By RUSSELL BENNETT
TWO of the EDFL’s powerhouse Western Division clubs have come out in strong support of the fixture for season 2014.
Nar Nar Goon and Garfield stalwarts Pat Noonan and John Barnes can’t wait for the new footy season to roll around, with blockbuster clashes littering the calendar from start to finish.
The 2014 fixtures were published on the EDFL website last week and they’ve been the talk of the local footy traps since.
For the first time since the league was founded in 1937, the competition will be split into two divisions.
The west – made up of seven clubs – has a 21-week home-and-away fixture beginning on Saturday 29 March.
The east – will field eight teams with the opening round of their 18-week season beginning on Saturday 5 April.
The eastern division’s grand final is scheduled for 6 September, with the west’s two weeks later.
Noonan said that given the western clubs were all in favour of playing a full 18-round season, there was no choice other than playing it over 21 weeks with three byes per side.
The start to the Goon’s season is particularly unusual. They’re set to begin with a blockbuster against reigning premier Garfield at Beswick Street but will play just five times in the first 10 weeks with the Easter break, interleague and two byes over that period.
But Noonan looked upon the frequent breaks as a positive for sides featuring some older players, particularly with so many teams vying for finals positions.
“We’ll need to analyse this year’s draw for next season, to make sure it evens out,” he said.
“It will take a few years (to completely sort out the fixturing) – but I think in the long run it will be good for footy.
“We’re happy with the draw.”
The highlight of Nar Nar Goon’s home-and-away season will be one of two ground-breaking Anzac Day clashes. The Goon will travel to Cora Lynn to take on the Cobras on the Friday while Kooweerup will host Lang Lang.
Barnes, meanwhile, was just as bullish about the fixture for the big names of the western division.
“We essentially play three full rounds (against each opponent) and there are some ripper games early in the fixture,” he said.
“It’ll be pretty competitive and I think having a few byes is great.”
Barnes is looking forward to the prospect of the Stars playing blockbuster games most weeks throughout the season and he thinks it means great things for the league as a whole.
“No disrespect to the sides out east, but these games in the west will mean big revenue and they should breed great competition as well.
“We’re really not that far from what the old West Gippy league used to be.”
Assuming the fixture remains as is, Garfield’s season will include two four-week blocks of games against Cora Lynn, Kooweerup, Bunyip and Nar Nar Goon. The first is from 3 to 31 May, with the second from 28 June to 19 July.
“There will be big games week after week and then you get a bye to reload and it all comes around quickly again,” Barnes said.
“There’s real excitement about the competition and I think it’s good all-around.”
But some in clubland are holding off giving the new fixtures their unqualified support.
New Poowong coach Ron Hampton said that, while he has only had “a quick look” at the eastern division fixture, he isn’t convinced that proper balance has been reached just yet.
“You’ve got a side like Poowong – which didn’t win a game last season – that doesn’t play the other bottom sides three times,” he said.
“I don’t know – I’m just not convinced yet.
“The way I look at it – where has Poowong been on the ladder the past few years?
“We’ll end up alright next season but I would guess you’d have the bottom sides all play each other three times.”
Poowong will play Nyora, which finished 11th on the 2013 season ladder, three times next season. But the Magpies will only face Ellinbank (14th) and Nilma Darnum (13th) twice. By contrast, they will be put to the ultimate eastern division test three times against red-hot favourites, the Warragul Industrials.
From the league front office’s perspective, new secretary Ken Moore said the fixture was created with a view to season 2015 as well. Their aim is to create equality amongst the club fixtures over the next two home-and-away seasons.
To view the 2014 EDFL fixtures, visit the league’s website.
