and rules and procedures. Next stop, the CMC.

"I'm really glad I did it. I got to meet lots of different people and forged good strong friendships. But you get to see the differences in clubs and not have the blinkers on about what I want for my club," she said.

"It's about working out what's best for the league and what's going to be in everyone's best interest to ensure that we have long-term viability."

Chris said the CMC job is less demanding than a club president's role, where there is a constant stream of demands.

"At finals time and with rep football it is extremely busy... but you get to bounce ideas around. You can cherry-pick and see what works for different clubs," he said.

"You can help clubs by talking things through and letting them know what other clubs are doing. Everyone does certain things great and then there are opportunities... Whilst we all have that rivalry on the footy field, off the field everyone is on the same wavelength about stability. We all want to be around for a long time to come."

Chris says equalisation measures have been valuable but is wary of pushing too much further in restricting spending or recruiting.

"We've got to find that balance - how far is too far? think the points, I don't think we can go much lower than where we're at," he said.

"Even the salary cap, it's why we pushed so hard to keep it at $80,000 and try to get it locked in for a couple of years, to give clubs that stability to know what they've got and what they can do.

"It doesn't mean clubs have to spend 80. If they don't have it, they can choose not to. But I think when you've got your Ovens and Murray and other Leagues above you, it can be hard to get players to come in. So we've got to be careful that we don't hurt the league too much in quality, and unfortunately that quality piece sometimes does require a bit of coin."

This year's Championship was a reminder of what a high standard competition looks like, and is worth to its own reputation.

"The quality was sensational this year. It was really good to watch," Chris said.

"Even the reserve grade was a pleasure to watch this year, where in the past years, it's sometimes hard for some clubs to get reserve grade sides on the paddock."

All involved in the 2020 season had high praise for the AFL's regional manager last year, Marc Geppert, and competition coordinator Tom Walker when he was permitted (by the AFL) to return to work.

But Flanigan said it's important to remember the work that has gone in earlier and behind the scenes, particularly thanking Shane Buchanan and Paul Habel.

"Over the years, through his advisory role around the CMC, the retained knowledge that Shane has got, he was great, he's very smart," he said.

"And the same with Paul Habel and all the work he's done over the years, and lately around sustainability and equalisation, they've been really good."

Kath was coaxed on to the CMC by Janine Fitzsimmons and says the league wouldn't be what it is without Fitzsimmons driving netball's professionalism.

"Someone like Janine, who's so knowledgeable and passionate - she's assertive, can stand up to a male-dominated league or board - and I often say at finals time that if it wasn't for Janine, we wouldn't have what we have in terms of the netball competition and standard," Kath said.

She said Leeton's Kath 'Foxy' Bechaz has also had a big influence and believes netball playing and umpiring standards have improved markedly in recent years and clubs increasing support for coaches is another positive.

For all it's trials, including health inspectors at every finals game, last year had its rewards, Kath Flanigan says.

"The clubs that participated were pretty thankful that it went ahead. Most football and netball clubs, they're a lot of young people. And as a mother of sons, and one that plays, I was thankful that they got the opportunity to play and they had that outlet.

"At the end of the day we wanted to keep people safe and be able to play. It was a big team effort from AFL House, the board, CMC, every club committee, and all the players.

"Seeing people able to come and watch, as well as play, it made it worthwhile."