Sport
8 November, 2025
Will there be a hopping start?
A BUMPER opening round is a prospect for the Loddon Valley Football Netball League, with a chance that the 2026 season will open on the Easter weekend.
The past season began on April 5, with a general bye for Easter after just two rounds.
Next year Easter falls on the same weekend as the league’s opening round was played in 2025.
While most competitions have a break over the Easter extended weekend, the temptation to take advantage of the influx of holiday visitors to the region may be too strong for the Loddon Valley league to ignore.
The fixture will be announced at the end of the month, with the arrival of Macorna to the competition as its 10th team meaning there will be no need to schedule a bye every round.
If the Loddon league chooses to begin its 2026 season the week after Easter, as the eight-team North Central league has done, the grand final would be pushed back to the second weekend of September.
And with no club-only byes next season, the league might wish to schedule some general byes to give players a break, which would mean the finals series stretching further into September. Clubs are currently discussing the 2026 draw with an announcement expected later this month on the starting date.
North Central is unique in having four competition-wide byes during its season, including one for a junior hockey tournament.
The announcement of the Loddon Valley fixture is keenly anticipated, with some enticing clashes in prospect.
Macorna has a budding rivalry with Inglewood even before playing its first game after moving from the defunct Golden Rivers league.
Woodies coach Fergus Payne jumped ship to sign on as the Tigers coach after becoming disenchanted with the Inglewood committee, and has taken with him some key players including Team of the Year forward Seb Erharter.
Expect an early grand final rematch between Marong and Bridgewater as the Panthers go in search of a fifth flag in a row.
And a focus will be on Maiden Gully as it embarks on what the club hopes to be its last season in the Loddon Valley, with plans to try to enter the Bendigo in 2027.
- GARY WALSH