Sport
Goulburn Valley Suns’ new fixture slate announced for 2024 along with revamped league structure
Goulburn Valley Suns’ round one opponent in the newly-minted Victorian Premier League Two competition has been revealed.
The Suns will host Essendon Royals at McEwen Reserve on March 8, 2024, under the new VPL2 banner following a rebrand of the state football pyramid.
Football Victoria announced the fixture list on December 20, with the Orangemen to contest the season, which finishes in August, over 22 games in the state’s third tier.
Craig Carley’s side ended the 2023 season in fourth, four points adrift of a promotion spot.
Following their round one tie against Essendon, the Suns will suit up for home games against new VPL2 entrants Brunswick Juventus (relegated) and Altona City (promoted) in rounds two and three before suiting up for Australia Cup duties.
Continuing on from a stellar round of 32 berth in 2023 where McEwen Reserve hosted a match against APIA Leichhardt, the Suns’ first hit-out in the cup next year arrives on March 31.
The draw will be live-streamed in the early months of 2024.
A remarkable run of seven consecutive away games lands in the middle of the season for the Suns, while the campaign comes to a close with a trio of matches back at McEwen Reserve.
Meanwhile, a revamped model replaces the under-21 format, with an under-23 competition allowing for an older youth bracket with each team awarded a certain number of overage players to feature in the match day squad.
Similar to the under-21 format, the new under-23 competition will also culminate in a finals series in late August-early September.
GV Suns 2024 fixture list
Round one v Essendon Royals @ McEwen Reserve
Round two v Brunswick Juventus @ McEwen Reserve
Round three v Altona City @ McEwen Reserve
Round four v Boroondara-Carey Eagles @ McEwen Reserve
Round five v Melbourne Srbija @ Kevin Bartlett Reserve
Round six v Nunawading City @ Mahoneys Resevre
Round seven v Doveton @ McEwen Reserve
Round eight v Box Hill United @ McEwen Reserve
Round nine v Beaumaris @ Beaumaris Reserve
Round 10 v Pascoe Vale @ CB Smith Reserve
Round 11 v North Sunshine Eagles @ Larissa Reserve
Round 12 v Essendon Royals @ Cross Keys Reserve
Round 13 v Brunswick Juventus @ CB Smith Reserve
Round 14 v Altona City @ TBC
Round 15 v Boroondara-Carey @ Wilcox Field
Round 16 v Melbourne Srbija @ McEwen Reserve
Round 17 v Nunawading City @ McEwen Reserve
Round 18 v Doveton @ Waratah Reserve
Round 19 v Box Hill United @ Wembley Park
Round 20 v Beaumaris @ McEwen Reserve
Round 21 v Pascoe Vale @ McEwen Reserve
Round 22 v North Sunshine Eagles @ McEwen Reserve