The BFNL has released a draft copy of its fixture for next season, with one of the key features being a double-header at the QEO on May 11.

The double-header – which is still to be confirmed – would feature Eaglehawk taking on Strathfieldsaye in likely a day game, followed by South Bendigo meeting Golden Square in a match starting at a twilight time.

“We’ve got to sit down with the two home clubs, as well as the two away clubs, and toss around ideas as to how that double-header may look,” BFNL chief executive officer Steven Oliver said yesterday.

“At the end of the day, the draw is about maximising for the clubs, but if the clubs come back to us and say they’re not interested in something like this, we won’t do it.

“But we think the double-header is a good opportunity to showcase some games.

“One possible idea we could look at is we play the two senior games at the QEO on the Saturday afternoon, and then on the Sunday we play the two under-18 and reserves games at Eaglehawk.

“At this stage we have only flagged the double-header. It certainly hasn’t been locked in yet.”

Another innovation on the draft fixture is three round four games set down for ANZAC Day, which will fall on a Thursday.

The ANZAC Day games scheduled are Eaglehawk v Kangaroo Flat; Kyneton v South Bendigo; and Strathfieldsaye v Castlemaine.

“The clubs are keen to get into that ANZAC spirit, which is terrific, and we’re happy to support that,” Oliver said.

The season will start on Good Friday, March 29, with two games fixtured.

Kyneton will host arch-rivals Gisborne, while Golden Square is slated to begin its premiership defence at home against Kangaroo Flat.

The following day on Easter Saturday, Sandhurst is fixtured to take on Eaglehawk at the QEO.

However, that game at the QEO and the Golden Square-Kangaroo Flat match going ahead on those scheduled dates is still subject to ground availability as the Easter weekend is the spare weekend for the Bendigo District Cricket Association grand finals.

Round one will continue the following weekend when Maryborough meets Castlemaine in the battle of the Magpies, and South Bendigo tackles Strathfieldsaye.

As well as games over Easter and on ANZAC Day, there’s the possibility the round nine match between South Bendigo and Eaglehawk could be played on the Queen’s Birthday Monday.

At this stage, the only home and away game scheduled to be played under lights is the South Bendigo v Sandhurst match in round three, which will also be a VCFL Game of the Month.

However, the BFL will schedule more night games at the request of clubs.

Round three will also feature the rematch of this year’s grand finalists, Golden Square and Gisborne.

The BFL’s inter-league game will be against Ballarat on May 25 in Ballarat.