The updated Murray Football Netball League 2023 season fixture is out and there are a number of changes from the original edition that was released in January.
League officials have been quick to redraw the upcoming season fixture following last week’s surprise announcement that Tocumwal would rejoin the competition from the neighbouring Picola District League.
A bye has been brought in to accommodate the uneven number of clubs now in the league, while the two split rounds in round seven and 16 have been removed.
The revised fixture, which was released on Monday, now consists of 20 rounds, with all 13 clubs to face the bye twice.
The start and end dates of the home-and-away season remain April 1 and August 19 respectively.
No change has been made on the grand final date, with the decider to be held on September 16.
Based on a previous agreement, Finley and Numurkah have swapped their round one and round 17 games around, resulting in Finley hosting the first three games of the season under lights.
Tocumwal will have to wait a week to kick-start its new life in the Murray league — more than nine years on since it left the competition — with the Bloods pencilled in to face a bye in round one.
“The season will begin on April 1 with Tocumwal having to cool [its] heels for the first week having the bye,” a league media release read.
“Tocumwal will make their first appearance in round two when the club hosts Numurkah on Good Friday. The Murray FNL has become synonymous with Good Friday football and netball with all other games to be played on Good Friday as well.
“The focus of the fixture is to maximise crowds and to take advantage of an influx of tourists along the (Murray) river over Easter and the King’s Birthday weekend.”