Ovens & Murray: Rare Rovers-Magpies finals clash will be at neutral venue

The latest Wang Derby between the Rovers and Magpies has attracted a huge crowd, so could a possible September meeting sway a 25-year league policy?

The Ovens & Murray league won’t be tempted to abandon a longstanding policy on finals venues to score a guaranteed financial windfall from a rare showdown between the two Wangaratta clubs in Wangaratta this season.

The Rovers and Magpies are headed for their first finals match since 1989 following their latest clash played in front of a bumper mid-season crowd last Sunday estimated at between 2500 and 3000 people.

The Rovers remain second on the ladder after beating the Magpies by three points with a late goal from Tom Boyd sealing victory.

Wangaratta has recovered from a 0-4 start to be sitting fifth on the ladder with up to five regular senior players missing on Sunday including injured midfielder Brad Melville and key defender Michael Bordignon.

The 1989 first semi-final between the two clubs was played at the Rovers’ home ground with the Rovers winning by 112 points.

POLL: @wangrovers & @WangMagpies could meet in an @omfnl final for first time since 1989 this year. If they do where should the match be played? @theweeklytimes

— David Johnston (@david_johnston5) June 21, 2024

But a Rovers-Magpies final in Wangaratta 35 years later won’t be happening due to the league’s policy of playing all lead-up finals to the grand final at neutral grounds.

“Integrity of the competition, as always, is paramount,” O&M chairman David Sinclair said.

“To that end minor finals will continue to be played at neutral venues as has been league policy for at least the last 25 years.

“We will wait to see which clubs apply to host finals and allocate games based on the best-fit for the participating teams and their supporters.”

Ovens and Murray league chairman David Sinclair. Picture: supplied

But Rovers board member Barry Sullivan a Rovers-Magpies final in Wangaratta made sense.

“It would certainly get a bigger crowd,” he said.

“People who aren’t even football followers would potentially take an interest and you’re only get diehards if it’s somewhere too remote.”

Options for a Rovers-Magpies final include Corowa-Rutherglen, Yarrawonga or Myrtleford.

The O&M is among the many major leagues across the state that rotate early finals matches with the notable exception being Bendigo which plays all finals at the Queen Elizabeth Oval.

Home ground advantages for O&M grand finals are unavoidable due to pre-planning requirements.

Lavington won premierships at its home ground in 2001 and 2005, but lost others in 2008 and 2015-16.

Wangaratta lost both “home” grand finals it staged in 2018-19.

Wangaratta Rovers coach Sam Murray. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

Meanwhile, Corowa-Rutherglen is no certainty to have the extra player points and salary cap space made available this year to assist its return from a season on the sidelines again in 2025.

“They will go through a process of having to apply for extra points and salary cap again within the next month,” AFL Northeast Border regional manager Zac Hedin said.

“It was never the intent that they would go back to what they’ve got this year.

“There was always a plan that we would gradually bring them back.

“But it will all depend on their submission.”