HAMILTON'S Melville Oval is preparing to host its first Hampden Football Netball League senior final following a new sponsorship agreement.
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The league will schedule two finals across the 2019 and 2020 seasons, with the potential for more, under a deal with Southern Grampians Shire.
The Kangaroos entered the competition in 2013 and have strived to host a final without success in that time.
Kangaroos chairman John Pepper said the club was thrilled its vision had come to fruition.
"I've been working pretty hard and have been pretty vocal about having a final at Melville Oval, so I think it's great to have something in the town, to bring a bit of enthusiasm to the day and bring a lot more people into the town," he said.
"Finals aren't the biggest financial benefit for the club because everything is catered for by sponsors but that's not the point.
"The point is Melville Oval is part of the Hampden league now and we can bring the people into the town."
Pepper said the club had been "working with Southern Grampians Shire to tick all the boxes to get a final".
"The opportunity has come now, so it's great," he said.
Melville Oval's netball facilities, which are located in a narrow section of the complex, have been one of the reasons it's missed out on finals in the past.
Pepper said it was a work in progress and tiered seating was an option to ensure spectators were catered for.
"There's some new goal posts and lines have been done," he said.
"We haven't got it exactly where we wanted at this point in time."
New Hampden president Tim Mason said the Southern Grampians Shire deal highlighted the economic boosts the league could provide councils it operates in.
A similar deal was struck with Moyne Shire, which includes Port Fairy's Gardens Oval, Koroit's Victoria Park and Mortlake's D.C Farran Oval, recently.
"These finals matches are very well attended by players, club volunteers, families and supporters which all travel to the finals and spend time and money in their vicinity," Mason said.
"This agreement gives the Southern Grampians Shire the ability to showcase the district and provide a guaranteed economic boost to local businesses.
"It is important that we as league look to work closely with those who support us, having both the Southern Grampian Shire and the Moyne Shire sign on to these agreements allows us to continually improve our league year-on-year with them being recognised as part of the reason for those improvements."
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