It is time to get out your calendars because the fixture for the 2022 Western Border football and netball seasons is out.
The WBFL announced the draw online last Thursday night and maintains the standard 16-round structure with the opening round kicking off proceedings on Saturday, April 2.
The return to the traditional four-week finals series is penned in after both semi-finals were played on back-to-back days last year, while Grand Final day is the first Saturday in September.
The date means there will not be clash between the big days for the Western Border and Mid South Eastern leagues, while bye rounds are scheduled for the Easter, South East Interleague and State Country Championships weekends.
WBFL president Michael Summers said momentum was building for another exciting season after the significant landmark of completing the fixture was out of the way.
“It is full steam ahead with April 2 round 1,” he said,
“We are looking forward to it with all teams champing at the bit to get back on the park and hopefully we have a COVID-19 free season.”
The biggest headline from the fixture is in the opening round which gives fans extra reason to get excited for the first bounce.
Much like the 2022 AFL season, the year of Western Border football will open in grand style with a Grand Final rematch between Millicent and South Gambier at McLaughlin Park.
A huge crowd is expected at the venue with the Saints unveiling their premiership flag, plus welcoming Tom Hutchesson back to the lineup, while the Demons will be determined to spoil the party and taste some redemption.
The rematch of the historic Western Border netball Grand Final between East Gambier and Millicent will take place in round 5.
Summers said the league wanted to create something special and he hopes it will be an unforgettable occasion.
“It was a fantastic Grand Final in 2021, so we wanted round 1 to be a real highlight for the Millicent Football and Netball club,” he said.
“It gives Millicent the chance to unfold its premiership flag and there is no better opposition to play than the runners-up South Gambier.”
With the season starting on the first weekend of April, it will start seven days earlier than last year.
Summers said it was a simple decision given the way it fell around Easter.
“We wanted to play some football before Easter and have it off,” he said.
“Then it allows us to come back with the traditional North versus South Gambier Anzac Day clash.”
After COVID-19 cancellations and interruptions forced both semi-finals to be played on the same weekend last year, so Summers is pleased to announce the return to the traditional finals structure.
“The only reason we changed the finals last year was because of COVID,” he said.
“We lost some rounds due to COVID-19, so we had to combine our finals in the end.
“In the four-team finals series, it has always been one week per game with first v fourth and second against third.
“That has what it has been traditionally and we will move back to that.”
Only dates have been announced for each final with venues to be announced in due course.
With COVID-19 ghosting the region more than ever before, interruptions could be coming and Summers said it would be a matter of being flexible.
He said the SANFL was yet to announce the return to play protocols, but was pleased about some solidarity around the borders as the sport is keen to return after a nice break.
“The SANFL will come out with a strategic plan to see what impact COVID-19 will have, so we are just waiting on directions from that,” Summers said.
“We are still working closely with SANFL to see what the future looks like, but it was still a nice and relaxing summer.
“The borders are looking to remain open, so we are hoping for an uninterrupted season.”
2022 WESTERN BORDER FIXTURE
Round 1: Saturday, April 2: Millicent v South Gambier; East Gambier v North Gambier; West Gambier v Casterton Sandford.
Round 2: Saturday, April 9: Casterton-Sandford v Millicent; South Gambier v East Gambier; North Gambier v West Gambier. Bye: Saturday, April 16: Easter
Round 3: Saturday, April 23: East Gambier v Casterton Sandford; Millicent v West Gambier. Anzac Day: Saturday, April 25: North Gambier v South Gambier.
Round 4: Saturday, April 30: Millicent v North Gambier; West Gambier v East Gambier; Casterton Sandford v South Gambier.
Round 5: Saturday, May 7: East Gambier v Millicent; South Gambier v West Gambier; North Gambier v Casterton Sandford.
Round 6: Saturday, May 14: North Gambier v East Gambier; South Gambier v Millicent; Casterton Sandford v West Gambier.
Round 7: Saturday, May 21: Millicent v Casterton Sandford; East Gambier v South Gambier; West Gambier v North Gambier.
Round 8: Saturday, May 28: Casterton Sandford v East Gambier; West Gambier v Millicent; South Gambier v North Gambier.
Round 9: Saturday, June 4: North Gambier v Millicent; East Gambier v West Gambier; South Gambier v Casterton Sandford.
Bye: Saturday, June 11: SE Interleague.
Round 10: Saturday, June 18: Millicent v East Gambier; Casterton Sandford v North Gambier; West Gambier v South Gambier.
Round 11: Saturday, June 25: East Gambier v North Gambier; Millicent v South Gambier; West Gambier v Casterton Sandford.
Round 12: Saturday, July 2: Casterton Sandford v Millicent; South Gambier v East Gambier; North Gambier v West Gambier.
Round 13: Saturday, July 9: East Gambier v Casterton Sandford; Millicent v West Gambier; North Gambier v East Gambier.
Bye: Saturday, July 16: State Country Championships.
Round 14: Saturday, July 23: Millicent v North Gambier; West Gambier v East Gambier; Casterton Sandford v South Gambier.
Round 15: Saturday, July 30: North Gambier v Casteron Sandford; East Gambier v Millicent; South Gambier v West Gambier.
Round 16: Saturday, August 6: South Gambier v Millicent; Casterton Sandford v East Gambier; West Gambier v North Gambier.
First semi-final: Saturday, August 13.
Second semi-final: Saturday, August 20.
Preliminary Final: Saturday, August 27.
Grand Final:Saturday, September 3.
