The practice match schedule is currently being finalised, but the first up match is set to be against long time rival Kinglake on Sunday 6 March 2011 up at Kinglake. An Intraclub game is expected at Panton Hill on the evening of Friday 11 March and then aginst Diamond Creek at Panton Hill on Saturday 19 March. A practice game for either Saturday 26 March or Saturday 2 April is yet to be determined. The first game of the season is Saturday 9 April at Watsonia.
Kinglake is one of Panton Hills biggest rivals with many clashes over the years going down to the wire and the two clubs competing in various leagues together including the former Panton Hill Football League, Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League and Diamond Valley Football League before Kinglake returned to the YVMDFL three years ago. The clubs have traditionally played for the "King of the Mountain" trophy which over the last 30 years has been evenly split, but with Panton Hill holding the the trophy for most of the last decade. The sides met in a practice match in 2009 to raise money for the Kinglake club following the devstating Black Saturday bushfires with Kinglake edging out The Hills by a point in a close contest, but the two sides didn't have the opportunity to face of last pre-season. With former Panton Hill coach Ian carey now coaching the Lakers the scene is set for a huge first up contest.
Last Modified on 21/06/2011 17:12