Ovens & Murray 2024 fixture: Corowa-Rutherglen to play Albury in season opener

Corowa-Rutherglen’s return to the O&M next year promises to be a true test of resilience as it faces four finalists in the first five rounds.

Corowa-Rutherglen has been handed a tough run of matches to start its “reset” in the Ovens and Murray league next year.

The 2024 O&M fixture has been released on Friday and shows Corowa-Rutherglen, which went into recess due to a crippling exodus of players, coming up against grand finalist Albury in the opening round.

The Easter Saturday home game is followed by games against three other finalists from this year - Wangaratta Rovers, Wodonga and premiers Yarrawonga - in the next four rounds.

Yarrawonga won the Ovens and Murray premiership this year and will play Albury in the grand final rematch in mid-May next year. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The only team it plays in the first five rounds that didn’t play finals in 2023 is North Albury, which is tipped to make a charge at September action under second-year coach and former Collingwood player Tim Broomhead.

“We’re very excited to welcome Corowa Rutherglen back into the draw in 2024, as it was

shown that a nine-club fixture proved difficult for clubs to navigate at stages of the 2023 season,” O&M chairman David Sinclair said.

“Despite achieving parity with all clubs’ fixtures to play each other twice and receive nine home games, the effort required to assist clubs in maximising their gate returns is a considerable task.”

Easter falls in late March next year and the O&M season will kick-off with two Good Friday games starting with Wodonga Raiders hosting Lavington followed by a twilight clash between Wangaratta and Wangaratta Rovers.

The grand final rematch between Yarrawonga and Albury will be played on May 18.

The O&M and Goulburn Valley are playing an interleague match for the third successive year with the GV to host the game on May 25 at a venue to be announced.

The GV is yet to release its 2024 fixture.

Leongatha completed back-to-back flags in the Gippsland league this year and will play Wonthaggi in the grand final rematch in the first month of next season. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Also launching its season at Easter will be the Gippsland league with a stand-alone fixture between Bairnsdale and Traralgon at Bairnsdale’s City Oval on Easter Saturday.

Bairnsdale president Michael Mann said the “one-year trial” of an Easter clash wouldn’t be possible without Traralgon’s support.

“Traralgon was prepared to come down and have a go and share the experience,” he said.

“We’re a tourist region so it lends itself to a lot of people being in the area.

“It will be great for the Gippsland league and great for the Bairnsdale Football-Netball Club.

“We’re doing anything we can to our give our club the chance to stand-alone and not compete with other leagues in the area.”

The grand final rematch between Wonthaggi and premiers Leongatha will be played at Wonthaggi on April 13.