The association released fixtures for all seven weekend and six midweek divisions on Tuesday afternoon, setting the table for another summer-long bowls feast — though all levels will now play 21 ends instead of the previous 25.
The decision has been made to run the weekend competitions up to December 14 with a five-week break before leagues resume on January 18.
There’s plenty to sink one’s teeth into well before getting to that point, though, and the biggest early headline comes out of Tallygaroopna in its Allan Matheson Shield defence.
The Jets get their long-awaited homecoming to the greens of Tallygaroopna Bowls Club, which would have hosted its last competitive fixtures almost two years earlier by round one, on opening day.
Not just in any clash either — the Jets will welcome fellow powerhouse Shepparton Golf back to town for a grand final rematch on Saturday, October 19.
The Golfers may expect to miss outgoing coach Brad Orr for large parts of the year, though he could pop up now and then as part of a change to permit and eligibility rules, akin to a Goulburn Valley League footballer with a VFL contract.
Former Kyabram boss Brent Reiner is in the same position with Golf for the season ahead, so this could be an extremely high-powered way to kick the campaign off.
The rest of division one’s opening weekend has Euroa tangle with 2023-24 preliminary finalist Shepparton Park, Tatura-Hill Top meeting East Shepparton and Mooroopna taking on Kyabram.
The regular season will once again follow a patterned scheduling balance, with all fixtures held between rounds one and seven played again with hosts reversed between rounds eight and 14.
By that token, all eight clubs will be hoping both love and luck are in the air across Valentine’s Day weekend when the last set of games before finals take place on February 15.
The competition will again run a three-week series across all divisions, with weekend semis set for Saturday, February 22 before a preliminary final on Saturday, March 1 and the decider seven days later.
Likewise in the midweek pennant, Shepparton Golf kicks off its defence of the Edna Harling Shield in a local derby against the Parkers on Tuesday, October 15.
The midweek Golfers will fire up for grand final rematches with Seymour in rounds four and 11, set for November 12 and January 21 respectively, with the 2024-25 champion due to be crowned on March 4.
Goulburn Murray Bowls Region secretary Stephen McGregor outlined some of the other key dates on the calendar and addressed the new shortened format.
“We’ll have the Christmas break, but can’t come back on January 11 due to the Region Sides Championships,” McGregor said.
“We’ll have the Rowlands-Sutcliffe trophy in November, where the Murray plays the Goulburn Valley, and we have our challenge matches against the Ovens and Murray in December.
“We’ll use the challenge matches to select our side of 16 for the region titles in January.
“The change to 21 ends allows the players to finish a bit earlier so that they’re not out in the heat as long.
“Some divisions played 21 ends as a trial last season, so it’ll be interesting to see what the reactions are.”
McGregor also paid tribute to the work done that has ensured Tallygaroopna has its genuine home fixtures back.
“It’s going to be brilliant,” McGregor said.
“You’ve got to be very happy with how the club has operated without having their own greens.
“It can only benefit the club and the region in that they’ve got it up and going.
“All clubs have issues with their greens from time to time, but Tally has taken it in stride and kept moving forward.
“They’ve normally got very good greens, so clubs look forward to going out there.”
