Good Friday clashes begin flag campaigns

The Cats begin their premiership hunt with the special twilight fixture between Finley and local rivals Deni Rams in Deniliquin at Hardinge St Oval on Good Friday.

The Rams are coming off wins in their senior grade football and netball matches against Echuca United in their standalone season openers last Saturday.

The A-grade netball is set to start at the later time of 4.30pm, ahead of the senior football clash at 5pm.

It will also be the first look at the Cats’ senior football squad under new senior coach Jack Sexton.

Sexton is returning to the Finley Football and Netball Club for 2026 and 2027 after coming through Finley’s junior program before putting together an impressive resume playing for Yarrawonga in the Ovens and Murray League.

He also had stints with Richmond and Southport in the VFL, and a premiership with Southern Districts in the Northern Territory Football League earlier last year.

Finley will be looking to bounce back after a down season in 2025, coming off a grand final appearance the year prior.

Sexton takes on the role from Jordan Taylor, who coached the side for the last two seasons.

Following in the footsteps of his father Damian Sexton, Jack returns to Finley alongside brother Will and more than a dozen senior football recruits.

There will be three other Murray League Good Friday match ups.

Mulwala host Congupna, Tongala are home against Nathalia and Moama host Echuca United.

On Saturday reigning senior football premiers Cobram host Numurkah while the remaining team, Rumbalara, have the first club bye.

Meanwhile, there is one standalone Good Friday clash in the Picola League.

The season opener will see Tocumwal host the league’s most recent entrants Barooga Football Netball Club at Tocumwal Recreation Reserve.

It is their first appearance since returning from the Murray League at the end of last season.

The A-grade netball is expected to get under way at 1.30pm, ahead of the senior football at 2.05pm.

Barooga endured a tough 2025 both in the football and netball, with the senior football side going winless to finish bottom of the Murray league ladder, while the A-grade netball side managed two wins to also finish bottom.

Barooga’s 36-year affiliation with the Murray league came to an end after club members voted 121-9 in favour of pursuing a move to the PDFNL, having last competed in the league in 1988.

As the Hawks run out for the first time in the PDFNL in nearly 40 years on Friday in their traditional yellow playing strip, they will do so under new co-coach Craig Ednie, a three-time Yarrawonga premiership player in the O&M following a seven-game career at AFL level with Richmond.

For the Bloods, it will be a chance to demonstrate their strength at home against the league’s newest arrival, with both clubs having made their way from the Murray League to the Picola League recently.

This match acts as part of a split round one, so the rest of the Picola League clubs will begin their seasons next week on Saturday.

After launching the season last weekend, the Farrer League has an Easter Long Weekend bye.

This will be followed by a club bye for the senior Coleambally Football Netball Club teams.