For the first time in the competition’s 53-year history, the Bellarine Football Netball League grand final will be played at a neutral venue.
Leopold Memorial Park has given the nod to host the most significant day on the Bellarine sporting calendar after being awarded the tender by AFL Barwon.
The preliminary final will also be played at the venue, which successfully hosted last year’s GFNL preliminary and grand finals.
It replaces Newcomb’s Grinter Reserve, which has hosted the past two BFNL preliminary and grand finals.
K rock Football revealed Leopold’s interest in hosting the Bellarine decider on April 13.
“Yeah, absolutely. We’re really keen to see if we can put in an expression of interest,” Lions president Aaron Verlin said at the time.
“Why wouldn’t we want to showcase this great facility?”
It will be the ninth time Leopold Memorial Park has hosted the Bellarine decider, the most recent being in 1988 when the Larry Donohue-coached Newcomb overcame Drysdale to win its fourth premiership.
The tradition of Portarlington’s Ron Evans Oval hosting the first two weeks of the BFNL finals will continue.
Meanwhile, as previously reported by K rock Football, West Oval will host the opening three weeks of the GFNL finals before the Grand Final returns to GMHBA Stadium for the first time since 2019 on Friday, September 27.
Grinter Reserve’s consolation prize is the All-Abilities decider on Saturday, August 18.
Venues for junior football and female football – senior and junior – finals will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
X: @krockfootball
2024 Bellarine Football Netball League Finals Series
Week 1 – Ron Evans Oval Portarlington Recreation Reserve
Saturday, August 17- Qualifying Final
Sunday, August 18 – Elimination Final
Week 2 – Portarlington Recreation Reserve
Saturday, August 24 – Second Semi-Final
Sunday, August 25 – First Semi-Final
Week 3 – Leopold Memorial Park
Saturday, August 31 – Preliminary Final
Week 4 – Leopold Memorial Park
Saturday, September 7 – Grand Final
2024 Geelong Football Netball League Finals Series
Week 1 – West Oval
Saturday, September 7 – Qualifying Final
Sunday, September 8 – Elimination Final
Week 2 – West Oval
Saturday, September 14 – Second Semi-Final
Sunday, September 15 – First Semi-Final
Week 3 – West Oval
Saturday, September 21 – Preliminary Final
Week 4 – GHMBA Stadium
Friday, September 27 – Grand Final
