GOTAFE Goulburn Valley League football and netball is set to return on April 8, 2023, releasing its fixture at the end of December.
“After a successful season in 2022, we are eagerly looking forward to the return of football and netball in 2023. Round one kicks off over Easter weekend. Good Friday will see the traditional Shepparton United v. Shepparton clash start our season off under lights at Deakin Reserve with all other games to be played Easter Saturday,” said GVL board chair, Jacqui Hudgson.
Round three is the ANZAC Round, whilst May 20 will see Interleague action return as the GVL challenge arch-rivals in the Ovens & Murray League who will play host for 2023. The TAC Road Safety Round will take place in Round 14.
Having been a successful recipient of a funding grant of $147,000, this year will see a Say No to Violence Round (date to be determined) as well as an expansion of the League’s current Indigenous Round, which will now be played over two rounds with all football and netball teams outfitted in Indigenous-designed apparel.
Funding is from the Preventing the Cycle of Violence – Strengthening Families Fund and will offer an expansion of the Cultural Sporting Prevention implemented in the Kyabram District League (KDL). It will be led by GOTAFE’s Koorie unit coordinator, Tracy Hardie, and will run in partnership with the GVL and AFL Goulburn Murray.
This will be a whole of league initiative, with all 12 member clubs participating.
Ms Hudgson said, “We are proud to partner with project lead Tracy Hardie and our major naming rights partner GOTAFE to deliver this project to our clubs.
“The opportunity to create greater understanding and knowledge of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders history and culture whilst promoting the No Violence message is incredibly powerful. We look forward to ensuring the success of the project in 2023 and beyond.”
GVL operations manager Josephine Spencer said, “The Say No to Violence round will contribute to a near regional response from communities to raise awareness of violence. The expansion of the current Indigenous Round will also see a launch dinner and cultural understanding session for all clubs that will take place prior to the Indigenous round.”
Ms Spencer continued by saying, “This fixture sees 26 club requests met which will go a long way in assisting clubs financially with key games, premiership reunions and traditional clashes scheduled.”
