A host of AFL Riverina clubs are desperate for the governing body's window to play finals to be extended beyond September 19.

Saints president Brendan Nilsen is still canvassing views across the club, including gauging their netballers' thoughts, but the reigning premiers are wary about what it means for players.

North Wagga, who had the bye in round 18, haven't played since August 7 and are happy to adopt a wait-and-see approach without campaigning for AFL Riverina to change its stance.

"We'll be open to anything. We'd be keen to play but it's got to be right. The longer it goes, the harder it's going to be," Nilsen said.

"I really want to talk to our netballers and our members but our general consensus is that anything over two or three weeks (off) is a big ask for our players to come back and play in a final."

It's already three weeks since North Wagga's last game. The best-case scenario now is at least another two weeks of stay-at-home orders and then a return to team training for at least a week's preparation for finals.

Their cross-town rivals, East Wagga-Kooringal, were building beautifully for finals before the new lockdown arrived.

Hawks president Paul Bourne said they want to play but noted the pressure on AFL Riverina to open a longer window for finals could be inconsequential in the big picture.

"We're keen to play. The players want to play. The committee and the supporters want the players to play," Bourne said.

"But in saying that, we're not naive enough as a footy club to think we can go against government advice... it has to be right under the government rules and AFL rules. It's as simple as that."

NSW deputy premier John Barilaro has already flagged the prospect of crowds not being allowed at community sport even if the current stay-at-home orders are lifted.

Bourne said a finals series should be a league's showpiece event and noted that more than a month between games leading in isn't ideal.

"We had a few injuries earlier in the year but we feel like we had momentum coming into finals, so it definitely doesn't suit us, what's gone on," Bourne said.

"But at the end of the day, people are getting very sick and even dying (from COVID) so that probably puts it in perspective."

Under the revised top four, East Wagga-Kooringal (second) were still drawn to take on The Rock-Yerong Creek first up, but with a spot in the grand final on the line. North Wagga (fourth) were due to meet minor premiers Marrar in the other semi-final.

Now, it hinges on both an AFL Riverina change of heart, and a lifting of the lockdown by the state goverment, along with suitable conditions to allow community sport to go ahead.

"It's just COVID isn't it. Last year we sat here and said, we'll never get a year like this again. And look what we've got," Nilsen said.

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