IT might be Christmas time, but for football and netball fans, one eye is already on the 2023 season – and now we know what it looks like after the Central Murray Football Netball League fixture was released this week.
The season will start a bit later than usual on April 7, when Cohuna and Woorinen once again do battle in a Good Friday blockbuster between two of the competition’s powerhouses.
Besides Swan Hill – who have the bye in round 1 – the remainder of clubs will begin their campaigns the following weekend on April 15.
There will be some mouth-watering fixtures that day, including last year’s finalists Tyntynder taking on expected improvers Balranald.
Swan Hill will welcome Tooleybuc Manangatang in their first contest on April 22.
Feature rounds are also back, including Headspace Round (May 13, round 5), Pride Round (June 17, round 9), NAIDOC Round (July 8, round 11) and Road Safety Round (July 15, round 12).
Finals will start on September 2, with the grand final to be played on September 23.
With so much to look forward to, The Guardian has put together five games to get excited for.
Round 1 – Cohuna v Woorinen, April 7 (Good Friday)
THERE’S nothing like the excitement bubbling around town for the return of footy season and for Cohuna and Woorinen, they’ll have the spotlight all to themselves on the opening weekend.
Last season, the two sides faced off in a corresponding fixture at Woorinen, but the Kangas will have hosting rights next year.
Cohuna were two kicks away from the ultimate glory last season and will be the pick of many to go one better in 2023.
The Kangas have made a few big signings, with key defender Nathan Hammond linking up with brother Jake, along with former Richmond VFL small forward Lucas Conca.
Besides losing star midfielder Tom Toma to Golden Square, most of the Kangas list from last season has signed under new head coach Tyson Findlay.
The Tigers have been strengthening every line this off-season with key defender Doug Beams returning and the addition of experienced big forward Ben Hunt, Quambatook small forward William Collicoat and ex-Richmond VFL product Danko Bzenic.
With the two sides right in the mix for premiership honours, there is no better way to start the season.
Round 1 – Tooleybuc Manangatang v Kerang, April 15
AT first glance, last year’s top and bottom sides might not seem like a matchup to look forward to, but this game will give us a great insight at where both clubs are at.
The Saints are expected to improve after going on a signing spree with a distinct Tasmanian and Southport Sharks smell to it.
Apple Isle exports Tim Auckland, Ethan Goldfinch, and Trey Clark will pull on the red, white and black, with the trio all playing at high levels throughout their careers.
Fellow Tasmanian and inside midfielder Blake Grant has also signed on.
Grant is a best and fairest winner for Tasmanian State League side Kingborough Tigers and spent time at the Sharks in Queensland, as did Kwaby Boakye and former AFL footballer Josh Williams.
Williams is a speedy midfielder who played two games for North Melbourne in 2017.
It will be a different-looking Blues next season, with joint coach Bryce Curnow and star midfielder Nick Stagg returning to Sandhurst.
The Blues are still a formidable foe without this pair due to their brilliant depth, but upsets early in the season always occur, and this game will be an intriguing watch to see just how much the Saints could improve.
Round 4 – Kerang v Cohuna, May 6
KERANG will welcome rivals Cohuna in a battle of the CMFNL’s big dogs after their brutal 2022 grand final, when the Blues triumphed by 10 points.
The Blues could go into this game 3-0 with a seemingly easy start to the season, not facing any 2022 finalists until the grand final rematch.
Cohuna has a tougher start to the season facing Woorinen, Koondrook Barham away and Lake Boga in the first three rounds.
But the Kangas too will go into each of these as favourites and if they manage to be victorious in these contests, heading into Riverside Park undefeated as well, this matchup of the titans becomes even more salivating.
The second grand final rematch occurs in round 15.
Round 6 – Swan Hill v Tyntynder, June 10 (Saturday night King’s Birthday weekend feature game)
SWAN Hill and Tyntynder will play in a standalone King’s Birthday – formerly Queen’s Birthday – weekend clash for the second year in a row.
There’ll be one change to last year’s fixture, with the game set to be played under the Showgrounds lights.
It could be one of the biggest home and away crowds in a long time as locals and race revellers alike make their way down for night local footy between the two cross-town rivals.
The Swans enter the season under new yet familiar leadership in club legend and 2008 premiership coach Cal Beasy.
They have made a couple of big singings in their attempt to climb the ladder with the Miliado brothers Jose and Elijah, Woorinen premiership player Nyawi Moore and Hoppers Crossing midfield forward Brandon Houlihan.
For the Bulldogs, it has been an approach of trusting what they have already, with the vast majority of players from last season re-signing.
However, explosive onballer Marcus Wattie has left the kennel to play for Shepparton United.
Round 18 – Kerang v Woorinen, August 26
LOOKING toward the end of the season, there’s one match in the final round that catches the eye.
Both the Blues and Tigers are expected to be around the top of the ladder come round 18 – and this game could just decide who gets a double chance.
The Blues defeated the Tigers by 82 points in the preliminary final last season.
