Despite fears clubs might call it quits or roll over, the season will continue in the format that was initially expected in February - with four teams in the top tier, five in the lower men's competition and five in the women's competition. The first bounce is finally scheduled for this Saturday.

With the AFL Central West season looming, Australian Community Media looks at what you can expect from each club.

For the last few years, Bathurst Bushrangers have had two sides in the AFL Central West top tier, with those outfits split reasonably evenly down the middle in terms of talent. In 2020, that talent split is no longer, and the Bushies can finally unleash their full might in the top division. Last year's premiers absolutely go into this season as favourites.

Draw: The Bushrangers make two trips to Dubbo this year and finish the season with two games against the Tigers plus a trip to play the Demons. Still, they only have to leave Bathurst four times.

Key player - Bill Watterson: Watterson was best on ground in the 2019 grand final and took his game to the next level in the back half of the season for the Bushrangers. He's been named vice-captain for this season and if he continues to improve, he'll turn and already strong midfield into something very, very special.

ACM's verdict: It's hard to see anyone toppling the Bushrangers in 2020. Their closest rivals in the Orange Tigers were blown out of the water in last year's grand final and while anything can happen in a four-team competition, the 2020 title is the Bushrangers' to lose.

The Tigers were runners-up in 2019 and have lost some key cogs since then. But, as they always do, they've managed to find people to step into the void. Pat Taggart - who was elevated to the leadership group last week - Dean Price, Jake Munkton and youngsters like Angus Easy all have scope to step into big roles this season.

Draw: The Tigers are on the road for three of their first four games, heading to Bathurst twice and Dubbo once, but have four games at home in a row before another trip down the Mitchell Highway against the Bushrangers.

Key player - Callan Hunt: The Tigers have lost the bulk of their defence which lined up in the 2019 grand final, with Joel Crosswell, Jaxon Mumme and Nate Romeo among those moving away from Orange. Their departures leave Callan Hunt as one of the few mainstays and will be the key at fullback for the Tigers. How he fares against the likes of Tim Hunter and Bevan Charlton-White will go a long way to dictating how the club fares.

ACM's verdict: As there seems to be every season, there's been a big turnover at the Tigers, but we wrote them off last year and they proved us wrong. We're not making the same mistake again, and if they manage to put their ducks in a row with their back end of the season, they could be very hard to topple.

The Demons have been given a boost with a friendly draw, a shorter season and key bodies back from injury - everything's looking up Dubbo, but will they be able to make their presence felt come finals?

Draw: The Demons in the AFLCW are the equivalent of the Perth-based clubs in the AFL - no matter how you wrangle the draw, they'll always cover more miles than anyone else. They've nabbed five home games this year though, which is a boon, and three of them come in the first month. Two of their away games are in Orange, meaning just two long trips to Bathurst.

Key player - Bevan Charlton-White: Dubbo's big centre-half-forward was hurt by hand injuries last season, but is back to take the competition by storm in 2020. Getting a long way up the ground and doing damage in front of the big sticks, Charlton-White will be a huge part of the Demon's assault on a premiership.

ACM's verdict: The Demons have always been impossible to predict in the AFLCW. When they hit their stride, they can beat anyone - especially at South Dubbo Oval. You only had to look at last year's bruising beat-up of the Giants to know that. Heading to Bathurst just twice should give them a much-needed leg-up, and it's enough for us to have them - somehow - sliding into third. Somehow.

After two three-point losses in back-to-back preliminary finals, the Giants are desperate to make their first grand final. They knew they'd be losing some troops over summer, but have nabbed some back due to the pandemic. Will it be enough?

The draw: Two trips to Orange and two to Dubbo for the Giants, same as the Bushrangers, but they have the home ground advantage in two of their games against the Bushrangers. Their last-round trip to Dubbo could throw a spanner in the works, though.

Key player - Nic Broes: Broes spent the summer playing cricket in Canberra, but with the chaos surrounding 2020 he's back in Bathurst and - crucially - back into the Giants' line-up. He's a huge presence across half-back and is a cut above in the Central West competition. He'll be setting up a lot of their plays and giving run out of the backline, with sides likely needing to shut him down to put the Giants away.

ACM'S verdict: This will fire the Giants up - we've got them coming last, for what that's worth. They came out early in the year and called 2020 a rebuild on the run, with half a dozen key cogs from last year leaving including Paul Jenkins and Mitch Taylor. That said, Carlton and Gold Coast were tipped to be last and second last in the big time in 2020 and look what happened there. Watch them prove us wrong.

Last year's reigning premiers know the competition is coming for them, and coach Liz Kennedy is relishing the challenge. She's got a strong team of coaches around her and knows what she's doing.

