Country footy locks in Easter blockbusters

It might be early this year, but league’s are preparing for an Easter feast of country footy across the state. See where the best games are being played.

David Johnston

2 min read

February 28, 2024 - 2:00PM

The Weekly Times

The early timing of Easter this year hasn’t stopped an early start to the country football season.

Leagues that traditionally play Easter, including the Murray and Ovens & Murray leagues, kick off their seasons with a full round starting in a month on Good Friday, while Gippsland league club Bairnsdale is tipping its toe into the water for the first time with a match against Traralgon on Easter Saturday.

“We need to our expose our club to more people and do something different,” Bairnsdale president Michael Mann said.

“Everyone tells me Good Friday and Anzac Day games in other leagues are traditionally big so it will be interesting to see how it all goes.”

Bairnsdale has added Old Scotch player Tom Blenheim to its ranks this season. Picture: Sarah Matray

Bairnsdale has topped up its list with three recruits from Old Scotch — Cooper Harvey, Hugh Longbottom and Tom Blenheim — and two members of Wy Yung’s premiership team, Mitch Toms and Nick Ward.

Bairnsdale has retained its star signings from last year including best and fairest winner Will Mitchell and Xavier Richards.

The Murray league was one of the first competitions to embrace Easter and will again play a full round of matches on the holiday weekend, including five on Good Friday.

They include the grand final replay between Mulwala and Congupna and a twilight fixture between arch rivals Deniliquin and Finley, before a stand-alone Easter Saturday match between Cobram and Barooga when former Barooga coach Jackson Trengove will line-up against his old club.

Brendan Fevola was a massive drawcard when he made his debut for Yarrawonga at Easter in 2012. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The neighbouring Ovens and Murray league jumped on the Easter bandwagon in 1999 with Yarrawonga forced to host games at Mulwala due to an annual tennis tournament at its home ground.

Glenn Brear was Yarrawonga president when the club started playing Easter and said the financial windfall of playing those games had helped the club grow into its current position of strength.

“There were so many people in the area looking for something to do and we weren’t able to touch them,” he said.

“Playing that game at Mulwala is probably worth two or three home games during the year.

“Instead of getting 1000 people, you’re getting 4000 people.”

The Goulburn Valley league has one Easter game this season with Mansfield and Echuca brokering a late deal to play after the 2024 fixture was released.

Shepparton Bears and Shepparton United traditionally played Good Friday, but the match won’t be played this year.