All clear on Bendigo league fixture

THE Bendigo Football Netball League fixture for season 2023 is confirmed, and schedulers have pulled off a coup in the first round, managing to tick every major box.

Starting on Saturday, 15 April, round one will feature 2022 grand final rematches between Gisborne and Strathfieldsaye in the seniors and Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat in A Grade netball.

Add to that the fixture also allows South Bendigo to christen the new faculties at Harry Trott Reserve in Kennington as the Bloods host Eaglehawk.

Other key matchups include Sandhurst v Golden Square at QEO in round three for the Ron Best Memorial Cup, with round four seeing the Pat Cronin Foundation Round, and the Graeme Wright Memorial Cup going in round five between South Bendigo and Sandhurst.

Saturday, 3 June will play host to the Indigenous Round, with the feature games as part of that event to be confirmed early in the new year.

Finals will get underway from Saturday, 2 September and the biggest day on the BFNL calendar, the grand finals, are set for Saturday, 23 September.

The weekend of 1 July will see a league-wide bye.

While there’s no confirmed interleague matchups yet, league management have left a placeholder at round six between 20 and 27 May.

“Unfortunately, the Bendigo Football Netball League were unable to complete positive ongoing interleague negotiations with another major league prior to Christmas,” a BFNL statement said.

“However, discussions and negotiations will continue into the new year with further announcements to be made in due course.

“The proposed interleague provision within the current fixture for either May 20th or May 27th, may again revert to a split round if required.”

While most of the dates for 2023 have been set, start times are still a work in progress.

“As is regular process, clubs can continue to negotiate changes to start times into the new year, with any changes to be approved, announced, and captured online,” the statement said.

“The BFNL maintain the right to amend any fixtures from time to time, including possible future implications of COVID-19 restrictions on season fixturing.”