The draw: Two byes in the final four weeks could sap some momentum from the Giants side, but could also give them a chance to refresh just before finals.

Key player - Hailee Provest: When you've got the luxury of playing a player who's been racking up 10km runs in the forward pocket, you know you're on something good. Kennedy is aiming to play Provest as a small forward, and she was dangerous up forward last year. With last year's leading goal kicker Danita Lane leaving, she'll be one to look for to step up.

ACM's verdict: Most of the key pieces are still there from the Giants' flag-winning 2019 side, and you'd think they'd be firm favourites to go around again as premiers with no weak spots in their armour. Another nine months - albeit very interrupted - together will only make them stronger.

They were runners-up last year after not making the grand final in 2018 - the first time in their history. With the competition becoming ever-more crowded, they'll need to bring their A-game to the AFLCW.

The draw: The Bushrangers have their first three games at home, but their last three away - in Orange, Dubbo and Cowra respectively. Those latter road-trips could be gruelling after a nine-week season if injuries are mounting.

Key player - Beth Durham: Would be close to the best player in the competition, and after nearly losing her over the off-season the Bushies will be stoked to have her on-field in 2020. She'll make a splash no matter where on the ground she plays and will be crucial for them.

ACM's verdict: We've got them sitting second at the season's end. Two road trips to Dubbo will be tough, and the Giants look unstoppable, but at this stage if anyone's going to give them a run for their money it's the Bushrangers.

This could be the Tigers' year. A shorter season will help them, they've had numbers as strong or stronger than any other of the past three years, and they're as fit as ever. Some new pickups - including league tag convert Lucy Johnston and athletics guru Cleo Dickie - will play big roles in 2020.

The draw: They've got a bye in the first week of the season and then two away games - in Bathurst and Cowra - but like the men's side have four of their final five games at home. Two games against the Blues will help, too.

Player to watch - Laura Bennett: Bennett missed last season but is back for this year. She was thrown in the ruck at times, and with Sea Lindsay not lining up in yellow and black will likely spend a lot more time in the middle. How she gels with the Tigers' midfield of Jem Neuman, Jacqui Ryan, Erin Naden and Em Lowe will be key, while Sally Heading and Kate Van Zeylekom are others to watch.

ACM's verdict: They're really hard to pick, the Tigers. They keep threatening to take the competition by storm and so far haven't put it all together. They'll be better than they were in 2019, but if that improvement is enough to send them to a grand final, we'll have to find out.

The dark horse of the AFL Central West. The Demons won the premiership in 2018 with only 13 players before vanishing the year afterwards. They've rallied and picked up more numbers this year so are back in the competition, but after a year off how will they fare?

The draw: One trip to Bathurst and one to Cowra is a friendly draw for the Demons, but having two byes for the season makes their task a little bit tougher.

Player to watch - Emily Warner: The Demons' 2018 skipper is back with the side in 2020, and she could be a massive part of the side's push for another title. She's tough as nails and the Demons would follow her to hell and back. Put her on your watchlist.

ACM's verdict: The Demons are virtually a complete unknown in 2020. How are their numbers? How strong will they be? Will any of their stars be rusty after a year out of the game? They were the premiers with just 13 regular players two years ago, if they get 18 on the park each week heaven knows what they can achieve. We'll tentatively put them at fourth and prepare to be proven wrong.

The side struggled last year, and is likely to struggle again in 2020, but if they can pick up a few league tag players and a few from other sports, plus having youngsters improve, they could cause an upset or two.

Draw: Just the three away games for the Blues, and they dodge the trip to Dubbo, although all their away fixtures are back-to-back-to-back from rounds four to six.

Player to watch - Sarah Day: The captain of the Cowra side will be the one to watch in leading her young side across the region. They'll struggle, but if they get over the line in a game it'll have a lot to do with her efforts on and off the field.

ACM's verdict: Cowra will finish at the bottom of the AFLCW table, that's nearly certain, but how many wins they scrape in along the way will be the point of interest. Can they nab a depleted Dubbo on the road in round one? A tired Bushrangers in the final round?

The five sides in the men's second division - spread across four clubs - are unknowns. Cowra and Parkes may well pick up handfuls of rugby league players, with Cowra a chance to grab some union talent as well. If so, they could be powerhouses of the second division.

The Bushrangers sides will also be interesting - will one be a development side? Will they split their talent evenly as they have in recent years? How will the Tigers fare putting a second team on the park?

It's a whole new ball game, the first reserves competition since 2015, and we're not prepared to make any calls on it just yet.