CASTLEMAINE, Kyneton and Golden Square have all been given early opportunities to showcase their new lights in the Bendigo Football-Netball League next year.
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The Magpies, Tigers and Bulldogs have all been fixtured for night games at home in the first five rounds of 2016.
At this stage those night games at Camp Reserve, the Kyneton Showgrounds and MyJet Oval are subject to the installation of the lighting.
Castlemaine has been fixtured to play its first home game under lights in round two against Strathfieldsaye in what will be a timeslot more accustomed to American sport – Monday night.
The Magpies are Storm are scheduled to play on Anzac Day night, which next year falls on a Monday.
That will be one of two Anzac Day games, with Gisborne and Golden Square to meet at Gardiner Reserve.
Kyneton’s first game under its new lights has been set for round three against Castlemaine.
That same night, Golden Square has also been fixtured to play its debut game under its new lights against Strathfieldsaye.
Night footy will also be played at Kangaroo Flat, but there will be no games under lights at the QEO until finals.
The 2016 premiership race will get under way on Saturday, April 16, in what will be the latest start to a BFNL season since 2007.
Round one will feature the same match-ups as 2015’s season-opener, with Kyneton to take on arch-rival Gisborne; South Bendigo to meet Eaglehawk at the QEO; Castlemaine hosting Maryborough in the battle of the Magpies; and Kangaroo Flat playing under lights at home against long-time nemesis Golden Square.
On Sunday, April 17, Strathfieldsaye will host Sandhurst in a grand final re-match at Flight Centre Park.
In what’s a move sure to please players, the grand final rematch will be one of just three Sunday home and away matches to be played – the others being Castlemaine v Kangaroo Flat in round six and Strathfieldsaye v Kyneton in round nine.
For the third year in a row, South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye will meet on the Queen’s Birthday Monday, with next season’s match to be at the QEO.
Themed rounds for next year will be Indigenous (round six), DonateLife (round 15) and headspace (round 18).
South Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat will meet in a Pink Day game (round four); Strathfieldsaye and Gisborne will again play for the Give Me 5 for Kids Cup (round six); Golden Square and Sandhurst will clash in the Blue Ribbon game (round eight); while the round 17 match between Castlemaine and South Bendigo will honour Vietnam Veterans.
