Forget about Christmas - the most wonderful time of the year is right now. After months and months of hard work, heartbreak, jubilant triumph, blood, sweat and tears, it’s finally here – it’s time for the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League grand final. The biggest show in country sport - as it’s being touted by the league - raises the curtain on Sunday, 21 September at the picturesque Lavington Sports Ground, with eight scorching clashes set to be played. With nothing less than eternal glory on the line, and their entire seasons having led to this very weekend, it’s understandably a massive occasion for all involved. It’s an action-packed day across football and netball, and it all starts bright and early from 8.45am, with Wodonga Raiders taking on Myrtleford in a repeat of last year’s cup clash. For those locally-minded fans, the first team in action will be Wangaratta Magpies’ thirds, who take to the park at 9am against Lavington. The action keeps rolling on, with the Wangaratta Rovers 17 and under netballers taking on Raiders on the netball court from 10.15am for a chance to go one better than last year's runner-up. From then on, the netball court doesn’t feature much for Wangaratta sports enthusiasts, with the A grade match between Raiders and Yarrawonga from 12.15pm, and Yarrawonga taking on North Albury in B grade at 1.45pm. The intensity reaches a fever pitch at 3.15pm, with a C grade Wangaratta vs Rovers derby showdown a perfect finale to the day’s netball proceedings, with the Magpies looking to make it two in two years. The football action is sure to keep punters entertained – after the thirds match, it’s the Rovers’ turn to fight for glory, with the Hawks’ reserves taking on the Panthers from 11.30am. For local supporters, the big-ticket item is the senior football grand final, a derby grand final for the most coveted cup in the land for the first time in almost 50 years. Reigning premiers Wangaratta Rovers will go in as favourites against Wangaratta Magpies from 3.15pm, with the premiership cup – and bragging rights over their oldest rival – on the line. On the official side of things, former Brock Burrum Saint, Lavington Panther, and current Melbourne Demon Aidan Johnson has been announced as this year's Grand Final Day Ambassador, with Craig Willis as ground announcer to oversee all on-field cup and medal presentations once more. Gates open at Lavington Sports Ground from 7.30am - a reminder the event is strictly no pets, no BYO alcohol, no glass containers, and no vaping or smoking inside the venue.
