WHILE thousands of eyes are fixed on the blockbuster at the MCG, the lights of Alan Garden Reserve will also be at full beam for the return of football and netball on Friday night.
It may not be the allure of round 1, but footy is back in the Mallee for 2023 with the annual Tyntynder Football Netball Club night series kickstarting the pre-season.
We’ll get an early look at how three clubs are shaping up for the season, with home club Tyntynder getting the action under way against Woorinen at 6.30pm.
The premiership-fancied Tigers will back up against Golden Rivers Football Netball League side Wandella an hour later.
With Nullawil and Quambatook leaving the GRFNL, the Bombers head into the season as one of the flag favourites, and they’ll get a good early marker of where they’re at against a strong Tigers side.
The format of the matches is different from regular pre-season contests.
Teams will play two 25-minute halves.
Woorinen will get close to a full match of game time by playing consecutive contests.
The Tigers’ season starts a week earlier than other clubs with their standalone Good Friday contest against Cohuna.
Wandella, Tyntynder and Tooleybuc-Manangatang will also compete in a netball round-robin.
For those wanting even more of a March local footy fix Nyah-Nyah West United will welcome Sea Lake Nandaly on Saturday afternoon.
Koondrook-Barham will face stern opposition in Sunraysia reigning premiers Irymple, while Macorna and Leitchville-Gunbower round out the weekend’s action.
PRE-SEASON FOOTBALL
FRIDAY
Night series at Alan Garden Reserve
Tyntynder v Woorinen, 6.30pm
Woorinen v Wandella, 7.30pm
SATURDAY
Macorna vs Leitchville-Gunbower, 12pm at Macorna Recreation Reserve
Koondrook-Barham vs Irymple, 1pm at Barham Recreation Reserve
Nyah-Nyah West United vs Sea Lake Nandaly, 1.30pm at Nyah Recreation Reserve
