Where to watch Melbourne’s suburban footy Good Friday games

Not interested in North Melbourne v Western Bulldogs but need a Good Friday footy fix? We’ve got you covered with every local footy game in and around Melbourne.

Where to watch Good Friday footy in Melbourne.

Several local footy leagues are using Good Friday to launch their seasons in 2021.

Big crowds are expected around Melbourne and surrounds as locals get to return to their beloved clubs for the first time in more than 500 days

SEE EVERY GOOD FRIDAY FOOTBALL LOCAL FOOTY GAME IN AND AROUND MELBOURNE BELOW

From the heart of Melbourne to the edges of Port Phillip Bay in Geelong and Tyabb there’s no doubt a game near you.

See the every suburban footy match and where and when to watch.

Torquay’s James Saker and Barwon Heads’ Mitch Herbison clash in the 2019 Bellarine grand final. Picture: Mike Dugdale

BELLARINE FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Portarlington v Newcomb, Portarlington Recreation Reserve, 2.10pm

Torquay v Ocean Grove, McCartney Oval, 4pm

Torquay will be looking to go one step further in 2021 after losing the 2019 grand final and have added Ben McNamara and Lucas Anderson from St Joseph’s and Lachlan Bonney from Bendigo premier Strathfieldsaye to an already talented list. Ocean Grove will have its work cut out trying to find a Good Friday miracle but with a young and energetic team the Grubbers could just catch their rivals unaware in the season opener. In the early game, Portarlington and Newcomb will each be looking to start the season with a win given they could be hard to come by in 2021. Newcomb won six games in 2019 and has added Brenton Rees from St St Joseph's. The Demons went winless in 2019 and will be hoping to break a drought that dates back to July 2018 when they beat Newcomb.

BENDIGO FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Strathfieldsaye v Sandhurst, Triple M Park at 2.20pm

The BFL kicks off with reigning premiers Strathfieldsaye hosting Sandhurst in a one-off season launch with as many as 3000 people expected to attend. The Storm have won three premierships in the last six seasons while the Dragons last saluted in 2016 making this an early finals preview. The Bendigo netball season will also kick off at Triple M Park with Strathfieldsaye hosting three-time reigning A Grade premier Sandhurst.

Keilor celebrates its 2019 EDFL Premier Division premiership. Picture: Andy Brownbill

ESSENDON DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Premier Division: Keilor v Strathmore, Joe Brown Oval at 2.15pm

Division 1: Hillside v Taylors Lakes, Hillside Reserve at 2.15pm

Division 2: Keilor Park v Coburg Districts, Keilor Park Reserve at 5pm

The EDFL will stage a triple treat of Good Friday matches for the first time in a blockbuster start to its 2021 season. The contest between Mick McGuane’s Keilor and Matt Horne’s Strathmore promises to be a beauty, with the Blues completing an undefeated year on their way to the flag in 2019 while the Mores have been eliminated in preliminary finals in the past two campaigns. Keilor has recruited the likes of ex-AFL pair Andrew Browne and Patrick Veszpremi, while the Mores have been boosted by returning premiership players Adam Winter and Matt Knight. In Division 1, rivals Hillside and Taylors Lakes will lock horns in what looms as an intriguing battle, with the Sharks signing the classy Hisham Kerbatieh, while the Lions’ ins are headlined by prolific goalkicker Patrick Rose. In addition to the traditional fixtures in Premier Division and Division 1, there will be a historic Division 2 twilight match between Keilor Park and Coburg Districts, with both clubs having new coaches in Paul Guicas and Tom Gleeson respectively.

Red Hill trio (from left Jake Mitchell, Marcus Dal Lago and Jake Mold. Picture: Chris Eastman

MORNINGTON PENINSULA NEPEAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Division 1: Dromana v Red Hill, Dromana Reserve at 2pm

Division 1: Bonbeach v Edithvale-Aspendale, Bonbeach Reserve at 2pm

What a blockbuster start! The reigning Division 1 premier up against the reigning Division 2 premier. Dromana will unfurl its flag and then unleash the likes of VFL pair Billy Guerts and Sammy Fowler and debut talented teenagers Tate Dennis, Jack Slattery and Brodie Sweetnam. Red Hill will include former Richmond player Steve Morris in his MPNFL debut. Meanwhile, the Sharks and Eagles – long-time local rivals – will renew acquaintances. Big things are expected from Bonny after a productive recruiting campaign netted ex-Saints David Armitage and Sam Gilbert. Although Gilbert may miss the opener with a groin injury. Edi-Asp will be keen to give new coach Ben Walker a first-up win and it will be interesting to see how former EFL star Tom Rourke goes in the Eagles midfield.

