Ovens and Murray Football-Netball League officials are calling on the executive to part with 36 years of tradition and adopt a Saturday grand final.
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“My thoughts are it’s a good idea, footy is traditionally played on a Saturday,” Wodonga president Steve Murphy said.
“Every other game is played on Saturdays, so why do we play the grand final on Sunday?”
“I have no issue playing the grand final on a Saturday, we play on that day, so why would the grand final be any different?” Albury netball coach Olivia Aughton said.
The Border Mail revealed on Saturday the league will table a draft draw at next month’s presidents and delegates’ meeting, reintroducing a Saturday decider.
North Albury and Wangaratta Rovers played the last Saturday grand final in 1980.
A poll on The Border Mail website attracted 294 votes by midday on Monday, with 239, or 81.29%, calling for the Saturday finale.
“It’s good to get the community’s feedback on the issue,” league general manager Sean Barrett said.
“Our discussions are mainly with the other leagues and AFL North East Border and the feedback there is not so much whether it’s a Saturday or Sunday, but rather that each league would have its own weekend.”
Some officials were originally non-committal when quizzed on the issue, while others saw a tourism opportunity.
“People could stay in Albury-Wodonga for the Saturday night and then spend the next day here,” Raiders’ president Nic Conway said.
“I think if would be great for travellers, people could come up and watch on the Saturday and we could keep them in town,” Aughton said.
Some other officials said the later grand final added its own issues.
“You often are sitting around just waiting for the Sunday to come,” Lavington netball coach Tamara Mathews said.
Only one official contacted by The Border Mail disagreed with the proposal for a Saturday clash.
“I really like the way it as at the moment,” Yarrawonga president Andrew Mott said.
“However, if they’re looking for change why not look at a twilight grand final on the Saturday?
“That’s the only reason I would support any change to a Sunday grand final.”
The league is looking to finalise next year’s draw by mid-November.