BENDIGO could see an influx of desperate Melbournians in need of their footy fix this weekend.

With both AFL preliminary finals being held in Perth, AFL Central Victoria regional manager Paul Hamilton said he was expecting a record crowd for this Saturday’s Bendigo Netball Football League grand final day. 

“We’ve got two really competitive sides with players who entertain by the they way go about things and when you add the weather, that there will be no AFL in Melbourne and no other grand final clashes in the region... it's a recipe for a simply outstanding day,” he said.

“I think we will see a new crowd record.

“Not only will you not have people travelling to Melbourne to see the footy, you will have people travelling from Melbourne and around the region to Bendigo.”

The number of  ex-AFL players in the defending champions Strathsfieldsaye side – most notably Stephen Milne, but also Matthew Ferguson (12 games for St Kilda) and David Gallagher (33 games for Adelaide and Carlton) – and the speed of a young Sandhurst, mean the game will be one of the most high quality country grand final of the year, Mr Hamilton said. 

“And there’s no doubt the BFNL is one of the great competitions of the state,” he said. 

The regional footy chief said the BNFL traditionally drew people from around the region.

“It is an event as much as grand final,” he said.

“It is one of the biggest events on Bendigo’s calendar and a lot of people come for what is essentially a celebration of sport. 

“We have three footy grand finals and five netball grand finals, but a lot of people come just for the party atmosphere too,” he said. 

Mr Hamilton said this year the three other regional grand finals – North Central, Loddon Valley and Heathcote – had all been held on separate weekends to boost crowd numbers across the region. 

“Loddon Valley, Heathcote, North Central, the Bendigo juniors… they’ve all had record crowds this September as a result,” he said. 

“So you’ll see a lot of people from North Central travel down because they can this year, where in the past the games have clashed.”

Mr Hamilton said he was expecting a crowd of more than 8000 and predicted a roaring trade for nearby pubs and restaurants. 

“It all finishes by 5.30pm and then they’ll all start heading out to restaurants and pubs… it’s a big day and there will be many people looking to continue the celebrations.”

The Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a maximum of 20 degrees and a partly cloudy day with light winds.