Murray Football Netball League released its complete season fixture on the eve of the festive season, becoming the third of the AFL Goulburn Murray competitions to do so.
After Kyabram District League took the first step in the week heading into the Christmas period, the Goulburn Valley League would follow suit shortly after.
Neither of those leagues opted to kick off across Easter weekend and the Murray league board has seized the opportunity with five fixtures set for Good Friday, March 29.
The early headline act is a 2023 football grand final rematch, where defending champion Mulwala will unfurl its premiership flag before renewing hostilities with runner-up Congupna, featuring star recruit Kyle Mueller.
A twilight fixture comes to Deniliquin as the Rams present recently upgraded light fixturing in a home opener against Finley.
Cobram, where GVL leading goal-kicker Jackson Trengove will suit up, hosts Barooga at Scott Oval in a standalone Easter Saturday fixture as the Murray league seeks to take advantage of Easter tourism in the region.
In a similar bid, the league has opted to play the reverse of each opening round game across the King’s Birthday weekend in round nine.
On the courts, Mulwala’s netballers remain the hunters rather than the hunted, but will have to wait until round 16 on August 3 for another crack at premier Tongala, which prevailed in an epic 2023 decider.
A long season awaits the 12 clubs, with home and away fixtures lasting 22 weeks and wrapping up on Saturday, August 24.
Rounds four, eight and 16 will be split rounds, with a general bye set for the weekend of July 6.
After all the toil, grand final day will take place on Saturday, September 21, at Moama Recreation Reserve.
League organisers booked their showpiece for the day before the GVL finale and a week before the AFL crowns its 2024 premier.
“The focus of the fixture is to maximise revenue for the clubs, especially early in the season,” the league said in a statement.
“The clubs take advantage of the region’s population boom with an influx of tourists along the river.”
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