The wait is finally over for Ovens & King Football Netball League players, coaches and fans. The key dates and match-ups for 2024 have been revealed.
Footballers and netballers will pull on their team colours for the first time in 2024 over the Easter long weekend.
The Benalla All Blacks seniors will open their account under new coach Heath Smith with a trip to Bonnie Doon for a Good Friday clash.
Goorambat will have to wait until round two for its first outing, with the Bats handed an opening round bye.
Benalla will run out at the Friendlies Oval for the first time in 2024 in the second round on April 6.
Goorambat will play its first home games against Greta in round three and against King Valley on April 20.
Benalla will have byes in round four, April 20, and round 10, June 1.
Goorambat’s second bye after the opening weekend will be round 17, July 27.
The historic rivalry between Benalla and Goorambat will continue on May 18, with the derby locked in for round 8 at the Goorambat Recreation Reserve.
The return fixture will be played in the final round of the regular season on August 17.
There will be two rounds of NAIDOC Week fixtures, with Benalla taking on Moyhu at home and Goorambat welcoming North Wangaratta in week one.
Both teams hit the road for the week two fixtures: Benalla head to Bright, and Goorambat travel to Bonnie Doon.
After a gruelling 20-round season, the best teams will look forward to four weeks of finals.
Elimination finals are set for August 24 and 25, the semi-finals for August 31 and September 1, and the preliminary final for September 7.
The biggest day for the O&K will be September 14, as grand finalists will be crowned champions or left wondering what could have been.