The competition will feature Hampden league clubs Warrnambool, South Warrnambool, North Warrnambool Eagles, Koroit, Terang Mortlake and Portland in its inaugural year.

The under 23 competition was formed to create playing opportunities for youngsters after 18 months of interruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It will run from November 12 to December 10 at Deakin University with four rounds and a grand final.

Teams will play in one night under lights with games starting at 5.30pm and the last to finish at 8.30pm.

Games will be two 20-minute halves plus time-on. The grand final will be a full 100-minute game.

All games will be played at Deakin each day of the competition (5x50 minute games).

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All players must be one-point players and have played football for their club this year. Coaches must also be new and can't be the current under 18, reserve or senior coach.

Warrnambool and District Football Umpires Association will provide umpires for the matches. Central umpires will consist of one senior umpire and one under 25 umpire.

The six teams will compete for a $10,000 prize courtesy of Warrnambool Nissan.

Rafferty's Tavern have put up $2000 for the runner-up while Sungold Milk will provide footballs and 3YB Coast FM is also sponsor. Mental health charity Let's Talk has also jumped on board.

Gate takings, canteen and booth will be shared with all profits to be split evenly between the participating clubs.

Warrnambool businessman Clinton Baulch, who helped get the competition off the ground, said AFL Western District had also come on board and was very supportive.

Players will be covered by insurance through their clubs for the games and that it is similar to the cover offered for practice matches during pre-season.

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Deakin University has also come on board with public liability and to allow the competition to play on The Pond.

Baulch said the Hampden league chose not to be involved but the under 23 competition was happy to facilitate it.

"The clubs are behind it and happy to put in the work and will have workers to make things happen like gates, canteen and things like that that need to happen," he said.

Baulch said it was exciting the competition would be taking place.

"We have got some good feedback and the teams that are in it are really excited and you can tell they are progressive," he said.

"They are wanting to showcase their clubs and what they have coming through, which I think is really important.

"What we are going to see is even games of football and they are all local one-point players and have been developed locally. It will be quick and exciting footy as well."

23 and under football competition

Major sponsors

Venue

Deakin University

Qualification

All players must be one-point players and played football for their club this year. Must be a new coach, can't be the current under 18, reserve or senior coach. All games will be played at the one venue on the one day. The games will consist of two 20-minute halves plus time-on. The competition will run for four weeks, with a grand final played on the fifth week. The grand final will be a full one-hundred-minute game, consisting of four quarters of 20 minutes plus time-on.

Hampden Live

Will call all 50-minute games each week. Hampden league live current sponsors will have all current rights.

Grand final

To be played at 3pm and will finish at 5.30pm, with all presentations, vote count and under 23 team of the year to be announced at Rafferty's Tavern starting at 6:30pm.

Umpires

Warrnambool umpires have agreed to supply all umpires. Central umpires will consist of one senior umpire and one under 25 umpire. There will be no tolerance to abusive behaviour. The umpires have agreed that all rules will be the same as this year's Hampden league rules, with the introduction of a last touch out of bounds rule.

Entry Fee

$5 to all patrons over the age of 16, under 16s will be free. All profits to the gate will be split evenly between participating clubs. This will require clubs to man the gate at different times.

Canteen

The canteen will be manned between participating clubs, with the profits also being split between participating clubs.

Booth

Will also be manned between the participating clubs, with profits also being split evenly between the clubs.

Competition to start

The competition is to start on November 12 (Friday) and the grand final to be played on December 10.

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