Maximising crowds key as Murray league releases 2023 fixture

By Daniel Webb

Jan 5, 2023

Back in action: Mulwala will be aiming to defend its Murray Football League premiership in 2023. Photo by Steve Huntley

Ensuring strong crowds come through the gates is a priority for the Murray Football Netball League this season.

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Releasing its 2023 fixture on Wednesday, the league unveiled a mouth-watering first round of action, along with a big Easter line-up of matches.

Kicking off on April 1, round one will be headlined by meetings between last year’s grand finalists, as Cobram plays host to Mulwala and Deniliquin welcomes Rumbalara.

These matches are only a tantalising appetiser to the following week’s action, with Good Friday hosting all six of the round two match-ups.

Speaking after the fixture was unveiled, league general manager Dale Norman said the season was starting earlier than other leagues across the district.

“That allows for us to promote, get crowds along and just get up and going,” Norman said.

“The focus early on in the season is to get as many people through the gates as possible and to also get some clear air.

“There’s not as much on the line in round one as there is on grand final day, but it certainly creates some excitement and generates some talk of who’s done well in the off-season and who has fallen away a bit."

Renowned for its Good Friday football, the league’s 2023 edition will have traditional rivals go head-to-head, with a nighttime Finley and Deniliquin clash the main attraction on a day many will circle on the calendar.

“We focus on the towns along the Murray River where there’s an influx of tourists, again to generate as much revenue as possible early on in the season for clubs involved,” Norman said.

“The focus really is along the river and for people looking for something to do on Good Friday, which is usually a day where there’s not much happening, that’s why we focus on playing all our games during that day.”

Set to be played over 21 weeks, the Murray league season will have a general bye scheduled on July 1 and two split rounds in rounds seven and 16.

Finals will kick off on August 26, while the season will finish with the grand final on September 16.