RILEY STUART, South Western Times
February 8, 2013, 2:19 pm
au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/regional/south...fixtures-revolution/
The South West Football League has performed major surgery on the 2013 home-and-away season, unveiling a new-look draw.
The ground-breaking revamp was ratified by the league’s match committee last Thursday and includes several significant breaks from tradition.
The biggest changes are:
• An Anzac Day blockbuster on Thursday, April 25, at Kelly Park between Carey Park and HBL.
• Two Saturday twilight fixtures with league starting at 4.30pm and eight Saturday afternoon games with league starting at 2.30pm.
• A split Round 4 with two games on Sunday, May 12, and three on Sunday, May 19, replacing the early season general bye.
• A reduction in Saturday night games from 22 last season to 13.
SWFL president Kevin Lynn said it was “no secret” the 2013 draw was experimental.
“We aimed to give the fixtures a different flavour from last year, ” he said.
“We’re enticing spectators and trying to find a new way to satisfy them.
“It’s a different set of fixtures, more so than what we’ve had for a long time.”
Grand final combatants Collie Eagles and Busselton will have to wait until Round 9 for a rematch at the Collie Recreation Ground.
The return clash will be at Sir Stewart Bovell Park in Round 18.
The season will start on April 20-21 and the grand final is scheduled for Sunday, October 6.
Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault coach Gary Dyer, whose father and grandfather are both war veterans, said the club had been keen to play on Anzac Day.
“It’s an opportunity for both clubs to get involved and make it a tradition, ” he said.
“Anzac Day is such a significant day in Australia. It’s an honour to be able to play and represent the Anzac spirit of courage, mateship and sacrifice.”
The Landmark Country Football Championships will be held from July 11-14 and SWFL fixtures will again break for a fortnight.
Due to redevelopments at Hands Oval, South Bunbury will not host a night game in 2013 and play once under lights, at Collie in Round 2.
Last year the Tigers played seven night games, hosting four.
Reigning premiers Busselton will play seven games at night.
Donnybrook, which led an off-season push for more Saturday afternoon games, will be allowed to test the timeslot in 2013.
The Dons host three Saturday afternoon games and play one day and two twilight Saturday matches on the road.
