FINAL plans are being put together by football clubs around the area as the countdown begins to the Northern Football Netball League season start.
Just four days remain until the season starts with two Good Friday blockbusters, with division 1 seeing Eltham and Greensborough play one another, while Reservoir and Lalor meet in a division 3 standalone clash.
However, many Northern Football Netball League teams played its last practice matches before the season proper starts for all other clubs on April 11 and 12.
Whittlesea had three big practice matches over the last three weeks, taking on Taylors Lakes, Mitcham and Old Carey, with a much-changed team from last season including the recruitment of reigning division 3 best and fairest Bailey Robinson from Kinglake.
The Eagles narrowly went down to Old Carey by 20 points, while the women’s team took care of Hillside by five goals as preparations continued for the Eagles to play South Morang and Thomastown respectively in round one.
Meantime, Laurimar have had a productive practice match period, defeating Doncaster in an under 23 practice match, before shocking division 2 team Lower Plenty to win by five points. On the weekend, the Power played its final game before their season starts against Watsonia in round one, easily accounting for Kew Bears at RMIT.
South Morang was determined to show it was ready to reclaim its division 1 status after getting relegated last season, holding off a third-quarter charge from West Preston-Lakeside and winning by 22 points at Mill Park Lakes Reserve.
The Lions had previously played Surrey Park the week before.
Mernda’s final matches before the season start saw it play Panton Hill, with the Demons sweeping aside the Redbacks to emerge as impressive winners.
It was the second time in two weeks that the Demons had accounted for an opponent in a high division, with the Demons coming from behind to defeat EDFL division 1 team St Albans the week before.
The Demons travel to Epping in round one to play in the Patrick Chow Cup.