The venues for the Mininera District Football League and Mininera District Netball Association finals have been determined, with Ararat’s Alexandra Oval selected to host the grand final.
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It will be the first time ever the ground has hosted a Mininera District grand final. It has been the setting of other finals occasions, including preliminary final contests, but never a Mininera District decider.
Mininera District president John Box said he expects Alexandra Oval to be a great venue for the final matches of the season.
“It is a great ground which can handle big numbers,” he said.
The grand final will be held at Alexandra Oval on Saturday, September 15, one week after it hosts Wimmera league semi-finals.
“Hopefully the Wimmera league looks after the ground for us,” Box said.
Great Western Football Netball Club has been delegated the privilege and responsibility of running the day, with all takings (except the league’s cut of gate money) to go to the Lions.
“It is the first time Great Western has done it on its own,” Box said.
“It is a big job but I am confident they will do well.”
Great Western secretary Danny Hoare said it will be a big boost for his club, especially considering the recent announcement of major upgrades to their netball facilities.
“It always helps towards our funding for the year,” he said.
“It is the first grand final we have hosted but we’re not hassled by it. We have a good volunteer group and they will all chip in to make the day great.”
The league has determined three of the four rounds of finals, with the semi-final week to be decided.
Qualifying finals will be held at Lake Bolac on Saturday, August 25, with elimination finals at Hawkesdale on Sunday, August 26.
Willaura will host preliminary finals on Saturday, September 8.
Read more: Alexandra Oval to host Wimmera league semis
With the top-five still up in the air, the semi-final venues are yet to be determined.
“The top five can still move around, that’s why we left the middle week of finals undecided. We will give it a few weeks for the top five to work itself out,” Box said.
The league has so far scheduled just two grounds that hosted finals in 2017.
Box said they tried to make it as fair as possible.
“We know not everyone will be happy but we try and give everyone a turn where possible,” he said.
“The ground allocation has a lot to do with the weather. A couple of the grounds are a bit damp at the moment and might not be up to standard for finals.”
Just three weeks remain in the Mininera District home-and-away season.
2018 MININERA DISTRICT FOOTBALL AND NETBALL FINALS VENUES
Saturday, August 25 – Qualifying finals at Lake Bolac
Sunday, August 26 – Elimination finals at Hawkesdale
Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2 – Semi finals TBA
Saturday, September 8 – Preliminary finals at Willaura
Saturday, September 15 – Grand finals at Alexandra Oval, Ararat (hosted by Great Western FNC)
