A big crowd turned out at Allansford to watch Dennington surprise Merrivale.
THE first final at Allansford in almost a decade has reaped the Warrnambool and District league its second-best elimination final gate.
League officials said yesterday they were rapt with the crowds at Mortlake’s D. C. Farran Oval and Allansford Recreation Reserve for week one of finals.
President Justin Balmer said officials were still finalising the gate takings from the two matches, but were “more than happy” with the attendances.
He said the crowd at Allansford on Sunday was close to the WDFNL record for elimination final day, set last season at Noorat.
“I haven’t finished the counting, but from interim figures Saturday was good and yesterday was excellent,” Balmer said. “Some of the old timers at Allansford, they had never seen that many cars in the township. They were parked from the pub to the bridge.”
Balmer said he expected the elimination final to attract more fans than the qualifying final because there was no other senior football on Sunday.
But he said the crowd at D. C. Farran Oval on Saturday was still above expectations.
“We were more than happy with both days, especially the way the grounds held up after the rain on Sunday,” he said.
D. C. Farran Oval will host the second semi-final between minor premier Panmure and Kolora-Noorat on Saturday.
Davidson Oval will host the cut-throat first semi-final between Allansford and Dennington on Sunday
Balmer said Warrnambool City Council would ensure Davidson Oval was up to scratch for week two of finals. The Caramut Road oval was in line to host the elimination final, but the league opted to give it another week to recover from round 18 action.
“We’ve had discussions with the council today and it’s going to be rolled. I fully expect the surface to come up really well,” he said.
“The council wants to rest the Reid (Oval).”
