The Riverina and Farrer League competitions will remain in place for 2022, with plans for a new tiered competition structure now pushed back to 2023.

A new club-based model was the centrepiece of the AFL Riverina Competitions Review in 2019.

It advocates a Premier League (with firsts, reserves and under 18s) along with a Platinum League, a Community League, and a Platinum under 18s.

As foreshadowed in The Daily Advertiser earlier this week, AFL Riverina didn't want to hurry clubs into major decisions given COVID-19 forced a shift in priorities from planning for the future to simply getting games up and going again.

"There's been plenty going on in the last 12 to 18 months with clubs coming back from COVID and clubs not playing," AFL Riverina chairman Michael Irons said.

"We felt it was necessary to give clubs more time and let them review the minimum standards (for each tier of competition) and for us to consider whether any changes to the minimum standards are needed."

The standards and participation criteria will be updated and sent to clubs in coming months.

Intriguingly, a window was left open for some minor changes next year with the AFL Riverina Board "open to flexibility regarding the competition makeup of both the Riverina and Farrer (Leagues) for season 2022."

"The flexibility is in regards to where clubs are at with their numbers," Irons said.

"It's holding conversations with clubs about their player numbers and where they are at now."

Next year's plans include continuing with an under 17.5s competition in the Farrer League. Only North Wagga, Marrar and the Northern Jets are fielding a full three grades this year (Coleambally and Barellan joined forces to make a four-team league).

As well as under 17.5s remaining the entry point to senior football in 2022, AFL Riverina confirmed under 15s will be the oldest age group in the juniors.

However, Wagga and District Juniors is likely to drop under 12s and under 14s football competitions, with a planned 'move towards a double age progression' for competitive football age groups.

Junior netball is not changing in Wagga while South West Juniors' football and netball will also remain the same next year.

The AFL Riverina board met recently with the architect of the review, independent consultant David Burgess, and is now working on a new 'implementation plan' and timetable for all 14 recommendations.

AFL Riverina will create a working party for South West Juniors to try to plan 'a sustainable competition structure for future years'.

The organisation is also aiming to establish a regional umpire training base in the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area region next year.

The revised implementation plan is to be sent to all clubs in coming weeks, AFL Riverina said.

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