Some of the Riddell District Football League’s biggest rivals won’t have to wait long to be reacquainted next season.
The league’s round one fixtures, released last week, include a number of crunch matches over a two-week extravaganza.
The extended first round has been designed to give supporters the chance to watch every senior football and A-grade netball match to begin the season.
Round one highlights include Melton Centrals hosting closest rival Rockbank at the new Arnolds Creek Reserve; Woodend-Hesket unveiling their new surface at Gilbert Gordon Oval against Lancefield; Diggers Rest hosting traditional rivals Riddell at Bloomdale Oval; and Romsey unfurling the 2015 premiership flag under lights against Sunbury Kangaroos on a Saturday night.
RDFL operations manager Toby Boyle designed the unique round as a way to showcase clubs and the league to start the season.
“The round one fixture is exciting in that we have a mix of traditional timeslots with some new ones and new opportunities to promote our league and clubs to the broader region and public,” Boyle said.
“While the remainder of the fixture won’t be released until prior to the [2015] AGM, it’s pleasing that we have been able to provide clubs with many of their requests while ensuring each club has a genuine opportunity to compete and generate revenue.”
The round one fixture begins on Friday, April 8.
One club that won’t be a part of the special round is Kilmore, which had its application to join the Northern Football League approved by AFL Victoria last week. Kilmore’s request to leave the RDFL was initially knocked back by league officials.
But after winning its appeal to AFL Victoria, Kilmore has been officially welcomed into the NFL, where it will play in division 3 in 2016.
The RDFL said in a statement that it respected the AFL Victoria decision and would not pursue the matter further.
“The board and staff of the Riddell District FNL wish the Kilmore FNC the very best of luck for their future,” the statement read.
“While disappointed to lose a club that has had 66 years of history in the RDFNL, the league hopes this move rejuvenates Kilmore FNC and the club is successful and prosperous long into the future.”
The loss of Kilmore means the RDFL will be a 12-team competition next season.
