THERE was a buzz in the air as the Hampden Football Netball League launched its season in Warrnambool on Monday night.

The overriding theme from both the league and clubs was growing confidence the season would be unaffected by COVID for the first time in three years.

Clubs are likely to combat outbreaks within communities, but the days of lockdowns and full rounds being called off seem to be behind us.

New league president, Shane Threlfall said excitement was growing ahead of the new season.

“I think most people will be just happy if we get a full season plus a finals series,” he said.

“It has been a pretty difficult and frustrating couple of years, but hopefully we can put that behind us and have a really exciting 2022.

“I think there is a general excitement that we can get a full year and I think there is a lot of optimism around the fact people really need to start reconnecting with friends and with the community and football netball clubs are a great place to do that.”

With a lean period of football and netball during the pandemic, Threlfall said it was important to ensure clubs were sustainable and in a position to come out of the lull in a good position.

“We are going to use this year as a bit of a consolidation year and a chance to communicate with clubs,” he said.

“There are going to be some challenges and I reckon we will get through them this year, but we will probably have to put some strategies in place going forward just to help clubs deal with some of those issues that are going to arise.

“I think the main thing is the number of players and volunteers.

“It is nothing new, they are issues that confront clubs from time to time, but I think COVID probably brought some of those issues to a head.

“I think we will get through this year on excitement, but we need to make sure we have some strategies in place to deal with those challenges.”

Around 20 new umpires have also signed on as a result of a new initiative across the state to find new officials.

With 10 clubs all vying for success across the football and netball divisions, Threlfall said he expected the perennial contenders to be thereabouts again in 2022.

“Looking at the footy, I think the clubs that were strong last year will still be around the mark,” he said.

“Koroit, North Warrnambool and South Warrnambool have all done well recruiting wise, so I would say they will be up the top end of the ladder.

“Both South and Cobden have recruited well in the netball, so they will be hard to beat I think.”

The season gets underway on April 2.