A weekly bye was introduced to account for the loss of Deakin University, which has gone into recess for 2017, but with only 18 rounds in the season, four teams have missed out on an extra bye.

Reigning premier Nirranda, finalist Kolora-Noorat, Allansford and East Warrnambool are all set to play 17 games, while the remaining seven teams will play 16, according to the draw released on Thursday.

The Standard has contacted the WDFNL to seek clarification and is awaiting comment.

The league has opted to keep its mid-season bye in July, on top of the AFL Victoria community championships bye in mid-May.

That means most teams will have four weekends off during the home-and-away season, while others have three.

Kolora-Noorat president Matt Clarke said the club was awaiting correspondence to learn how the uneven spread of byes would work, whether the weeks off would be accompanied by points for a win (four points), loss (none) or draw (two).

“I would certainly hope that however that is handled doesn’t impact on a fifth or sixth-placed team making finals,” he said.

“As far as the draw goes as a whole, I think we have quite a good draw that I’m happy with. But I would’ve assumed there would’ve been a split round.”

The WDFNL season is set to kick off on April 1, running through to August 12.

Finals will kick off on August 19, with the grand final set for September 9.

Merrivale and Old Collegians will play their traditional Good Friday match on April 14.

Last year’s grand finalists won’t have long to wait to face each other again, with premier Nirranda set to host runner-up Old Collegians in round one.