Good Friday footy returns for this season with a host of country and metro fixtures
Footy is back and there’s set to be several cracking contests on Good Friday. Here’s every fixture from across the state this weekend.
Local Footy
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Good Friday marks the start of the local footy season for 2024.
While one match has already been held in local footy across the state with Alvie smashing Irrewarra-Beeac in the Colac league last Saturday, others get into gear this weekend.
So where can you watch the footy?
We’ve compiled all the matches to be played this weekend in local footy.
Check them out below.
METRO FIXTURES
ESSENDON DISTRICT
Premier Division – Keilor v Strathmore at Joe Brown Oval, 2.15pm
A grand final rematch to start the 2024 season. The Blues didn’t lose a game all of last season and the Mick McGuane coached outfit appear to have got stronger in the off-season. It’s been a summer of change for Strathmore with Nick Ash taking on the coaching reins with some big name recruits including ex-AFL duo Trent Dumont and Shaun McKernan. Can the Mores close the gap?
Division 1 – Roxburgh Park v Craigieburn at Lakeside Oval, 2.15pm
The new era at Roxburgh Park has arrived as Ross Terranova prepares to lead his side into battle for the first time. The Magpies will face off against an Eagles side who were one of the division’s better performers in the back half of last season. This should be a good even game of footy.
Division 1 – Keilor Park v Hillside at Keilor Park Reserve, 5.15pm
Two new coaches – Leigh Coles (Keilor Park) and Chris Daley (Hillside) – will go head-to-head as they look to get their season’s off to the perfect start. Daley’s outfit will be the strong favourites after a busy off-season while the Devils have been tipped to battle relegation this season. An early win could set them up for success.
MORNINGTON PENINSULA
Division 1 - Red Hill v Dromana at Red Hill Recreation Reserve at 2pm on Friday.
Division 1 - Rosebud v Sorrento at Olympic Park in Rosebud at 2pm on Saturday.
Division 2 - Edithvale-Aspendale v Chelsea at Edi-Asp Regents Park at 2pm on Friday
Division 2 - Rye v Tyabb at RJ Rowley Reserve at 2pm on Friday
The triple treat is back in the MPFNL with three matches on Good Friday.
The defending premiers, Dromana, will take on Red Hill in the traditional public holiday clash with the Tigers starting the year as the team to beat.
But this game promises to be close with 27 points separating the two in the past three clashes.
Dromana won last year’s contest by 26 points with a draw in 2022 and Red Hill winning in 2021 by a point.
Red Hill is looking to secure a top-five finish this year and have the perfect test first-up.
All eyes will be on Edithvale-Aspendale when the Seagulls unveil Tyrone Vickery as their new recruit against Chelsea.
The former Richmond and Hawthorn player comes to the club after guiding Coleraine to the premiership in the South West District league in country footy. The team is led by Kris Pendlebury who promised the team will play hard and competitive footy this year but will have some fun as well. This is the second year in a row the teams have faced each other with the Seagulls winning by 16 points last year.
The other Division 2 match sees Rye looking to secure its first win in two seasons, taking on Tyabb at home.
New coach Brendon Moore is hoping a lift in their youngsters can lead to the team being competitive for longer. Tyabb will be looking to build towards finals after finishing four games behind the top-five last year.
The MPFNL round finishes on Saturday with Rosebud taking on Sorrento at Olympic Park.
NORTHERN
Division 1 - Greensborough v Eltham at War Memorial Reserve, 2.10pm.
The tradition Good Friday rivalry returns to kick off the 2024 Northern Football Netball League season. Eltham’s return to the top-flight means the first clash with Greensborough since 2017. The match will also pit Borough premiership teammates Matt Hyde and Tim Bongetti against each other in the coaches box. Hyde take the reins at War Memorial Reserve for the first time this season, while Bongetti guided the Panthers to premiership glory last year.
Division 3 - Lalor v Epping at Lalor Reserve, 2.10pm.
This will be the first clash between the neighbouring rivals since 2014 when both were in Division 2. They swapped places in 2017 when Lalor stepped back to Division 3 and Epping replaced them in Division 2. It will be Lalor’s first match with club great Lance Whitnall at the helm with a big crowd expected to see if the Bloods have improved in the off-season. The Pingers, meanwhile, will be looking to make a statement from the opening game after suffering relegation last season.
RIDDELL DISTRICT
Kyneton v Woodend-Hesket at Kyneton Showgrounds, 2.15pm
The newbies versus last season’s grand finalist, it promises to be an exciting season launch. Kyneton made the move to the RDFNL in September after 90 years in the Bendigo league and will be looking to make a strong start. Woodend-Hesket will likewise want to make a good first impression after suffering grand final defeat last year. Both clubs will be under new management in 2024 with Ethan Foreman taking the Tigers’ reins, while Alistair Rae leading the Hawks.
WESTERN
Division 2 – Braybrook v Laverton at Pennell Reserve, 2.15pm
After an influx of recruits to both teams, Braybrook and Laverton look set to make major improvements after a busy off-season. Geoff Maddern’s Brookers will be the favourites in this one after playing in Division 2 last season while Tony Jofre’s Magpies are moving up after the bottom two tiers were combined.
