By Nick Creely
A blockbuster clash between great rivals Narre Warren and Pakenham will kick off the new-look Outer East Football Netball League 2022 Premier Division season, with the league releasing its fixtures last week.
With Round 1 to be split over three dates to kick off the season, the Maggies and Lions will kick things off with the standalone fixture on Saturday, 2 April, followed by Officer and Upwey Tecoma facing off for the first time and Olinda Ferny Creek battling it out against Woori Yallock on Saturday, 9 April. Round 1 will finish with a Sunday clash between Wandin and Mount Evelyn on the Sunday (10 April).
Monbulk begins the Premier Division football season with the bye, but will tackle Narre Warren in its first match.
In other huge clashes across the season, the Round 2 Anzac Round will see local rivals Pakenham and Officer go head-to-head, while two Anzac Day matches are locked in at this stage – Wandin at home to Woori Yallock and Upwey Tecoma hosting Olinda Ferny Creek.
No Premier Division matches will be played over the Easter weekend or on the Queen’s birthday weekend.
The Premier Division finals will be a four-week, top-five system, with the finals beginning on Saturday 27 August, with the grand final locked in for Saturday 17 September.
The Outer East Division 1 season is locked in for a Saturday 2 April start, with Healesville to tackle Berwick Springs for the very first time, Emerald will host Yarra Glen for the first time in 10 years and Belgrave will travel to Seville. Gembrook Cockatoo’s senior footballers will have the bye in Round 1, while their netballers travel to Berwick to take on the Wickers.
Round 3’s Anzac Round will see the traditional Anzac Round slot of Gembrook Cockatoo and Emerald, which will be the Brookers’ first match back on their home ground following the completion of facility works. Seville will face recent rivals Yarra Glen at Seville and Healesville will host Belgrave. Berwick Netball Club will host Berwick Springs in the netball.
Other huge blockbusters to keep an eye on in 2022 will be the ‘Pride Cup’ in Round 4, played between Yarra Glen and Belgrave, while in Round 16 Belgrave will play their 1,000th match since the merger of the Yarra Valley and Mountain District leagues in 1966, against Gembrook Cockatoo at home.
The Division 1 finals will be a three-week, top-four system beginning on Saturday 9 September, with the grand final to be played on Friday 23 September.
