Port Fairy and Koroit, which start the regular season a week earlier than the rest of the competition, were given exemptions from the March 19 tournament, while Warrnambool has withdrawn due to a pre-existing practice match.

The league has previously said it would like to schedule the competition four weeks out from the start of the home-and-away season, but a clash with the Labour Day long weekend meant it had to be scheduled just three weeks out.

“Warrnambool originally had a practice game (before) our date changed a bit,” league chief executive officer Mike Farrow said.

“But we’ve also made allowances for Port Fairy and Koroit because they play a week early.”

Farrow said the league would discuss how the competition would be run in future – in regard to date and format – with clubs at a forum next month.

He still expected the majority or all clubs’ netball sides to take part in their pre-season competition, which is also scheduled for March 19.