HAMPDEN football league fans will have the choice of two radio calls each round in 2013.
Community station 3WAY FM and commercial rival 3YB will broadcast each weekend during the Hampden league’s historic expansion season.
As The Standard exclusively revealed in August, 3YB returns to south-west coverage after a 14-year spell, coinciding with the introduction of Portland and Hamilton Kangaroos to a new-look 10-team competition.
3WAY FM began Hampden league broadcasts in 2000 after 3YB ceased calling games in 1998.
The stations have met to discuss plans for the season, with 3WAY FM secretary John MacInnes and 3YB general manager Peter Headen describing talks as “amicable”.
Games to be broadcast in the first six rounds have been finalised.
MacInnes said it was a “win-win” situation for the league and fans.
“There was never any thought by them that they (3YB) would shoulder us out of the way,” he said. “They will do Saturday games only. We will do Sundays and Anzac Day.
“We have a little bit to think about with the preliminary final and grand final, but that’s a bit of a way off to work something out. It’s all very positive. Everyone wins.
“With 10 teams in the league, there is more than one good game a round.”
Headen said 3YB was excited to be involved again.
He said with teams stretching as far as Hamilton and Camperdown, 3YB felt it could accommodate fans unable to make games.
“With the distance on a Saturday, we saw an opportunity,” he said.
“The 3YB signal is strong into Portland and Hamilton.
“We have an app for phones where people can listen to the local footy if they’re away.”
3WAY’s coverage of Portland and Hamilton Kanagroos will be restricted to away games because of the station’s broadcast signal range. Its broadcast games will be streamed on the web.
HFNL president Bob Guiney said the league was fortunate to have strong coverage across all mediums.
Guiney said he believed the HFNL would be the only major league in Victoria with two games broadcast each weekend.
“We are ecstatic to have two games broadcast,” he said.
“I believe the two of them will work together very well.
“We are pleased to have 3YB onboard and very happy to retain 3WAY.
“Our players, coaches and staff understand (they must) fully co-operate with the media. We go through that at the start of the year.”
Darryl Agnew and Gerard Auld will spearhead 3WAY FM’s coverage, with Tom Pike providing special comments. MacInnes and Graham Hall will run the studio call and an ‘around the grounds’ team will be in place.
Matt Stewart and Trent Hill will commentate 3YB games, with Allan Blackburn, Phillip Kelly, Dustin McCorkell and Greg Kelson providing special comments.