NFL 2019: Five games to be played on Anzac Day next year as fixture revealed
AN Anzac Day footy bonanza is coming to Melbourne’s north, with five matches slated for the public holiday in one suburban league.
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An Anzac Day bonanza is coming to the Northern Football League, with five matches slated for the public holiday next year.
Three Division 2 fixtures will take place on Thursday, April 25, in 2019, with Diamond Creek hosting Epping, Thomastown to take on Fitzroy Stars and Banyule clashing with St Mary’s in a twilight fixture.
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Laurimar will take on Mernda in the stand-alone Division 3 fixture, while Heidelberg and Macleod will meet in a blockbuster Division 1 fixture.
The 2019 season is due to start on Friday, April 5, with the traditional Round 1 Friday night fixture between Northcote Park and Bundoora.
Other highlights of the Division 1 fixture include a Good Friday fixture between Greensborough and Lower Plenty on April 19, a stand-alone Queen’s Birthday weekend match between North Heidelberg and Macleod and both West Preston-Lakeside and Lower Plenty unveiling their 2018 premierships in the opening round.
The Division 1 grand final rematch will not take place until Round 13, with West Preston-Lakeside and Macleod to clash twice in the last six rounds of the home-and-away season.
Lower Plenty and Greensborough will vie for the Long Tan Cup in Round 16.
Both the Division 2 and Division 3 seasons will include two byes per team and be played over 18 rounds.
St Mary’s will feature in the second tier for the first time in its history when it faces Watsonia in a Round 1 twilight match, while Fitzroy Stars and Thomastown will play their annual NAIDOC week fixture on July 13.
The NFL is yet to confirm a home venue for Eltham, with upgrades to take place at its Eltham Central Park base throughout the season.
Epping will play its home games on the top oval at Epping Reserve while works take place on the main oval.
These are expected to be completed by July.
Eltham Collegians will make its NFL debut when it hosts neighbour Panton Hill in Round 1, having switched from the VAFA.
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Division 3 teams will take the spotlight on May 18, when the top-two divisions have a bye due to the AFL Victoria Community Championships.
Finals will start on Saturday, August 24 (Division 3) and August 31 (Division 1 and 2).
The Division 3 grand final will be played on September 7, the Division 2 decider on September 14 and the showpiece Division 1 grand final on September 21.
Finals venues are yet to be announced.
NFL Women’s and under-19 fixtures are due to be released early next year.
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