SA FOOTY PHILOSPHY
Article One - Trial Game Schedule, By Phil Herden
Welcome to the first SA FOOTY PHILOSOPHY article, hopefully the start of a regular series of pieces on this web site covering our favourite state sporting league ,the SANFL.
It’s now less than ten weeks to the first round of the 2008 SANFL season.
However the action actually starts in just six weeks with the first of a four week trial game period.
Just yesterday the NAFC officially confirmed they are off to Canberra on March 1 to take on an Eastlake / Queanbeyan combination.
North have no game scheduled in week one, the Roosters are one of three clubs to have a bye, the others being Sturt in Rd 2 and Eagles over Easter.
Getting a full trial game schedule can be tricky as the league sets the opponents and it is up to the clubs to finalise a venue, date & time over that weekend.
Some SANFL clubs have finalised arrangements and placed details on their web sites whilst others are treating details like a state secret in fear of someone actually turning up to watch.
After looking at all clubs web sites, followed up by some phone calls attached is a schedule, based on the confirmation from at least one club if not both.
Please note it is certainly subject to change.
INTERSTATE TRIAL
Sat March 1 – North v Eastlake/Queanbeyan in Queanbeyan, NSW
WEEK ONE
Fri March 7 (N) – Norwood v South @ Coopers Stadium
Saturday March 8 - West v Eagles @ Broadspectrum
Saturday March 8 – Central v Sturt @ Hamra Homes
Sunday March 9 - Port v Glenelg @ Max Basheer Reserve
North bye
WEEK TWO
Saturday March 15 - South v Port @ Hickinbotham
Saturday March 15 - North v Norwood @ Venue TBA
Saturday March 15 - Central v Eagles @ Thebarton
Sunday March 16 - Glenelg v West @ Broadspectrum
Sturt bye
WEEK THREE
Wednesday March 19 (N) – Sturt v Glenelg @ Marion Football Club
Thursday March 20 (N) – Norwood v Port @ Coopers Stadium
Thursday March 20 (N) – Central v North @ Hamra Homes
Saturday March 22 - West v South @ Broadspectrum
Eagles bye
A few other notes on the schedule.
- No games scheduled for country locations after previous years had seen games planned at Kersbrook & Murray Bridge only to be relocated back to the city due to visiting club objections to the playing surface.
- Port & Glenelg to play at Max Basheer Reserve, West Lakes in Week One with both Alberton & Challenge Recruitment Oval not available. Base on some experiences at under age games last year, remember to bring your own toilet for this one.
- South playing Friday Night March 7th at Norwood to free up Hickinbotham Oval for its AFL NAB Challenge Match on Saturday March 8th when fans will see the completed $3.5m redevelopment for the first time.
- Venue for the North v Norwood game in Week 2 still to be determined. It is a North home game so it is their call.
-The Easter weekend round will played mainly at night prior to the long weekend. Sturt and Glenelg will head to the Marion Football Club (Sturt Road, Marion), to play on a Wednesday Night under lights. Games will then be played at Coopers Stadium (Norwood v Port) & Hamra Homes (Central v North) on Thursday Night. Only West & South will be playing during the Easter weekend with a Saturday Afternoon game scheduled at Broadspectrum Oval.
Phil Herden
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