THE wait for players, coaches and fans of the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Junior Football League ends this weekend when the first round of matches for premiership points or grading are contested.
There will be 46 matches played across the under-12 Girls, under-12 Mixed, under-14 Mixed, under-15 Girls, and under-16 Boys competitions.
A big season for the BFJL kicks off with the Anzac eve matches for under-12 Girls.
White Hills will be on home turf in Scott Street to play South Bendigo Red from 5.15pm.
St Therese’s takes on St Francis Green from 5.15pm in Ewing Park off Bendigo’s Williamson Street.
It’s the Tigers against the Hawks as Rochester and Eaglehawk Hawks meet in the den at Rochester’s Windridge Oval from 5.45pm.
Hawks clash with Eagles as Huntly plays Eaglehawk Eagles from 6.15pm at Ewing Park.
Strathfieldsaye and South Bendigo White will play from 6.15pm at the White Hills ground in Scott Street.
Golden Square has the bye.
Grading matches for under-12 Mixed, under-14 Mixed, under-15 Girls, and under-16 Girls will be contested across the weekend.
Most under-12 matches will be on Anzac Day.
St Francis A will play St Therese’s A from 1pm at St Francis Oval in Junortoun.
Quarry Hill B has home-ground advantage at Ken Wust Reserve for a 1pm showdown with St Therese’s B.
Maiden Gully Eagles (2) take on White Hills Black from 1pm at Maiden Gully’s Marist College.
Mount Pleasant will be on its turf in Toolleen to play Kangaroo Flat from 1pm.
It’s the Magpies against the Eagles as Maryborough takes on Maiden Gully Eagles (3) from 1pm at Maryborough’s Princes Park.
South Bendigo Red will take on St Francis from 1pm at Harry Trott Oval in Kennington’s Neale Street.
Eaglehawk Hawks tackle White Hills Red in California Gully from 1pm.
Golden Square D takes on Marong Red from 1pm at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street.
North Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye D clash at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street from 1pm.
Castlemaine B has home ground advantage in Wesley Hill for a 1pm showdown with South Bendigo Bloods.
St Monica’s takes on St Kilian’s-St Peter’s from 2pm at Kangaroo Flat’s Crusoe College.
South Bendigo White faces Golden Square A from 2.20pm at Harry Trott Oval.
Neighbouring clubs Maiden Gully YCW and Marong meet at Maiden Gully’s Marist College as Eagles (1) tackle the Panthers from 2.20pm.
Eaglehawk Eagles will be aiming to soar against Strathfieldsaye Storm when their match in California Gully starts at 2.20pm.
Castlemaine Magpies will tackle Golden Square B from 2.20pm at Wesley Hill.
Last of the under-12 grading matches for this weekend will be on Sunday when Huntly plays Heathcote in the Hawks’ nest Huntly’s Strauch Reserve from 9am.
On Sunday there will be 12 grading matches for the under-14 category.
Venues to be used are Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street; Dower Park in Kangaroo Flat; Enterprise Oval in Strathfieldsaye; Gourmet Pantry Oval in Golden Square’s Wade Street; Harry Trott Oval in Kennington; Maryborough’s Princes Park; Triple M Park in Strathfieldsaye’s Tannery Lane; Huntly’s Strauch Reserve; and White Hills.
Single team entries in the under-14 division are Castlemaine, Huntly, Marong, Maryborough, North Bendigo, and Rochester.
Clubs fielding two under-14 teams are Eaglehawk, Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat, Sandhurst, Strathfieldsaye, and White Hills.
Maiden Gully YCW Eagles and South Bendigo have three under-14 line-ups.
Grading for under-15 Girls will be on Sunday.
The competition has drawn 11 teams.
Kangaroo Flat will take on Mount Pleasant on the Kangaroos’ ground at Dower Park from 9am.
North meets South as North Bendigo faces South Bendigo from 9am at Bendigo Club Oval in North Bendigo’s Atkins Street.
It’s a 9am start for White Hills at home against Sandhurst White.
Strathfieldsaye will play Golden Square from 10.20am at Strathfieldsaye’s Enterprise Oval.
Marong Panthers and Rochester Tigers meet in the Panthers’ den at Malone Park from 11am.
Sandhurst Navy has the bye.
There will be eight matches across the under-16 Boys division on Sunday.
Huntly hosts Marong from 9am at Strauch Reserve.
North Bendigo and Kangaroo Flat clash at Bendigo Club Oval in Atkins Street from 12.05pm.
White Hills Red takes on Maiden Gully YCW Eagles from 12.05pm in the Demons’ den in Scott Street.
South Bendigo Red and Rochester clash at Harry Trott Oval from 12.30pm.
Strathfieldsaye reserves will play Eaglehawk reserves from 12.45pm in Storm territory at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
Golden Square tackles South Bendigo White at Gourmet Pantry Oval in Wade Street from 1pm.
White Hills Black has home-ground advantage in Scott Street for a 2pm showdown with Castlemaine.
Strathfieldsaye seniors and Sandhurst seniors will play from 2.30pm at Triple M Park.
It’s a bye for the Golden Square reserves (1) line-up.