Sport
7 April, 2021
Flags fluttering
FOOTBALL and netball seasons kick off Saturday across the Loddon. More than 18 months after the last official fixture, Loddon Valley League club Mitiamo will unfurl their 2019 senior football and A and B Grade netball premiership pennants. Club...
FOOTBALL and netball seasons kick off Saturday across the Loddon.
More than 18 months after the last official fixture, Loddon Valley League club Mitiamo will unfurl their 2019 senior football and A and B Grade netball premiership pennants.
Club president Rob Clohesy said the honour for the flag raising would go to Fay Forbes, wife of Australian sporting and Loddon legend John Forbes who died last month. The three new flags will fly from poles at the John Forbes Oval after their unveiling before the senior game at 2.10pm
And while celebrations from 2019 will finally come to a close for Mitiamo, the league continues to work through challenges for junior football competition numbers.
It was confirmed at a meeting between the league board and club representatives late last week that Calivil was the latest club to announce it would be unable to field an under 18 team this season.
Several clubs in the league are planning junior development programs this year, including Pyramid Hill that does not currently have an under-age side.
The league’s southern power-house side Bridgewater is also planning a junior program.
With Bridgewater having the bye this weekend, interest will be high with other clubs in the league who informed the league last month they would be fielding senior and reserve sides.
Clubs have used practice games in recent weeks, many single team encounters against opponents from neighbouring leagues.
All clubs have mostly retained players signed for the aborted 2020 season.
It was announced earlier this week that former Kangaroo Flat star Jonathan Lanyon will make a cameo appearance with Maiden Gully YCW in the match against Newbridge, giving the Eagles an edge.
Mitiamo, buoyed by the flag unfurling, should be too good at home for Bears Lagoon-Serpentine as should Pyramid Hill against Inglewood. Calivil should break the home ground trend for round one with a win over Marong in their game.