HAMPDEN league powerhouse Warrnambool is keen to strengthen its ties to Deakin University as it looks to commence a temporary tenancy at the insitution's east Warrnambool oval.
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The Blues, who normally play out of Reid Oval, have been earmarked to play nine fixtures at the vacant reserve.
Warrnambool football president Ken Radley said while the deal was not yet official, it was "highly likely" the club would use the facility with the Reid Oval unavailable due to a multi-million dollar revamp.
"Deakin University have been fantastic in accommodating us," he said.
"There's a little bit of work to do but it's looking highly likely we'll play there.
"We're looking forward to having it as a base."
There's a little bit of work to do but it's looking highly likely we'll play there.
- Ken Radley
Radley said the venture would benefit both Warrnambool and Deakin University.
He said the Blues were keen to keep the club together as one and felt the facility catered for its needs with juniors, seniors and netballers.
"It certainly has benefits for Deakin in that their facilities would be used by the Warrnambool community," Radley said.
"It might get members of the public out to Deakin to see what's our there and stimulate a bit of growth and some partnerships.
"We've been looking at things since about November and we've had good support from the Hampden league when looking at possible solutions."
Radley said the club had connections to Deakin University Sharks - a former Warrnambool and District league outfit who went into indefinite recess in 2016 - through both himself and senior coach Matt O'Brien.
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"We're both former coaches out there. Matt had a little bit more success than I did," Radley said.
"There are connections there and we're keen to get some links with the past players and have some functions out there."
He said Warrnambool was bullish about its football program and the integration of juniors and seniors throughout pre-season.
Hamilton Kangaroos chairman Lachy Patterson, whose club will host three night matches under new lights at Melville Oval, said the fixtures allowed greater flexibility.
"It's something we've worked hard to get after the installation of our new lights and the Hamilton community and opposition teams have been very supportive," he said.
"Night or twilight games give us the opportunity to play those 'Super Saturday' rounds which are fantastic and allow us to come together as a club.
"That opportunity is something we're pretty excited about."
FULL FIXTURE
Good Friday Game from Round 4
Koroit v South Warrnambool Victoria Park
Round 1 - 10th April 2021
Terang Mortlake v Camperdown - Ridley Recreation Reserve (Super Saturday)
Portland v Koroit - Hanlon Reserve (Twilight)
Hamilton Kangaroos v Port Fairy - Melville Oval (Night)
Cobden v North Warrnambool Eagles - Cobden Community Bank Reserve
South Warrnambool v Warrnambool - Friendly Societies Park
Round 2 - 17th April 2021
North Warrnambool Eagles v South Warrnambool - Bushfield Oval
Camperdown v Cobden - Leura Oval (Night)
Koroit v Terang Mortlake - Victoria Park
Port Fairy v Portland - Gardens Oval
Warrnambool v Hamilton Kangaroos - Deakin University
Round 3 - 24th & ANZAC Day 25th April 2021
South Warrnambool v Camperdown - Friendly Societies Park
Cobden v Koroit - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
Terang Mortlake v Port Fairy - Ridley Recreation Reserve
Portland v Hamilton Kangaroos - Hanlon Reserve (Anzac Day)
North Warrnambool Eagles v Warrnambool Bushfield Oval
Round 4 - 1st May 2021
Port Fairy v Cobden - Gardens Oval
Hamilton Kangaroos v Terang Mortlake - Melville Oval (Night)
Warrnambool v Portland - Deakin University
Camperdown v North Warrnambool Eagles - Leura Oval
BYE Round - 8th May
Round 5 - 15th May 2021
South Warrnambool v Port Fairy - Friendly Societies Park
Cobden v Hamilton Kangaroos - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
Terang Mortlake v Portland - D.C Farran (Super Saturday)