COUNTRY FIXTURES
THE STANDOUTS
Bendigo - Castlemaine v Maryborough at 2.20pm at Camp Reserve on Friday
Can Castlemaine after years down the bottom rise to the top? Led by ex-AFL player Michael Hartley the team has gone on a recruiting spree, signing a dozen players, aiming to improve on their record of seven wins in the last 101 games. Castlemaine face fellow strugglers Maryborough who have not won in their past 46 matches. In fact, these two teams did not beat anyone else last year, apart from Castlemaine winning both matches.
Hampden - South Warrnambool v Koroit at 2pm at Friendlies Society Park on Friday
It will be an interesting feeling for Koroit on Good Friday. Usually the reigning premiers in the Hampden league, the Saints this time face the reigning premiers in South Warrnambool in the traditional opener. Both teams have points to prove. South Warrnambool will be looking to go back-to-back but face teams who have gone on a recruiting spree in the off-season. Koroit has not been one of those teams, instead opting to trust the natural build of their youngsters and their premiership stars from the previous six seasons.
Gippsland - Bairnsdale v Traralgon at 2.20pm at Bairnsdale Oval on Saturday
Bairnsdale and Traralgon kick-start the Gippsland league in a stand-alone fixture. This is the first time the two-teams have done it and follow on from a successful trial between Wonthaggi and Drouin a couple of years ago. Traralgon will be looking to make finals but face doing it without their key forward from the past couple of years in Brett Eddy. Bairnsdale are looking to make the finals for the first time since 2014 and have recruited well, including Tom Blenheim, who played rep footy for the VAFA last year. Both teams won a game last year in their head-to-head.
Goulburn Valley - Mansfield v Echuca at 2pm at Mansfield Recreation Reserve on Saturday
The reigning premiers start their season on Saturday, taking on Mansfield away from home. It’s been a quiet off-season with not much change at Echuca. The Murray Bombers will be the team to beat again. Mansfield will be looking to make finals again after losing to Kyabram in the elimination final.
Ovens and Murray
Wodonga Raiders v Lavington at Birallee Park at 2pm on Friday, Wangaratta v Wangaratta Rovers at Wangaratta Showgrounds at 6pm on Friday, Corowa Rutherglen v Albury at John Foord Oval at 2pm on Saturday, Myrtleford v North Albury at RC McNamara Reserve at 2pm on Saturday, Yarrawonga v Wodonga Bulldogs at Lonsdale Oval at 2pm on Sunday.
The Ovens and Murray becomes the first major country league to start the season with a full round of fixtures for footy lovers. Good Friday sees the Wodonga Raiders take on Lavington with all eyes on the Raiders who have secured ex-AFL player Tom Phillips to join Cam Ellis-Yolmen who spends his second year at the club. Then all eyes turn to premiership contenders Wangaratta Magpies and Wangaratta Rovers as they renew their rivalry. The Rovers last year won a one-point thriller against the Pies on Good Friday. Both teams have been busy in the off-season, making a host of signings including ex-AFL players Lochie O’Brien (Rovers) and Pat Naish (Magpies). On Saturday, Corowa-Rutherglen return after being in recess last season. Their task is to beat last year’s grand finalists Albury, who look to go one better this year. The other two games see Myrtleford take on North Albury with last year’s premiers facing last year’s surprise packets, Wodonga Bulldogs.
Wimmera - Stawell v Ararat at North Park at 2.20pm on Friday.
Last year’s Wimmera premiers face a tough opener, taking on Stawell on Good Friday. It will be a big weekend for the town with the Stawell Gift also on. The Warriors have spent the off-season recruiting well in a big season for the club. This year they celebrate their 150th anniversary. Meanwhile, Ararat has kept most of their squad and put the two Tom’s - Williamson and Mills - as coaches of the club. The Rats will get close again this year as it looks for back-to-back titles.
OTHER GAMES
Murray - Friday games - Mulwala v Congupna at Lonsdale Oval at 2pm, Tongala v Nathalia at Tongala Recreation Reserve at 2pm, Moama v Echuca United at Moama Recreation Reserve at 2pm, Numurkah v Rumbalara at Numurkah Show Grounds at 2pm, Deniliquin Rams v Finley at Hardinge Street Oval at 6pm.
Saturday games - Cobram v Barooga at Scott Oval at 2pm.
Ovens and King - Friday games - Bonnie Doon v Benalla, Moyhu v Greta. Saturday games - Bright v Tarrawingee, King Valley v Milawa.
Picola - Friday game - Tocumwal v Berrigan at Tocumwal Recreation Reserve at 2.05pm. Saturday game - Mathoura v Picola United at Mathoura Recreation Reserve at 2.05pm.
Tallangatta - Friday game - Wahgunyah v Rutherglen at Wahgunyah Recreation Reserve at 2.15pm
Warrnambool District - Merrivale v Old Collegians at Merrivale Recreation Reserve at 2.20pm.
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