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BENDIGO Football-Netball League chair Dr Carol McKinstry expects the excitement generated from the NAB Challenge match at the QEO earlier this month to continue locally throughout 2015.
In her first public role since being appointed the new chair of the BFNL, Dr McKinstry launched the 2015 season at league partner Bendigo Mazda on Wednesday night.
The launch comes nine days before the BFNL season kicks off with five games across Good Friday next week.
But the city has already had a major dose of football action, with almost 10,000 people packing into the QEO on March 15 to watch Carlton beat Collingwood by seven points in a NAB Challenge match.
“It has been a busy off-season and a lot of work has been done in recruiting players, officials, coaches and sponsors in preparation for the coming season,” said Dr McKinstry, the first woman to chair the BFNL in its 140-year history.
“We’ve had a great start to the year with the NAB Challenge match that has had everyone talking about football.
“Hopefully, people will continue talking about football in a very positive way for the coming year.”
Dr McKinstry said among the highlights this year would be a 25th anniversary celebration of netball in the BFNL.
“That’s a huge milestone... who would have thought 25 years ago that the standard of netball would be what it is today,” Dr McKinstry said.
“We’ll be having an appropriate event to commemorate that significant milestone.
“I don’t think the contribution of netball should be under-stated. It’s a great positive that it brings to both our league and clubs.”
Helping Dr McKinstry launch the season was AFL Central Victoria regional manager Paul Hamilton.
“We know in terms of premierships there can only be one winner in football and netball,” Hamilton said.
“But success can be measured in many other ways and the most important thing is everyone here is a community club and the links to your community are really what football and netball is all about.”
The season launch featured Essendon assistant coach Mark Harvey as the guest speaker.
Harvey - a triple premiership player with Essendon and former coach of Fremantle and Brisbane - told the audience he was no stranger to the region.
“I’m familiar with the area. I come to Lake Eppalock every year... it’s a fantastic spot to do some water-skiing,” Harvey said.
The BFNL season kicks off on April 3.
Round one games: Maryborough v Castlemaine; Eaglehawk v South Bendigo; Gisborne v Kyneton; Golden Square v Kangaroo Flat; Sandhurst v Strathfieldsaye (N).
• Meanwhile, the Bendigo Advertiser’s Football-Netball 2015 magazine will be available on Friday.
The 32-page magazine features season previews for the Bendigo, Heathcote District, Loddon Valley, North Central, Bendigo Pioneers, Bendigo Thunder and Bendigo umpires.