Country footy: Murray league confirms switch to top eight

The Murray League, including teams in NSW and Victoria, has announced a change to its finals system with just three rounds remaining. Here’s why.

Nathalia are the reigning premiers. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin.

More teams will now have the opportunity to play finals footy in the Murray league.

The competition, which includes teams from NSW and Victoria, has announced it will revert back to a top eight for this year’s finals series.

League officials had originally planned to play with a top six after Katandra and Tungamah crossed to the Picola and District league, leaving 12 teams in the competition.

Murray league general manager Dale Norman said it was announcement which would create an exciting end to the home and away season.

“I’m not usually some who advocates for change on the run but this is something we thought needed to be done,” Norman said.

“Having spoken to clubs and players from across the competition, there was a sense of lack of motivation for some clubs who might have already written their season off.

“It’s exciting because teams who thought they might not get a double chance have everything to play for so they can get into the top four.

“But it was also about keeping our junior players engaged. We’ve had a difficult two years and we need to keep them playing as much as possible.

“I’m looking forward to seeing how the next few weeks plays out.”

The changes mean Deniliquin Rams (seventh) and Moama (eighth) who sat two and three games behind sixth-placed Rumbalara now have their destiny in their own hands.

Numurkah and Barooga will be hot on their heels in the final three rounds of the season.

Norman said the league had also scrapped rounds 14 to 16 with the round 9 fixture to be played on August 7.

An updated fixture has also been released.

Current Murray league ladder

1. Tongala 12-0

2. Cobram 10-2

3. Mulwala 9-3

4. Nathalia 8-4

5. Congupna 7-5

6. Rumbalara 7-5

7. Deniliquin Rams 5-7

8. Moama 4-8

9. Numurkah 4-8

10. Barooga 3-9

11. Finley 2-10

12. Echuca United 1-11

Originally published as Country footy: Murray league confirms switch to top eight