Finally, Moorabool to play host

By Lachlan Ellis

Finals venues for the Ballarat Football Netball League (BFNL) has been announced for the 2023 season, and a Moorabool venue is back on the list.

After missing out on hosting finals in 2022, Darley Park is back on the venue list for this season, with Semi Final 2 in the BFLW, and the Qualifying Finals and Elimination Final 1 of the BFNL Seniors, to be played locally.

Three finals series (Juniors, Seniors, and BFLW) will be held commencing with BFLW from Sunday 20th August through to the Grand Final at Mars Stadium on Saturday 9th September. Grand Finals for BFNL Juniors, Seniors, and the BFLW will all be played at Mars Stadium.

The BFNL has stated that if the facilities at Darley Park are not completed, there is a Plan B for Moorabool to still have a local venue.

“Maddingley Park will be brought in as the host venue for Week 1 of the Senior Finals, which will be confirmed by COB Monday 21st of August,” a BFNL spokesperson said.

Maddingley Park was also left off the finals venue list in 2022, meaning either way, a Moorabool sports ground will host a BFNL final for the first time since 2019.

Moorabool Shire Council CEO Derek Madden said Council was excited to see BFNL finals return to Moorabool.

“Council is pleased to have the BFNL announce the venues for the 2023 finals season, and looks forward to welcoming players, families, and spectators to our shire,” Mr Madden told the Moorabool News.

Highlights of the finals series include 21 finals events across six weeks, eight different finals venues in Ballarat and Darley / Bacchus Marsh, and in excess of 50,000 people expected to attend across all competitions during the finals series.