The season is set to begin on Saturday, April 5, with a full schedule of games featuring all 12 teams.
There are a number of notable matches that will get every footy fan’s tail wagging, with the Good Friday round three contests on the top of the list.
The annual Three Jacks Trophy clash between Moama and Echuca will occur during that round and is expected to draw a crowd of up to 4000 people.
“The Three Jacks Trophy game is typically our most attended game outside the grand final and we expect another big crowd to attend that game,” Norman said.
Local derbies will also be aplenty during round three, with cross-river rivals Cobram and Barooga and high-flying sides Mulwala and Congupna set to take each other on.
Perhaps the most interesting match will be between historical rivals Deniliquin and Finley, with many theorising three-time AFL premiership-winning Geelong legend Tom Hawkins will make his triumphant hometown return in that contest.
Norman believes the Good Friday round is a can’t miss weekend of action for football and netball fans.
“Good Friday is one of the best occasions of our season, it incorporates the tourists that come to the region,” he said.
“We are really looking forward to plenty of crowds along the river for those games, as they always draw a huge crowd right across the league.”
The same match-ups will come back around in round nine for the King’s Birthday weekend, with the losers given a chance to redeem themselves against their most bitter rivals.
While Norman acknowledged the significant turnover of administrators and players within the league, he highlighted the opportunity for new voices to inject fresh energy into the competition.
To kick-start the season’s proceedings, Rumbalara will host powerhouse Congupna, Numurkah will journey to Mulwala, while Nathalia will welcome Moama to its home.
For more on each MFNL club ahead of the 2025 campaign, check out this year’s Football-Netball Magazine. If you missed a hard copy, call the Shepparton News office on 5820 3107 or download the Shepparton News app, head to the print editions tab and scroll down.
