The draw was released on Monday, with the season to kick-off on Saturday, April 14 with feature matches between Eaglehawk and Strathfieldsaye at Canterbury Park and Sandhurst versus Golden Square at the QEO.

Only one Sunday match has been scheduled for the entire home and away season - Maryborough versus Kyneton on June 3 for the BFNL's Indigenous Round match.

"We gave clubs the option around playing some games on Sunday, but most of the clubs just want to play on Saturday,'' BFNL manager Dennis Bice said.

"With so much junior footy and female footy being played every Sunday, it's easier for everyone involved if we keep our games on Saturday.

"Volunteers are so important to clubs and it's much easier for all involved if games are on Saturday."

No night matches are scheduled in the draw at the moment, but that will change.

"With the night games we allow the clubs to negotiate with each other because we want both parties to be happy,'' Bice said.

"Castlemaine, Golden Square, South Bendigo, Kyneton and Strathfieldsaye have all incidated they want to play night games, so those matches will be added into the draw in the next few weeks."

Reigning premier Strathfieldsaye won't get to unfurl its 2017 flag until round two against Gisborne.

"What we try to do is those clubs that played at home in round one of 2017 play away in round one of 2018,'' Bice said.

"Kyneton is the only team that gets to play at home again in round one of 2018. The reason for that is if Kyneton didn't play at home in round one they would have only had one home game in the first four rounds and we didn't think that was fair."

The BFNL will have a general bye in the middle of the July school holidays.

“All the clubs seem really happy with that,’’ Bice said.

“It seems to work well for everyone.”

The inter-league weekend is on May 19, with Bendigo travelling to Warrnambool to play Hampden.

“We’re waiting to hear if we will have an under-18 game as well as a senior game,’’ Bice added.

“We should be in a position soon  to announce who the BFNL senior coach will be.”

Bice said the BFNL had also accomomdated special requests from clubs.

“We’re working with clubs who have significant events in 2018,’’ Bice said.

“South Bendigo is celebrating its 125th year and they’ll celebrate that when they play Golden Square at the QEO.

“Kyneton has its 150th anniversary and we’re just waiting for confirmation from them about what they’re doing.”

South Bendigo will continue to play three home games at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington.

The Bloods will play Kangaroo Flat in round seven, Maryborough in round 12 and Eaglehawk in round 15.

The BFNL grand final day will be on Saturday, September 22.

BFNL draw for 2018:

Round 1 – April 14

Eaglehawk v 

Strathfieldsaye

Gisborne v Kangaroo Flat

Kyneton v South Bendigo

Sandhurst v Golden 

Square 

Maryborough v 

Castlemaine

………………………………….

Round 2 – April 21 

Strathfieldsaye v Gisborne

Kangaroo Flat v Kyneton

Sth Bendigo v Sandhurst 

Golden Square v 

Maryborough

Castlemaine v Eaglehawk

………………………………….

Round 3 – April 28 

Kyneton v Strathfieldsaye

Sandhurst v Kangaroo Flat 

Maryborough v South 

Bendigo

Castlemaine v Golden 

Square

Eaglehawk v Gisborne

………………………………….

Round 4 – May 5

Strathfieldsaye v 

Sandhurst

Kangaroo Flat v 

Maryborough

South Bendigo v 

Castlemaine

Golden Square v 

Eaglehawk

Gisborne v Kyneton

………………………………….

Round 5 – May 12

Maryborough v 

Strathfieldsaye

Castlemaine v Kangaroo 

Flat

Golden Square v South 

Bendigo

Sandhurst v Gisborne

Kyneton v Eaglehawk

………………………………….

Inter-league – May 19

Hampden v Bendigo 

at Warrnambool.

………………………………….

Round 6 – May 26 

Strathfieldsaye v 

Castlemaine

Kangaroo Flat v Golden 

Square

Eaglehawk v Sth Bendigo

Gisborne v Maryborough

Kyneton v Sandhurst

………………………………….

Round 7 – June 2

Golden Square v

Strathfieldsaye

South Bendigo v Kangaroo 

Flat (Harry Trott)

Castlemaine v Gisborne

Sandhurst v Eaglehawk

Sunday June 3

Maryborough v Kyneton

(Indigenous Round game)

………………………………….

Round 8 – June 9

Strathfieldsaye v 

South Bendigo

Eaglehawk v Kangaroo Flat

Gisborne v Golden Square

Kyneton v Castlemaine

Sandhurst v Maryborough

………………………………….

Round 9 – June 16

Kangaroo Flat v 

Strathfieldsaye

South Bendigo v Gisborne

Golden Square v Kyneton

Castlemaine v Sandhurst

Maryborough v Eaglehawk

………………………………….

Round 10 – June 23

Strathfieldsaye v 

Eaglehawk

Kangaroo Flat v Gisborne

South Bendigo v Kyneton

Golden Square v 

Sandhurst

Castlemaine v 

Maryborough

………………………………….

Round 11 – June 30

Gisborne v Strathfieldsaye

Kyneton v Kangaroo Flat

Sandhurst v South Bendigo

Maryborough v Golden 

Square

Eaglehawk v Castlemaine

………………………………….

July 7 

General bye

………………………………….

Round 12 – July 14

Strathfieldsaye v Kyneton

Kangaroo Flat v Sandhurst

South Bendigo v 

M’borough  (Harry Trott)

Golden Square v 

Castlemaine

Gisborne v Eaglehawk

………………………………….

Round 13 – July 21 

Sandhurst v 

Strathfieldsaye

Maryborough v 

Kangaroo Flat

Castlemaine v Sth Bendigo

Eaglehawk v 

Golden Square

Kyneton v Gisborne

………………………………….

Round 14 – July 28 

Strathfieldsaye v 

Maryborough

Kangaroo Flat v 

Castlemaine

South Bendigo v 

Golden Square

Gisborne v Sandhurst

Eaglehawk v Kyneton

………………………………….

Round 15 – August 4

Castlemaine v 

Strathfieldsaye

Golden Square v 

Kangaroo Flat

Sth Bendigo v Eaglehawk 

(Harry Trott)

Maryborough v Gisborne

Sandhurst v Kyneton

………………………………….

Round 16 – August 11

Strathfieldsaye v 

Golden Square

Kangaroo Flat v 

South Bendigo

Gisborne v Castlemaine

Kyneton v Maryborough

Eaglehawk v Sandhurst

………………………………….

Round 17 – August 18

South Bendigo v 

Strathfieldsaye

Kangaroo Flat v Eaglehawk

Golden Square v Gisborne

Castlemaine v Kyneton

Maryborough v Sandhurst

………………………………….

Round 18 – August 25

Strathfieldsaye v 

Kangaroo Flat

Gisborne v South Bendigo

Kyneton v Golden Square

Sandhurst v Castlemaine

Eaglehawk v Maryborough