STRATHFIELDSAYE is preparing for a crowd as large as 3000 when it hosts the long-awaited return of the Bendigo Football-Netball League on Friday.
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Following last year's cancelled 2020 season, the Storm and Sandhurst are re-launching the BFNL with a stand-alone Good Friday clash at Tannery Lane.
Given it's the return of community football-netball for starved fans, coupled with a forecast temperature of 29 degrees and two regular finalists pitted against each other, the scene is set for a bumper crowd for the first BFNL game in 559 days.
"This is exactly the game you want to play... Strathfieldsaye is the reigning premier, has been the benchmark for the past few years and they are on their home ground on what's looking like a beautiful day for footy," Sandhurst coach Ashley Connick said on Wednesday.
"Having not played at all last year and having been so long, for us it's all upside.
"We're just after a great performance. If it's a win then that will be great and that's what we're going there for, but it's just great to be back into it."
Adding to the occasion for Strathfieldsaye will be the unfurling of three premiership flags from 2019 - senior and reserves football and B Reserve netball.
Fittingly, both the BFNL's reigning premiers in the two marquee competitions will be part of Friday's reboot of the league.
As well as the Storm in the seniors, Sandhurst is the reigning A Grade netball premier that this year has the chance to become the first club to win four flags on the trot.
Read more: BFNL club-by-club season preview
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