Bendigo Advertiser |The tradition of the reigning premiers starting a new season at home in round one is being discarded by some football leagues says NATHAN DOLE. STARTING a new season before home fans was once the domain of the reigning premiers in footy leagues right across the country.
Sadly it has not been the case for the top dogs in some central Victorian competitions in recent years.
Yet again the Bendigo Football Netball League has decided the premiers of the previous year will play away in round one.
What was once firmly-entrenched on a league fixture has made way for a "new idea" in some quarters.
Some would argue this tradtion is not that significant, but this long-time football fan and writer disagrees.
Each September the Bendigo Football Netball League's senior premiership teams not only earns the right to raise the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup and the kudos it carries, but also to kick off the next season on their turf.
In 2014, Golden Square missed out on a lucrative gate taking when thousands of fans crammed into Strathfieldsaye's Flight Centre Park to watch the Bulldogs take on the new-look Storm.
The sole match on the Sunday was a massive money-spinner for Storm, not Square.
It was more than just the rematch of the previous year's grand finalists.
A new-look Storm included highly-prized recruits Stephen Milne and Steven Baker who had played many matches together for St Kilda.
Game one of what became a premiership year for Storm, pictured after the grand final win against Sandhurst, began in spectacular style.
Not only did Storm pocket a lot of dough, it also claimed the four premiership points in a 33-point victory.
Looking ahead to 2015 and it will be Strathfieldsaye playing away from home when its quest for back-to-back premierships kicks off.
Storm will return to the Queen Elizabeth Oval, scene of last September's grand final victory to take on Sandhurst in the Friday night clash.
Why this match is on Sandhurst's home ground and not Storm's is puzzling.
Kudos to the BFNL as the rest of round one shapes up as being a beauty, especially the clashes between Golden Square and Kangaroo Flat, Maryborough at home to Castlemaine, Gisborne against Kyneton, and Eaglehawk at home to South Bendigo.
A league which has it correct in terms of its round one fixture is the Heathcote District Football Netball League.
The rematch of last season's grand finalists, Lockington-Bamawm United and North Bendigo is on the Cats' turf at Lockington.
The powerhouse of the HDFL, Lockington-Bamawm United will chase a fifth consecutive senior premiership in 2015.
Although LBU starts next season at home, Loddon Valley's reigning champions, Bridgewater play on YCW's turf at Backhaus Oval when the season begins on the Easter weekend.
