LAVINGTON president Ken Hallows says the club will continue its push to play matches under lights at the Lavington Panthers Oval next season.
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Hallows said the two night fixtures the Panthers had played over the opening three rounds had been a hit with spectators and players.
“We definitely want to keep them going,” Hallows said.
“You have to have them early in the year or later in the year obviously because of the weather, but I think they’re a good thing.
“The crowds are generally bigger but it would be nice to get a couple of local sides involved. You can’t have it all your own way, sometimes it works out that way.”
Lavington’s clash against North Albury on Good Friday drew a crowd of over 2500 people while on Saturday night about 800 people watched the Panthers upset the Hawks.
The concept drew criticism from Hawks’ coach John McNamara, who questioned the sense in making a non-Border club travel for a night fixture.
But Hallows said it was just how the fixture had panned out.
“I found it interesting that Rovers would bleed about it after the event,” he said.
“If you’re going to whinge about it, you’d do it before hand.”
Ovens and Murray General Manager Tom O’Connor said he was a keen supporter of playing matches at night and backed Lavington to continue hosting them.
“The league is always looking to work with its clubs on being innovative with its fixture,” O’Connor said.
“If we’re going to have any night fixtures throughout the year, early on in the season is the time to do it while the weather is still good.
“From a spectator point of view it was pretty good.
“There were a lot of positives to come out of the night.”
Hallows said night games had the backing of senior coach Tim Sanson and the Panthers’ board, who feel they are a good way to promote the game.
“I think you have to be a bit innovative, you can’t continue on with what you’ve always done,” he said.
“All these sort of things help get people through the gates ... so I think that’s a good thing.”