The Geelong Falcons fixtures for the upcoming Coates Talent League boys and girls seasons have finally been released.
Paul Corrigan’s boys will get their season underway on March 30 against Dandenong following a practice match against GWV Rebels on March 22.
Tash Heffernan’s girls side will open the season on April 5 against GWV Rebels, following a practice match on March 16.
Byes will come for the boys side in rounds 5, 9, 10 and 16.
The team will also meet Brisbane’s academy side in Round 4.
The girls side will have byes in rounds 7, 8, 11 and 15.
Falcons talent lead Jesse Drever said the club is excited to start the season.
“It’s really good to be back,” he said.
“You get those dates locked in, and you really feel like the games are just around the corner. It’s great to get to this part of the season.”
Highlights of the Falcons fixture are a return to Torquay’s McCartney Oval for the girls for a clash with the Calder Cannons on May 25, and a double header at West Oval featuring both boys and girls sides against Dandenong Stingrays on June 29.
It will be the first time Talent League games have been played at the venue, which underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade during Covid, since 2007.
“It’s really special to get back to the region,” Drever said.
“We’ve not had a lot of chances to play in the region outside of our GMHBA Stadium games, so getting to bring our games back locally has been great.
“We loved our time at Torquay last year, and we’re really looking forward to seeing both sides have a game at West “
The boys side will also make the trip to Queensland on April 27 to play the Brisbane Lions Academy.
“Footy is absolutely taking off up there,” Drever said.
“The numbers of people playing footy continue to grow and it’s showing in the quality of players coming through the Lions Academy.
“We’re also really lucky that it’s a bye weekend for the (Geelong) Grammar boys, so we will have close to a full strength program for that clash.”
While both squads have been finalised, Drever said there are still opportunities for players to appear in Falcons colours as the season progresses.
“One thing we say to players who miss out is ‘there are still opportunities… go away and work on your game and get better’,” he said.
“We have eyes all over local football and are looking for those players who make a real impression, who can push into the side.
“There’s been a number of examples. Guys like Tom Atkins at the Cats who didn’t have the experience with the Falcons they would hope and continued to work on their game, and turned it into the success they’ve achieved.”
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GEELONG FALCONS GIRLS FIXTURE
| ROUND | DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE | TIME |
| 1 | Saturday, April 5 | GWV Rebels | MARS Stadium | 11:00am |
| 2 | Saturday, April 12 | Dandenong Stingrays | Epsom Huntly Recreation Reserve | 3:20pm |
| 3 | Sunday, April 27 | Brisbane Lions Academy | Brighton Homes Arena | 10:00am |
| 4 | Sunday, May 4 | Bendigo Pioneers | QE Oval – Bendigo | 11:00am |
| 5 | Sunday, May 11 | Gippsland Power | Avalon Airport Oval | 1:30pm |
| 6 | Sunday, May 18 | Tasmania Devils | TBA | TBA |
| 7 | BYE | |||
| 8 | BYE | |||
| 9 | Saurday, June 7 | Calder Cannons | Deakin University | 11:00am |
| 10 | Sunday, June 15 | Eastern Ranges | Box Hill City Oval | 1:30pm |
| 11 | BYE | |||
| 12 | Sunday, June 29 | Dandenong Stingrays | West Oval – Geelong | 11:30am |
| 13 | Saturday, July 5 | Northern Knights | Preston City Oval | 11:00am |
| 14 | Saturday, July 12 | Oakleigh Chargers | TBA | TBA |
| 15 | BYE | |||
| 16 | Sunday, August 3 | Bendigo Pioneers | Avalon Airport Oval | 1:00pm |
| 17 | Sunday, August 17 | Oakleigh Chargers | Avalon Airport Oval | 1:00pm |
| 18 | Sunday, August 24 | Murray Bushrangers | Deakin Reserve – Shepparton | 12:00pm |
GEELONG FALCONS BOYS FIXTURE
| ROUND | DATE | OPPONENT | VENUE | TIME |
| 1 | Sunday, March 30 | Dandenong Stingrays | Trevor Barker Beach Oval | 12:30pm |
| 2 | Saturday, April 5 | GWV Rebels | MARS Stadium | 1:10pm |
| 3 | Sunday, April 13 | Murray Bushrangers | QE Oval – Bendigo | 12:30pm |
| 4 | Sunday, April 27 | Brisbane Lions Academy | Brighton Homes Arena | 12:10pm |
| 5 | BYE | |||
| 6 | Sunday, May 11 | Gippsland Power | Avalon Airport Oval | 11:00am |
| 7 | Saturday, May 17 | Tasmania Devils | TBA | TBA |
| 8 | Sunday, May 25 | Calder Cannons | McCartney Oval – Torquay | 12:00pm |
| 9 | BYE | |||
| 10 | BYE | |||
| 11 | Sunday, June 15 | Eastern Ranges | Box Hill City Oval | 11.35am |
| 12 | Sunday, June 22 | Bendigo Pioneers | QE Oval – Bendigo | 11.05am |
| 13 | Sunday, June 29 | Dandenong Stingrays | West Oval – Geelong | 1:40pm |
| 14 | Saturday, July 5 | Northern Knights | Preston City Oval | 1:10pm |
| 15 | Saturday, July 12 | Western Jets | TBA | TBA |
| 16 | BYE | |||
| 17 | Sunday, August 3 | Bendigo Pioneers | Avalon Airport Oval | 10:30am |
| 18 | Sunday, August 17 | Eastern Ranges | Avalon Airport Oval | 1:10pm |
| 19 | Sunday, August 24 | Murray Bushrangers | Deakin Reserve – Shepparton | 2:10pm |
