It's getting close now - BFNL launches 2021 return season | PHOTOS

STRATHFIELDSAYE captain Lachlan Sharp says the build-up for this week's long-awaited return to the field in the Bendigo Football-Netball League feels similar to that of a final.

After a year without community football-netball in 2020, a bumper crowd is expected at Tannery Lane on Friday for the BFNL's season-opener between Strathfieldsaye and Sandhurst.

It will be the competition's first game since the Storm beat Eaglehawk in the 2019 grand final, with the unfurling of Strathfieldsaye's premiership flag to also add to the occasion.

"It has been a long time coming in being able to get back into it. It feels like we've had two pre-seasons to get to this game, so it's really exciting," star goalkicker Sharp said on Tuesday.

"We've got a good young list and a lot of quality kids, so I'm looking forward to seeing them develop throughout the year and work their way into senior footy.

"I think Friday is going to be really big for the community, not just us as players.

"Everyone goes through injuries and misses footy at times, but it's important for people to have some normality and this is going to be part of being able to get back to the way things were.

"I think it's great for not just the Strathfieldsaye community, but the whole of Bendigo to have the footy and netball back on Friday.

"Hopefully, it's a big crowd that comes out for a look and it does feel a bit like playing my first game of footy again given it has been so long."

Sharp - a four-time premiership player with the Storm, Michelsen medallist and dual Ron Best medallist - says his biggest take out of last year's cancellation of the season due to COVID is to never take football for granted and cherish every game.

"I suppose you just don't know what's going to happen in the future and whether it's going to be taken off us again at some stage," said Sharp, who is also coaching the Storm's reserves.

"We said to the boys the other week that we've just got to enjoy it while it's here and keep running out and playing like it's our last game of footy and not take it for granted.

"For me, football is a great outlet and it was tough having that taken away last year, so it's great to be able to have it back again from this week.

"With the excitement around this week, it does feel a bit like a final."

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