Albion’s James Philpot and Spotswood’s Will Overton-Skinner contest the ball at Crofts Reserve on Saturday. The game was originally scheduled to be played on Avalon Airport Oval. 69926 Picture: KRISTIAN SCOTT
BY MICHAEL ESPOSITO
THE Western Region Football League will continue to use Werribee’s Avalon Airport Oval as a finals venue next year, despite having to transfer Saturday’s second semi-final to Crofts Reserve due to a clash with the VFL’s finals fixture.
Werribee’s VFL side earned a home final on Saturday after finishing the home-and-away season in fifth spot, and although the WRFL had negotiated use of Avalon Airport Oval during its finals series, decided to concede the oval to Werribee.
The WRFL Division One preliminary grand final and grand final will be played at Avalon Airport Oval.
WRFL chief executive officer Bob Tregear said next year’s finals series should not be interrupted with Williamstown’s Burbank Oval back online after major redevelopments this year. The league will look to use both Avalon Airport Oval and Burbank Oval for its finals fixtures.
In the meantime, the WRFL wanted to maintain its strong relationship with Werribee Football Club.
“We thought it was probably prudent in the circumstances to not go to war with them over it,” Tregear said.
“They wanted the Sunday to play the game, but we can’t do anything Sunday, we’ve got no flexibility to move there.
“I’m keen to keep the good relationship going. It was quite an exercise to get a four-week agreement with the league, the council, the Werribee Football Club and the VFL. To keep all those ducks lined up we thought it was better to keep the goodwill going.
“(Werribee) haven’t played in finals for several years, so it probably wasn’t top of mind when we made the agreement this time last year.”
