First “round 19” fixtures confirmed after game moved

ST JOSEPH’S round 16 clash against St Mary’s has been moved to avoid having a week off going into this year’s finals series. Catch up on the latest fixture changes.

Football GFL: St Mary's v St JosephÕs. St Mary's 22 Darcy Chigwin and st JosephÕs 24 Ben Clark Picture: Mark Wilson

ST JOSEPH’S bumper round 16 clash against St Mary’s been moved to the vacant week before the start of finals – and AFL Barwon region manager Edward Wilson is open to moving more fixtures if it suits clubs.

The clash at Herne Hill Reserve, originally set down for Saturday, July 30, has been switched to Saturday, August 20.

South Barwon and Colac are also hopeful of moving their July 30 game to August 20, pending AFL Barwon approval.

They will fill a vacant week in the GFNL schedule, due to the grand final being pushed back a week to avoid a clash with the GDFL decider on September 10.

Wilson said the option was there for other clubs to move scheduled fixtures to the vacant week, but that would need to be decided this week.

“If we had two clubs come to us this week, for example, and go, ‘Hey, we’ve spoken with one another and we’re wanting … to move our fixture then to round 19’, then we would certainly engage in that conversation,” he said.

“There’s no others at the moment that are on the drawing board, but the option is still open until the end of this week.”

St Joseph’s president Todd Devine said clubs were “prepared to be flexible” when it came to the fixture.

“AFL Barwon were pretty clear to us at the start of the year that they wanted to make sure that we got a full season in and completed, hence why they went with the draw they went with, to try and make sure the season was completed as quickly as possible,” he said.

“The way things have transpired with Covid we’ve been able to get through the season unscathed, touch wood.

“I think we’re all prepared to be flexible in club land to make sure that everyone gets a fair crack at it.

“Also, both the GDFL and the BFL have been pretty accommodating with clashing finals all the way through, so we didn’t want to do the wrong thing by them either.”

St Mary’s clash with Newtown & Chilwell in round 17 has also been moved, to Sunday, August 7 due to Geelong’s clash with St Kilda at GMHBA Stadium on August 6.

Floating bye round set to be introduced

AFL Barwon is set to introduce a floating bye round for GFL clubs in an effort to avoid back-to-back byes or a grand final clash.

The league organisers announced last week it would push back the GFL finals series a week to avoid a grand final clash with the GDFL, but decided recently a pre-finals bye would be too costly for the minor premiers, who might only play one game in five weeks before the grand final.

Under the top-five system, the team that finishes the regular season first has a week off before playing a semi-final.

The winner of that game earns a trip to the grand final and another week break.

In the ‘floating fixture’ system that is set to be introduced as early as this week, teams can co-ordinate with each other to reschedule any remaining game into a 19th round.

AFL Barwon region manager Edward Wilson said the new system was getting positive responses from clubs.

Football GFL: St Mary's v St JosephÕs. St Mary's 22 Darcy Chigwin and st JosephÕs 24 Ben Clark Picture: Mark Wilson

“The implementation of a bye, or split round, is in progress for the weekend of August 20,” he confirmed.

“Clubs are able to communicate and co-ordinate with their opposing club to determine whether they can schedule a ‘round 19’ fixture by shifting from a prior round.

“This provides an option to clubs or teams to not have two weeks off in a row leading into the finals series.

“It’s been a really positive response for the clubs and presidents, it means all the grand finals have their own day, we appreciate a grand final takes a lot of resources to host.”

St Mary’s co-coach Travis Robertson said a possible bye after round 18 – the last fixtured round of the home-and-away season – was not preferred and a split-round concept was better for teams in contention for the flag.

“We’re no lock to finish top, but I did speak to a few of the coaches … who were possibilities of finishing on top or in the top three about what AFL Barwon was planning,” he said.

“No one would want to have two weeks of no footy and then play on your third week.

“It just doesn’t feel like it’s the right preparation.”

Football GFL: Newtown & Chilwell v Colac Colac coach Rowan McSparron Picture: Mark Wilson

St Mary’s will play Colac on Saturday, with the result of that game potentially carrying significant implications for ladder positions at the end of the season.

Colac co-coach Rowan McSparron said it was “common sense” to schedule a mid-season bye.

“There’s no way AFL Barwon could put the bye in the last round,” he said.

“That would seriously disadvantage whoever finishes first, having two byes in a row.”

Originally published as First “round 19” fixtures confirmed after game moved