BUMPER crowds greeted the first round of Loddon Valley football and netball last Saturday, played in perfect autumn weather.
Stocks of the league’s Elvee match booklet were exhausted more than an hour before the start of the game at all venues, car parking was at a premium, and food was running scarce by the end of the day.
Fans were treated to some spectacular football, with a thrilling draw between Calivil and Maiden Gully, a major scare for reigning premiers Marong against Inglewood, and a statement victory by Bridgewater over Bears Lagoon Serpentine.
In netball, two of last season’s finalists in the Mean Machine and the Bears fought out a rollercoaster of a game, with Serp sneaking home by two goals.
And the 2024 runners-up, Pyramid Hill, staved off a brave challenge from Newbridge to start the season on a winning note.
League chairman Richard Hicks said crowds at the opening round were “absolutely fantastic”.
He was at the Calivil-Maiden Gully match and said Elvees were unavailable there long before the first bounce.
For Hicks, highlights of the round included “surprise packet” Inglewood’s effort, and seeing how much Calivil and Maiden Gully had improved.
After a big start to the season and a fixture full of intriguing clashes in round two, including a grand final rematch in the football, the league will take a week off for Easter.
The loss of momentum, both on and off the field, is a frustration for many, with calls for the league to schedule a signature stand-alone match that would potentially draw in the large number of visitors to the region over the Easter break.
League boss Hicks said clubs were given the opportunity to have a general bye at either Easter or King’s Birthday, and a strong majority chose the first option.
“Clubs say they struggle to find volunteers at Easter, and that families take the chance to go away, so we listened to the clubs in making the decision,” he said.
“We were happy to go with whatever the clubs wanted.”
The neighbouring North Central competition has four league-wide byes during the season, with weekends off for Easter, King’s Birthday, a hockey break and July school holidays.