THE Ovens and Murray could part with tradition by playing its grand final on a Saturday next season.
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With the AFL introducing a bye before its finals series, league officials are considering pushing back their premiership decider six days to cash in on the spare weekend.
League general manager Sean Barrett said a draft draw would be tabled during a presidents and delegates meeting early next month.
“There is a break between the Ovens and Murray and AFL now so we’re interested in looking at that opportunity,” Barrett said.
“Each league could have its own grand final weekend going from Tallangatta to Hume to Ovens and Murray.
“It’s not locked and loaded but it’s different and we’ll put it out there and see what the feedback is.”
The Ovens and Murray draft draw proposes to kick off on April 1 with the grand final set down for September 23.
Presently, the Hume and Ovens and Murray leagues play their grand finals on successive days.
The last Ovens and Murray grand final to be played on a Saturday was between North Albury and Wangaratta Rovers in 1980.
“I have spoken to Sean and I think the idea has merit,” Hume league president Merv Wegener said.
“It’s important we work together to benefit all leagues.
“We have some byes so there is flexibility in our draw.”
While the Hume league will discuss its fixture in coming weeks, the grand final is set to be held on September 16, followed by the Ovens and Murray on September 23 and AFL on September 30.
“It hasn’t been an issue having the Hume and Ovens and Murray on the same weekend but we feel the optimum result is for leagues to have their own weekend,” Barrett said.
Only 4100 people attended this year’s grand final with the weather and Albury’s dominance seen as the major contributing factors.