SEVERAL Group Nine clubs are expected to oppose the introduction of a new premiership draw for the 2017 season.
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Already Tumut has raised concerns about the draft draw and is likely to lead the chorus to have it vetoed at the Group Nine annual general meeting in October.
Group Nine operations manager Peter Ryan is the architect of the fresh premiership schedule and wants to see it implemented.
He is confident the draw will receive the backing of the majority of Group Nine clubs.
“It (draw) should be ratified at the AGM,” Ryan said.
“The clubs will vote on it and they will decide the verdict.”
The current Group Nine draw has been in place for two years and has also had its opponents.
Amid talk of shortening the season to 14 rounds or even extending it to 20, the new draw sticks to the 18-round format.
Under the draft proposal, the 2017 season would start on the weekend of April 1-2.
And in a bid to give the season a booming opening, the first round would involve games featuring intense rivals such as Tumbarumba v Tumut, Junee v Cootamundra and Southcity v Kangaroos.
Ryan believes the “dream draw” would set up the Group Nine premiership for the rest of the year.
“I’m positive it would generate a lot of interest,” he said.
“Tumut had a crack at their own draw and will bring it to the AGM,” Ryan said.
“They only get to play Gundagai once in the season, and they think it will have a financial impact.”
Like other notable rivalries, clashes between the Tigers and Blues are a bonanza for the two clubs, regularly attracting gates of $5000 or more.
In the proposed draw, Gundagai will only play Tumut at Anzac Park on June 17.
Significantly, officials from two other Group Nine have also shown some disquiet about the proposed draw.
With the season tentatively booked to start on April 1, the grand final is penned in for September 10 at Equex Centre.
Proposed Round 1 – 2017
April 1 – Southcity v Kangaroos at Harris Park.
April 2 – Temora v Albury at Nixon Park; Gundagai v Young at Anzac Park; Junee v Cootamundra at Laurie Daley Oval; Tumbarumba v Tumut at Tumbarumba Showground; Brothers (bye).
