COVID-19 restrictions may force Riverina and Farrer League presentation nights online

The Jim Quinn Medal and Gerald Clear Medal vote counts could be held online for the first time in their history due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Narrandera Ex-Servicemen's Club function room has a capacity of 100 people, due to COVID-19 restrictions, while The Rules Club is only slightly better at 120 for the Farrer presentation night.

The one-off AFL Riverina Championships last year conducted it's vote count online, with the winners then presented their medals on grand final day, showing how it can be done.

The situation was discussed between Farrer League and AFL Riverina officials on Monday with the final decision ultimately going to come down to the financial viability of scaled back events.

"We're currently reviewing just how cost effective running a live presentation event is," AFL Riverina football operations manager Tom Walker said.

"If it's not cost effective, we would not proceed with a live event. We'd look towards having an online presentation."

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AFL Riverina is open to considering all options, but concede in the current climate, their hands may be tied.

If the presentation nights are held online, one consideration is having clubs host their own individual events, where award contenders could gather to watch it unfold alongside teammates.

Walker conceded the restrictions on numbers makes things hard.

"Another awkward point is how we manage invitees, and who can attend," Walker said.

"You could postpone but we could be in the same boat in six months time.

"We'll look at the costs, look at what's doable and not doable and go from there."

Both events were earmarked for early September.

Meantime, it is appearing likely that the Farrer League elimination final will be held at Gumly Oval.

Both McPherson Oval and Gumly Oval were being considered, but with the Hawks firmly in second spot, Gumly Oval now appears the likely venue for the sudden-death final.

The first semi-final venue is still being determined.

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