IRYMPLE and Wentworth footballers will have to wait until round 7 of the 2023 Sunraysia Football and Netball League season for their grand final rematch.
Ouyen United, however, get a chance at exacting revenge against Wentworth in A Grade netball, with their rematch slated for the opening round.
Next year’s football and netball fixture has been released, with some tasty encounters coming in the opening round.
The traditional Good Friday season opener between South Mildura and Irymple has been put on ice for next season with the campaign beginning two weeks after the Easter long weekend on April 22.
The Bulldogs will instead host Imperials at Mildura Sporting Precinct to begin the season, with South’s new outdoor netball facilities set to be utilised for the first time.
Robinvale Euston host Red Cliffs, Ouyen United are at home to Wentworth, and defending senior football premiers Irymple visit Brian Weightman Oval to tackle Mildura. Merbein have the bye.
A solitary goal separated Wentworth from Ouyen United in September’s A Grade grand final, which went down as one of the best deciders in recent history. The Kangas will hope to get some modicum of revenge on the Roos to start the new campaign.
The senior football grand final rematch will have to wait until June 3 when Wentworth host Irymple at George Gordon Oval.
Themed rounds are also back with round 12 on Saturday, July 8, being Indigenous Round to run concurrently with NAIDOC Week.
Domestic Violence Round will be held two weeks later during round 14 on July 22.
Three matches will be held under lights in 2023, with George Gordon Oval playing host to the first of those in round 2 between Wentworth and South Mildura.
The Bulldogs then hold one at the MSP the following week against Irymple, plus a twilight fixture in the final round of the home-and-away season against Red Cliffs.
Semi-finals will be played on Saturday and Sunday of August 26 and 27, followed by preliminary final day on September 3 and the grand final on September 10.
A grand final venue was yet to be released but the MSP looms likely following the success of the 2022 event.
