All Magpies matchup to open season on Good Friday

A STAND-alone match on Good Friday between Castlemaine and Maryborough marks the start of Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s 2024 season.

The clash of the Magpies will be on 29 March at Castlemaine’s Camp Reserve.

There is plenty of anticipation about a Castlemaine team which has former Essendon and Hawthorn defender Michael Hartley as coach being much stronger this year.

The Princes Park-based Maryborough will have joint coaches in Coby Perry and Matt Johnston.

Round one will be played across two Saturdays.

Highlights of 13 April include Eaglehawk against reigning premier Golden Square on the Borough’s turf in Canterbury Park, and Kangaroo Flat to play Sandhurst under the Dower Park lights.

A Golden Square team coached by Brad Eaton faces a tough start.

The Bulldogs play in the Borough and a week later meet Sandhurst in the rematch of last season’s grand finalists at Queen Elizabeth Oval.

It will be stand-alone status when Golden Square tackles Sandhurst for the Ron Best Memorial Cup at Wade Street in the sixth round on May 25.

The first two showdowns of the Cup to honour the goalkicking great have gone Sandhurst’s way.

Pat Cronin Foundation Round will be played on 4 May and features Eaglehawk and Castlemaine in the main game.

The Graeme Wright Memorial Cup between Sandhurst and South Bendigo will be played at Queen Elizabeth Oval in round five.

AFL Central Victoria and Bendigo FNL team up with Dja Dja Wurrung People for Indigenous Round on 1 June.

Kangaroo Flat and Castlemaine will contest the feature match.

King’s Birthday holiday weekend on 8 June includes a clash between Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst in Storm territory in Tannery Lane.

There will be a general bye on 6 July, but the Bendigo FNL will play a Victoria Amateur Football Association representative team at Brighton’s Elsternwick Park.

On the netball court, Gisborne starts its quest for back-to-back A Grade premierships by facing Sandhurst in the rematch of the 2023 grand finalists on 20 April at the QEO.

Bendigo FNL’s open and 17-under representative teams will again contest Netball Victoria’s Association Championships at Parkville.