Peel Football and Netball League players can look forward to the prospect of more Saturday footy across the upcoming season, with the league continuing its push towards early-weekend games in the newly-released fixture.
The 2018 season will kick off with all four games in the first three rounds being played on a Saturday, with the first Sunday match not scheduled until round four.
In fact, the league will see two Wednesday (Anzac Day) games played before its first Sunday clash.
The PFNL has also decided to continue hosting its preliminary and grand finals on Saturday, following on from a trial run last year after the original Sunday schedule was changed to avoid clashing with Peel Thunder in the WAFL.
The change of grand final days was met with applause from spectators, with more than 80 per cent voting in favour of a Saturday premiership on a poll on the Mandurah Mail website.
Exactly half (36 of 72) of the PFNL’s regular season games will be played on Saturday this season.
League general manager Geoff Hiller said the continued push came on the back of a well of support for Saturday fixtures.
“I think the players enjoy being able to play games and then relax knowing they don’t have to work tomorrow,” he said.
“As for the two finals, being set for a Saturday means we can avoid a clash with the WAFL, and again players won’t have to go into work the next day.
“It’s a direction we want to be heading in.”
The Peel Football and Netball League season kicks off on April 7, with Halls Head, Baldivis and Centrals all hosting twilight games while Mandurah takes on Waroona in a night clash.
Round one fixture
Saturday, April 7
Halls Head v South Mandurah
Baldivis v Rockingham
Centrals v Pinjarra
Mandurah v Waroona