SWFL shakes up fixtures

A double-header at Hands Oval is being touted to kick the 2016 Dale Alcock Homes South West Football League season.

SWFL general manager John Vidos told the Bunbury Herald the league’s executive would vote on the fixtures at their January 28 meeting, with the double-header at Hands Oval to be considered to kick off the season on April 16.

One other SWFL club would have to sacrifice a home game to make the fixtures work.

Vidos also confirmed there would be a split round after the Landmark Carnival mid-season.

The grand final is scheduled for September 25, the weekend before the AFL grand final and the same weekend as the WAFL’s final game of the season. “We are going to persevere for one more year and see how that goes, ” Vidos said.

“We will just have the one bye.

“We don’t want to over-extend the length of the season.”

The 2016 season will once again have 18 rounds, with each side playing each other twice.

Mr Vidos said there was also talk of having a round of colts games played on the Friday night before Groovin’ the Moo.

The SWFL season will also include the annual Anzac game in round two, with the Harvey Bulls and Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault requesting to play on the day.

Carey Park will also continue with their traditional Anzac Day game, although an opposition side is yet to be decided.

The Indigenous Recognition game between the Collie Eagles and Carey Park is being touted to be played in Collie in round 18.

Mr Vidos said the Eaton Boomers would play their home games at Boyanup as their home ground, Glen Huon Reserve gets developed.

“The league had to fixture the games around the Boyanup markets, ” he said.