After taking the 17-and-under title last season, Echuca United’s young netball group is primed to fire across the grades. Photo: Jordan Townrow.
A new year means a new season of football and netball is fast approaching, and for sides in the Murray Football Netball League the mysteries of the upcoming season are a little clearer after the league’s fixture release.
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It's all set to start on March 28, when Echuca United will kick off the season in a special standalone opening round against Deniliquin, at the Eagles’ home of Echuca South Recreation Reserve.
United has new senior and A-grade coaches taking the helm this season, and the debuting bosses will have all eyes on them as they look to start their tenures on the front foot.
The blockbuster fixtures continue for United the following week, as Good Friday brings the first Three Jacks Trophy clash of the season, the Eagles challenging cross border rivals Moama at Moama Recreation Reserve in the Mowers’ season opener.
The traditional rivals will meet for the second time on the King’s Birthday weekend, the Eagles set to host the second Three Jacks clash on June 6.
Tongala will open its campaign on Good Friday in round one, hosting Nathalia.
With Barooga departing the league in the offseason, the now 11-team format has added a bye to the fixture list, signalled the end of split rounds, a league staple in recent years.
Moama will be searching for more success in 2026 after three premierships last season, including the reserves football flag. Photo: Megan Fisher.
Each side will sit out twice during the year, with Moama’s byes scheduled for rounds 3 (April 18) and 12 (June 20), while Tongala’s will be in rounds 6 (May 2) and 19 (August 15).
Echuca United’s standalone opener gives the Eagles the equivalent of three byes later in the year, with United having a week off in rounds 2 (April 11), 4 (April 25) and 11 (June 13).
The regular season will run for 20 rounds, concluding on August 22, with a four-week finals series to follow.
The first two rounds of finals will keep to the usual format with one game held on Saturday and the other on Sunday, before the remaining sides roll into preliminary finals on September 12, and the championship-deciding grand finals on September 19.