Division 2: Mornington v Karingal, Alexandra Park at 2pm

Division 2: Tyabb v Rye, Bunguyan Reserve at 2pm

Division 2: Langwarrin v Seaford, Lloyd Park at 4pm

Expect Mornington to come out snarling after being relegated for the first time in their history in 2019. The Doggies will look to its talented crop of youngsters to lead it back up the ladder, as well as star forward Jackson Calder and Balwyn recruit Matt North. Karingal, grand finalists in 2019, will field a younger side with plenty of upside. Look for former St Kilda midfielder Tom Curren to make an immediate impact for the Bulls. Meanwhile, the Yabbies have undergone plenty of changes since 2019 as they chase their first finals berth in two decades. Former Greensborough forward Josh Riddle will provided strong target. Rye will be skippered by Tyrren Head and feature newcomers Mick Macgowan and Oscar Whitty. And in Langwarrin, this cracking contest will pit former AFL men, Mark Baguley and Tim Broomhead, against each other. “Baggers” is back at his home club Langy after a fine career at Essendon and will slot into a strong side with big ambitions this season. Seaford, too, looks like being a leading contender and former Pie Broomhead could very well be the best player in the comp. The Tigers will be young and quick.

The Western Jets and Calder Cannons kicked off the NAB League season. Picture: Andy Brownbill

NAB LEAGUE BOYS

Calder Cannons v Eastern Ranges, Highgate Reserve at 10.30am

Northern Knights v Western Jets, Highgate Reserve at 1pm

A Good Friday double-header at Craigieburn’s Highgdate Reserve in the NAB League. The Cannons and Jets could have a slight advantage in their hitouts against Eastern and Northern respectively having already played a game last week. The Cannons will be looking to get on the board at home but face a still task against the Ranges, the 2019 grand finalists, featuring AFL Academy prospect Tyler Sonsie. Meanwhile, the Jets will be hoping to make it two from two against the Knights. Western Bulldogs Academy product Cody Raak starred in Round 1 but the Knights boast a Bulldog of their own, father-son prospect Ewan Macpherson.

NORTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Division 2: Eltham v St Mary’s, Eltham Central Reserve at 2.10pm

Division 2: Epping v Thomastown, Epping Recreation Reserve at 4.10pm

One of the premiership favourites, Eltham looms as a team to watch this season under new coach Rob Hyde. The Panthers have made a splash on the transfer market and will feature the likes of Marc O’Regan and Jackson Weatherald (Balwyn) while Tom Cantwell will debut against his former club. Fellow recruits Brayden Taglieri and Daniel McLinden will miss. In stark contrast St Mary’s have been quiet on the recruiting front but possess one of the best junior programs in the competition and always put up strong opposition. Meanwhile, Epping and Thomastown will field almost new-look sides from 2019 with the later also under a new coach in Mario Bandera. Both teams have added several news faces with the Bears set to debut former Sydney midfielder Tyone Leonardis. Thomastown big man Joel Carter hasn’t had to wait long to face his former team and will now doubt hear about it from the Pingers faithful in the twilight clash. Epping will feature two-time Division 1 premiership midfielder James Tadd, Jackson Freebairn, Tasmanian forward Tom Mitchell and with the VFL still in pre-season mode Jye Baddeley-Kelly could also be available.

Joel Carter (left) will face his former club Epping as a member of Thomastown. Picture: Nathan McNeil

SOUTHERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Division 1: Port Melbourne Colts v Oakleigh District, Murphy Reserve at 4pm

Colts’ much-trumpeted recruit Kwame McHarg will finally make his debut in the Southern league. The seven-time Deer Park premiership star is regarded as one of suburban football’s best players and the Colts will also select former AFL Magpie and Kangaroo Marley Williams. McHarg and Williams slip into a team featuring Chris Deluca, Matt Sondergeld, Justin Taylor and Brad Sutcliffe. Former Melbourne defender and long-serving Dandenong Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats will oversee his first match for the Colts, just as the much-respected Paul Howroyd will have charge of Oakleigh District for the first time. Howroyd has his group fit and committed and the Oaks might surprise a few sides this season. Watch for Darwin recruits Beau and Xavier Cubillo to show the way for District.

Division 2: Springvale Districts v Hampton Park, Newcomen Rd Reserve at 2pm

Division 2: East Brighton v Heatherton, Hurlingham Park, 2.10pm

An intriguing match to kick off Division 2 with Districts – the 2019 runners-up – welcoming the 2019 Division 3 premier. The gap between the divisions is wide, but the Redbacks were a class above the other Division 3 teams and have recruited well, bringing in former Frankston VFL players Russell Gabriel and Liam Myatt. The Demons have made some excellent signings of their own, most notably gun goalkicker Darren Sheen, Doveton Eagles premiership player Adam Reed, former Dandenong Stingray Darcy Warke and big man Riley Mayne. Meanwhile, East Brighton and Heatherton looms as a meeting of teams looking much stronger than in 2019, when the Vampires finished seventh and the Tonners last. New East Brighton coach Andrew Kahofer has worked to the knuckle and will call on Blair Atkins (Ormond), Daniel Taberner (Balwyn), James Farley-Smith (AFL Cairns), James McNamara (Echuca), William Hetherington (Goulburn Valley) and Tom Larby (Tasmania). Then there’s former Saint Stephen Milne, who will play a few matches this season and is a “possibility’’ to line up on Good Friday. The Tonners will include assistant coach Dan Gormley, Grant Masterson and Scott Foster from the MPNFL, former Sandringham Dragon Jackson Hannah and classy forward Dave Velardo from Oakleigh District.