Warrnambool and District Football Netball League reveals 2022 fixture

The 10-club competition unveiled its 2022 draw on Tuesday, eager for an uninterrupted campaign after two coronavirus-impacted seasons.

The season will kick off on Saturday, April 2.

There will be two rounds before the Easter bye. Only Merrivale and Old Collegians will play on the long weekend, with their traditional Good Friday game on April 15.

A mid-season bye is slated for July 2. All matches will be played in the traditional Saturday timeslot.

Warrnambool and District league president Kylie Murphy said preparation for next season was under way.

"We've tried to go as late as we can due to cricket with finals and we've tried to keep it even so teams can play their nine home games over 18 rounds," she said.

"The request was for Old Collegians and Merrivale to play the Easter weekend and other clubs have it off which we've slotted in quite well and clubs requested later on in the year if they could have that mid-season bye in July.

"I think it's all slotted in quite well and we're finishing on September 10 which is when we normally finish anyway."

The Warrnambool and District league did not play in 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and was limited to 13 of a possible 18 rounds this year.

A regional Victorian lockdown was announced on the eve of its finals campaign, which was eventually cancelled.

"Everyone is looking for a smoother season," Murphy said. "Let's cross our fingers. We're excited about the draw and getting it out there so clubs can start working out their plans of attack.

"We wanted to get it out as soon as we could. Last year we didn't get it out until January but this year we thought we had to be on the front foot.

"Not having a clash of clubs (at Reid Oval) with the Hampden league has probably made it easier."

Round one, April 2

Nirranda v Dennington

Panmure v Kolora-Noorat

Old Collegians v Allansford

Timboon Demons v Merrivale

South Rovers v Russells Creek

Round two, April 9

Kolora-Noorat v Nirranda

Allansford v Panmure

Russells Creek v Timboon Demons

Dennington v South Rovers

Good Friday, April 15

Merrivale v Old Collegians

April 16, Easter bye

Round three, April 23

Nirranda v Allansford

Panmure v Merrivale

Old Collegians v Russells Creek

Timboon Demons v South Rovers

Kolora-Noorat v Dennington

Round four, April 30

Merrivale v Nirranda

Russells Creek v Panmure

South Rovers v Old Collegians

Dennington v Timboon Demons

Allansford v Kolora-Noorat

Round five, May 7

Nirranda v Russells Creek

Panmure v South Rovers

Old Collegians v Timboon Demons

Kolora-Noorat v Merrivale

Allansford v Dennington

Round six, May 14

South Rovers v Nirranda

Timboon Demons v Panmure

Dennington v Old Collegians

Russells Creek v Kolora-Noorat

Merrivale v Allansford

Round seven, May 21

Nirranda v Timboon Demons

Panmure v Old Collegians

Kolora-Noorat v South Rovers

Allansford v Russells Creek

Merrivale v Dennington

Round eight, May 28

Old Collegians v Nirranda

Dennington v Panmure

Timboon Demons v Kolora-Noorat

South Rovers v Allansford

Russells Creek v Merrivale

Round nine, June 4

Nirranda v Panmure

Kolora-Noorat v Old Collegians

Allansford v Timboon Demons

Merrivale v South Rovers

Russells Creek v Dennington

Round 10, June 11

Dennington v Nirranda

Kolora-Noorat v Panmure

Allansford v Old Collegians

Merrivale v Timboon Demons

Russells Creek v South Rovers

Round 11, June 18

Nirranda v Kolora-Noorat

Panmure v Allansford

Old Collegians v Merrivale

Timboon Demons v Russells Creek

South Rovers v Dennington

Round 12, June 25

Allansford v Nirranda

Merrivale v Panmure

Russells Creek v Old Collegians

South Rovers v Timboon Demons

Dennington v Kolora-Noorat

July 2 - mid-season bye

Round 13, July 9

Nirranda v Merrivale

Panmure v Russells Creek

Old Collegians v South Rovers

Timboon Demons v Dennington

Kolora-Noorat v Allansford

Round 14, July 16

Russells Creek v Nirranda

South Rovers v Panmure

Timboon Demons v Old Collegians

Merrivale v Kolora-Noorat

Dennington v Allansford

Round 15, July 23

Nirranda v South Rovers

Panmure v Timboon Demons

Old Collegians v Dennington

Kolora-Noorat v Russells Creek

Allansford v Merrivale

Round 16, July 30

Timboon Demons v Nirranda

Old Collegians v Panmure

South Rovers v Kolora-Noorat

Russells Creek v Allansford

Dennington v Merrivale

Round 17, August 6

Nirranda v Old Collegians

Panmure v Dennington

Kolora-Noorat v Timboon Demons

Allansford v South Rovers

Merrivale v Russells Creek

Round 18, August 13

Panmure v Nirranda

Old Collegians v Kolora-Noorat

Timboon Demons v Allansford

South Rovers v Merrivale

Dennington v Russells Creek

Qualifying final: August 20

Elimination final: August 21

Second semi-final: August 28

First semi-final: August 29

Preliminary final: September 3

Grand final: September 10