GDFL FINALS VENUE TWIST

THE Geelong & District Football League could be forced to play its football and netball finals at separate venues this year amid doubts over the courts at St Albans.

While all footy finals will remain at The Gordon TAFE Oval, Newcomb’s Grinter Reserve is on standby to host the netball.

There are doubts about whether the court upgrades at St Albans will be finished in time for the first weekend of the GDFL finals on August 25.

The GDFL is in the hands of the weather gods, with the courts needing about a week of mild weather above 17C for a surface coating to set properly.

GDFL president Neville Whitley said the tight turnaround meant it was “more than likely” the finals would need to be played at Newcomb.

“It’s an inconvenience for our netball this year, but it’s something we’re not able to (do anything about),” he said.

He said the league had looked at other venues for the netball, including West Oval, Keith Barclay Oval (North Geelong), Myers Reserve (Bell Post Hill) and Thomson, but opted for Newcomb because it ensured a neutral venue and its proximity to St Albans.

“We were always pretty sound that we always wanted to play our football at St Albans, because people are drawn to that, and we wanted a venue close by to St Albans (for netball) if we had to move,” Whitley said.

“Newcomb are quite pleased to have us there and happy to work with us.”

There is a chance the later netball finals will return to St Albans if the courts become ready during the finals series.

Whitley said the GDFL would not charge spectators to watch any netball final at Newcomb.