2019 Southern Football League kicks off with reigning premiers Flagstaff Hill battling Happy Valley and Reynella’s redemption starting with clash against Noarlunga

Reynella will kick off its quest for redemption, after losing last season’s SFL grand final, with a clash against Noarlunga at home on Saturday April 6. See the full fixture.

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REYNELLA will kick off its quest for redemption, after losing last season’s Southern Football League grand final, with a clash against Noarlunga at home on Saturday April 6.

The league released its fixture list last week.

It includes reigning premier Flagstaff Hill taking on Happy Valley at home in the opening round, while 2018 cellar-dweller Aldinga hosts Cove.

The Wineflies beat Noarlunga by 23 points in the semi-final last year, before losing by 100 points to eventual champions Flagstaff Hill in the flag decider.

Shoes coach Josh Vick, entering his third campaign at the helm, is keen for the new season to kick off.

Reynella coach Josh Vick giving instructions to players. Picture: Stephen Laffer

But he said his side would look a bit different after losing a few players to retirement and rival clubs, including ruckman/forward Codey Ellison (McLaren Vale) and Bodie Sowter (Morphett Vale).

“We are looking forward to start the season against Noarlunga – I think it’s always good to test yourself early against the better sides in the competition,” Vick said.

“The reality is that the two sides (Reynella and Noarlunga) will look very different to what they did last year.

“A few guys of ours have finished up and half a dozen have made the decision to go elsewhere.

“We will certainly be a heap younger and more inexperienced than we were last season, so it will be a nice challenge for us early.”

Vick tipped Flagstaff Hill, now coached by Darren Vanzetta after Rod Mitchell stepped down following the club’s third consecutive grand final victory, and Noarlunga to be strong again.

Rod Mitchell stepped down as Flagstaff Hill’s coach after last season’s grand final win. Picture:AAP/Mark Brake

Christies Beach, coming off an elimination final exit, will play Morphett Vale, eighth, in the other round-one match and Port Noarlunga has the first bye.

Vanzetta believed the Falcons had what it took to win a fourth consecutive flag and felt no pressure carrying on the success Mitchell had created.

“We’ve been training pretty well and we’ve got a lot of players on the track, so we’ll give it our best shot,” Vanzetta said.

There will be a league-wide bye on April 20 for Easter, before Flagstaff Hill hosts the grand final rematch in round three on April 27 – also the Anzac round.

The finals series will begin on August 31 and end with a flag decider on September 21.

See the full 2019 fixture here.