The Grand Final rematch between Footscray and Box Hill Hawks headlines the opening round of the 2015 Peter Jackson VFL season this weekend.
The VFL season kicks off on Friday night under lights at Avalon Airport Oval between Werribee and Geelong for the K-Rock Cup.
Footscray will then unveil its 2014 premiership flag on the Saturday at VU Whitten Oval under new coach Ash Hansen – live on Channel 7 from midday.
Hansen is one of five new coaches in the VFL in 2015, joining Justin Plapp (Casey Scorpions), Patrick Hill (Frankston), Paul Hood (Geelong) and Paul Hudson (Sandringham).
The VFL fixture features 15 clubs, with each side to play 18 games and have two byes across a 20 round season after the departure of Bendigo Gold from the competition.
Grand Final day will not be the only time VFL action heads to Etihad Stadium in 2015, with the Northern Blues to face North Ballarat (Round 5) and Frankston (Round 11) and Essendon to play Geelong (Round 8) in AFL curtain raiser games.
Night football will again be a feature of the VFL season with four games fixtured to be played under lights – two of these at Bendigo’s Queen Elizabeth Oval.
Frankston, Werribee and Port Melbourne will all host ANZAC Day matches in Round 2, while the Round 8 Coburg versus Northern Blues clash will be the first Queens Birthday VFL game since 2009.
There will be no break for state football in 2015, with the VFL having a bye in the interstate fixture.
AFL Victoria CEO Steven Reaper said the VFL competition enjoyed renewed interest in 2014, which the league will look to build on this year.
“We are looking forward to an exciting year of Peter Jackson VFL action in 2015, coming off the back of the biggest VFA/VFL Grand Final crowd since 1978 (23,800) and our new broadcast partnership with Channel 7.
“A number of clubs have again been willing to entertain alternative fixtures, and it is pleasing to see Northern Blues work with AFL aligned partner Carlton to reintroduce AFL curtain raiser games which will provide further exposure for the VFL competition.
“The continued fixturing of night games provides clubs with an opportunity to capture a different audience to the usual afternoon matches, and the return of a VFL presence on the Queen’s Birthday Monday is sure to attract a large crowd on the public holiday.”
CLICK HERE to see the full first round of action.
CLICK HERE to download the 2015 senior fixture.
Last Modified on 13/04/2015 07:40
