The Riverine Herald - Football and Netball
Football & Netball Action is back for 2023
GOTAFE Goulburn Valley League football and netball is set to make it’s 2023 return on
8 April 2023.
After a successful season in 2022, we are eagerly looking forward to the return of Football and Netball in 2023. Round 1 kicks off over Easter weekend. Good Friday will see the Benalla Saints host Seymour FNC which will then be followed by the traditional Shepparton United FNC v Shepparton FNC clash under lights at Deakin Reserve. All other games to be played Easter Saturday. Round 3 will be the ANZAC Round, whilst the 20 May will see Interleague action return as the GVL takes on archrivals in the Ovens & Murray League who will play host for 2023. The TAC Road Safety Round will take place in Round 14.
On the back of the League being a successful recipient of a funding grant of $147,000, 2023 will see a Say No To Violence Round (date to be determined) as well as an expansion of the League’s current Indigenous Round, which will now be played over two rounds with all football and netball teams to be outfitted in Indigenous designed apparel.
The funding is from the Preventing the Cycle of Violence - Strengthening Families Fund and will offer an expansion of the Cultural Sporting Prevention implemented in the KDL. It will be led by
GOTAFE’s Koorie Unit Coordinator Tracy Hardie and will run in partnership with the GVL and AFL Goulburn Murray.
This will be a whole of league initiative, with all 12 member clubs participating. We are proud to partner with project lead Tracy Hardie and our Major Naming Rights Partner GOTAFE to deliver this project to our clubs. The opportunity to create greater understanding and knowledge of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders history and culture whilst promoting the No Violence message is incredibly powerful. We look forward to ensuring the success of the project in 2023 and beyond.
The Say No to Violence round will contribute to a near regional response from communities to raise awareness of violence. The expansion of the current Indigenous Round will also see a launch dinner and cultural understanding session for all clubs that will take place prior to the Indigenous round.
The 2023 fixture sees 26 club requests met which will go a long way in assisting clubs financially with key games, premiership reunions and traditional clashes scheduled.
Bring on Season 2023!