North Warrnambool Eagles v Koroit - Bushfield Oval
Camperdown v Warrnambool - Leura Oval
Round 6 - 22nd May 2021
Hamilton Kangaroos v South Warrnambool - Melville Oval
Portland v Cobden - Hanlon Reserve
Warrnambool v Terang Mortlake - Deakin University
Port Fairy v North Warrnambool Eagles - Gardens Oval
Koroit v Camperdown - Victoria Park
Round 7 - 29th May 2021
South Warrnambool v Portland - Friendly Societies Park
Cobden v Terang Mortlake - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
North Warrnambool Eagles v Hamilton Kangaroos - Bushfield Oval
Camperdown v Port Fairy - Leura Oval
Koroit v Warrnambool - Victoria Park
Round 8 - 5th June 2021
Cobden v South Warrnambool - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
Portland v Camperdown - Hanlon Reserve
Terang Mortlake v North Warrnambool Eagles - Ridley Recreation Reserve
Hamilton Kangaroos v Koroit - Melville Oval
Port Fairy v Warrnambool - Gardens Oval
Round 9 - 12th June 2021 - Queens Birthday Weekend
Portland v North Warrnambool Eagles - Hanlon Reserve
Camperdown v Hamilton Kangaroos - Leura Oval
South Warrnambool v Terang Mortlake - Friendly Societies Park
Koroit v Port Fairy - Victoria Park
Warrnambool v Cobden - Deakin University
Round 10 - 19th June 2021
Warrnambool v South Warrnambool - Deakin University
North Warrnambool Eagles v Cobden - Bushfield Oval
Camperdown v Terang Mortlake - Leura Oval
Koroit v Portland - Victoria Park
Port Fairy v Hamilton Kangaroos - Gardens Oval
Round 11 - 26th June 2021
South Warrnambool v North Warrnambool Eagles - Friendly Societies Park
Cobden v Camperdown - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
Terang Mortlake v Koroit - Ridley Recreation Reserve
Portland v Port Fairy - Hanlon Reserve
Hamilton Kangaroos v Warrnambool - Melville Oval
Bye - 3rd July 2021
Round 12 - 10th July 2021
Camperdown v South Warrnambool - Leura Oval
Koroit v Cobden - Victoria Park
Port Fairy v Terang Mortlake - Gardens Oval
Hamilton Kangaroos v Portland - Melville Oval
Warrnambool v North Warrnambool Eagles - Deakin University
TAC Road Safety Round - Round 13 - 17th July 2021
South Warrnambool v Koroit - Friendly Societies Park
Cobden v Port Fairy - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
Terang Mortlake v Hamilton Kangaroos - Ridley Recreation Reserve
Portland v Warrnambool - Hanlon Reserve
North Warrnambool Eagles v Camperdown - Bushfield Oval
Round 14 - 24th July 2021
Warrnambool v Camperdown - Deakin University
Hamilton Kangaroos v Cobden - Melville Oval
Portland v Terang Mortlake - Hanlon Reserve
Koroit v North Warrnambool Eagles - Victoria Park
Port Fairy v South Warrnambool - Gardens Oval
Round 15 - 31st July 2021
South Warrnambool v Hamilton Kangaroos - Friendly Societies Park
Cobden v Portland - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
Terang Mortlake v Warrnambool - D.C Farran
North Warrnambool Eagles v Port Fairy - Bushfield Oval
Camperdown v Koroit - Leura Oval
Round 16 - 7th August 2021
Portland v South Warrnambool - Hanlon Reserve
Terang Mortlake v Cobden - D.C Farran Oval
Hamilton Kangaroos v North Warrnambool Eagles - Melville Oval
Port Fairy v Camperdown - Gardens Oval
Warrnambool v Koroit - Deakin University
Round 17 - 14th August 2021
South Warrnambool v Cobden - Friendly Societies Park
North Warrnambool Eagles v Terang Mortlake - Bushfield Oval
Warrnambool v Port Fairy - Deakin University
Camperdown v Portland - Leura Oval
Koroit v Hamilton Kangaroos - Victoria Park
Round 18 - 21st August 2021
Cobden v Warrnambool - Cobden Community Bank Recreation Reserve
North Warrnambool Eagles v Portland - Bushfield Oval
Terang Mortlake v South Warrnambool - Ridleys Recreation Reserve
Port Fairy v Koroit - Gardens Oval
Hamilton Kangaroos v Camperdown - Melville Oval
Qualifying and elimination finals
28th August and 29th August 2021 - venues TBC
Semi finals
4th and 5th September 2021 - venues TBC
Preliminary final
Saturday 11th September 2021 - venue TBC
Grand final
Saturday September 18 2021 - venue TBC
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