For the first time since 2009, the Hampden league qualifying final was staged in Warrnambool, just a few kilometres away from the Warrnambool and District league preliminary final.

To the uninitiated, it might not seem an issue.

But it is.

The two leagues have had a gentleman’s agreement for more than 20 years that they don’t rain on each other’s parade when it comes to the business end of the season.

The theory goes that the District league starts its season early so that it can fi nish two weeks before the Hampden league. Under such a move, the Hampden league is the only show in town for the last two weeks of its finals series. 

The trade-off for the Hampden league is that it avoids a clash with the District league preliminary and grand finals, ensuring the District league makes a nice profit too.

But the Hampden league’s decision to play its qualifying final at the Friendly Societies’ Park today has riled the District league.

Such is the feeling among some of its hierarchy, one said the problem with a gentleman’s agreement was that you needed gentlemen involved. Ouch.

Footy fi nals are serious business for leagues. Their livelihoods live and die on finals gate-takings. So who wins today? Given the expected sunny weather, both games might be well attended. But that’s not the point. This type of competition might soon become the norm. 

If the District league feels so strongly about the agreement being broken, it could cease starting two weeks earlier. That could mean the District league schedules its grand final on the same day the Hampden league has its preliminary final.

The problem for the Hampden league is that it can’t afford to take a punt at that level because the District league has significantly more coins in the bank.

It’s time for a truce and an iron-clad agreement. 

grbest@fairfaxmedia.com.au