SYDNEY Swans coach John Longmire will return to Lavington Oval in an official capacity for the first time in almost 30 years when the AFL heavyweight takes on St Kilda in a practice match in March.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It will be the former Corowa-Rutherglen star’s first appearance at the ground since he lined up for North Melbourne in a pre-season clash only months after being drafted in 1988.
The Roos were coached by John Kennedy at that point of his career.
Longmire was also a spectator at Lavington Oval when Corowa-Rutherglen defeated Wodonga in the Ovens and Murray grand final in 2003.
Sydney will take on St Kilda under lights on Sunday, March 12, with the clash set to be a full dress rehearsal with the season proper kicking off 11 days later.
Narrandera will host Greater Western Sydney and West Coast on Saturday, February 18.
Wangaratta missed out on a match after hosting North Melbourne and St Kilda earlier this year.
Albury mayor Kevin Mack described the match as a huge coup for the Border.
“This is fantastic news for Albury and for AFL fans across the region,” Mack said.
“We know there’s strong support for both clubs and we’d expect a big crowd, especially as the match coincides with a long weekend in Victoria.
“The Albury game is the last in the newly-named JLT Community Series so we’d expect that both teams will send a strong contingent for their final hit-outs before the season commences.
“To have an AFL pre-season game confirmed on the eve of Tuesday’s Big Bash cricket spectacular is incredible for our city and the region.
“What a great way to celebrate the strong history of AFL for Lavington Sports Ground as we enter a new era with the $8 million redevelopment to get underway in 2017.”
Swans’ chief executive and managing director Andrew Ireland said last year’s grand finalists were looking forward to playing their three practice matches in NSW.
“With matches scheduled in Coffs Harbour, Western Sydney and Albury, the 2017 pre-season fixture provides Swans fans with plenty of opportunities to catch the team in action ahead of the new season,” Ireland said.
“As a club, we always enjoy the chance to get back into the community and to see our fans in regional NSW, and all parts of the country, who we don’t always get to visit during the rigours of the home-and-away season.
“We then stay in Sydney for a week before travelling to southern NSW where we’ve got huge support, so it will be the perfect way to round out the competition.
“We’re really looking forward to getting back into the community and for the new footy season to get underway in February.”
