The GFL fixture has been released for 2017.
Here’s who your team plays once and what impact the draw will have.
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BELL PARK
Play once: Grovedale (h), Lara (a), St Mary’s (h), North Shore (a)
Verdict: Beaten elimination finalists in 2016, the 2017 fixture throws up a mixed bag for the Dragons. They avoid return meetings with runner-up St Mary’s and beaten preliminary finalist Grovedale, but also play bottom-two Lara and North Shore. Open with St Joseph’s and reigning premier Leopold.
COLAC
Play once: North Shore (a), Leopold (h), St Albans (h), St Joseph’s (a)
Verdict: Kane Leersen’s first season in charge will see Colac play three of 2016’s finalists twice, which includes runners-up St Mary’s, who will be the Tigers’ first opponents at the redeveloped Central Reserve in Round 3, and preliminary finalist Grovedale.
GEELONG WEST GIANTS
Play once: Newtown & Chilwell (a), South Barwon (h), St Mary’s (a), Grovedale (h)
Verdict: A tough first season for the re-branded West, who run into three finalists twice. Meet North Shore to begin life as the Giants, but then cop a horror four-week run from Round 2, with meetings against Newtown & Chilwell, St Joseph’s, Leopold and Bell Park.
GROVEDALE
Play once: Bell Park (a), North Shore (h), South Barwon (h), Geelong West Giants (a)
Verdict: Meet three of of their fellow finalists twice, including premier Leopold in the first half of the season. Just one meeting with arch-rival South Barwon. Will be the last club to play the re-branded Geelong West Giants when they meet at West Oval in Round 15.
LARA
Play once: South Barwon (a), Bell Park (h), Leopold (a), St Mary’s (h)
Verdict: One-off meetings with grand finalists Leopold and St Mary’s, as well as fifth-placed Bell Park. Get two cracks at North Shore and Geelong West Giants. New coach, Seagull great Simon Riddoch, returns to Windsor Park in Round 3.
LEOPOLD
Play once: Lara (h), St Albans (h), Colac (a), South Barwon (a)
Verdict: Leopold’s reward for winning its maiden GFL premiership is the equal-toughest fixture for 2017. The Lions will play every other finalist twice, with April including a re-match with St Mary’s and trips to Bell Park and Grovedale. They also face a testing four weeks from Round 6 that features Newtown & Chilwell, the Saints, St Joseph’s and the Tigers.
NEWTOWN & CHILWELL
Play once: Geelong West Giants (h), St Mary’s (a), St Joseph’s (h), St Albans (a)
Verdict: Despite finishing sixth in 2016, the Eagles will face three finalists – Leopold, Grovedale and Bell Park – twice. Only one meeting with arch-rivals with St Joseph’s and St Mary’s. Return meetings with North Shore and Lara.
NORTH SHORE
Play once: Colac (h), Grovedale (a), St Joseph’s (a), Bell Park (h)
Verdict: Only play two of this year’s finalists twice, but it’s grand finalists Leopold and St Mary’s, while the Seagulls one-off contests against Grovedale and St Joseph’s are both away from Windsor Park. Have the honour of being the re-branded Geelong West Giants’ first opponents.
SOUTH BARWON
Play once: Lara (h), Geelong West Giants (a), Grovedale (a), Leopold (h)
Verdict: Will need to overcome a tough draw if it is to end the second-longest finals drought in the club’s history since being formed in 1990. Have return meetings with three of the top five, as well as fellow middle-tier teams Colac, Newtown & Chilwell and St Albans.
ST ALBANS
Play once: St Joseph’s (h), Colac (a), Leopold (a), Newtown & Chilwell (h)
Verdict: Have return meetings against three of the top five from 2016, but avoid premier Leopold until Round 12. Get two cracks at Geelong West Giants, Lara and North Shore, who all finished below the Supersaints in 2016.
ST JOSEPH’S
Play once: St Albans (a), Colac (h), Newtown & Chilwell (a), North Shore (h)
Verdict: Like reigning premier Leopold, St Joseph’s is one of only two clubs to play all four other finalists twice. However, they do avoid a trip to Colac for the first time since the Tigers entered the competition in 2001. Just one home-and-away meeting with near-neighbour Newtown & Chilwell for the third time in four years.
ST MARY’S
Play once: Newtown & Chilwell (h), Geelong West Giants (h), Lara (a), Bell Park (a)
Verdict: The 2016 runners-up have return meetings with three of this year’s top five, including two meetings with grand final nemesis Leopold in the opening seven rounds. Two clashes with North Shore, but just one against Lara and Geelong West Giants.
Last Modified on 24/03/2017 05:00