SUNBURY has been granted its wish to hold a memorial match for MH17 victims and beloved club members Albert and Marie Rizk against Redan next year.
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Almost one year to the day since the emotion-charged match between the two clubs in the days following the airline tragedy, the old Ballarat Football League foes will again meet again in July next year.
Sunbury president Jack Ogilvie said the respect Redan had shown his grief-stricken club last year had prompted him to again ask the league to schedule a match against the maroon and gold.
It will be played at Sunbury's Clarke Oval on July 18, one year and one day since the horrific Malaysian Airlines incident that killed 298 people.
"We were very pleased with the response we had from the Redan Football Club last year on what was a tough day," Ogilvie said.
"It's good the BFL have agreed to our request. I'm certain the day will be played out in the appropriate fashion."
Albert and Marie Rizk were both extremely influential members of the football club, with son, James, a member of the 2012 Sunbury premiership side.
A minute silence was observed before the sombre match at City Oval this year, with football taking a backseat.
At the time, Sunbury coach Rick Horwood said he could not have imagined a better opponent on the day than Redan, despite their strong rivalry.
"The way Redan handled the day was great, their professionalism and support made the day a lot easier than it otherwise would have been," he said.
Ogilvie said he hoped the memorial match could become a tradition for years to come.
"We will make the day something special," he said.
"Without going over the top, it will be the appropriate memorial."
The BFL released its first draft on Tuesday, which also included a bumper night of football on Anzac Day.
Three night matches will be played on Anzac Day to comply with restrictions around sport starting times, while traditional rivals Ballarat and East Point will go to battle during the day, as will Bacchus Marsh and Darley.
BFL operations manager Aaron Nunn said the release of the fixture was delayed this year due to AFL Victoria having some delays of their own in finalising the VFL and TAC Cup fixtures for the coming season.
"We've been able to work in a number of special features into next season's draw which includes a number of marquee games for all clubs that will hopefully draw more spectator attention and a number of initiatives to assist with the maintenance of facilities and upkeep of local grounds," he said.
"This year's draw has been particularly difficult to put together given the amount of variables we need to work with."
The fixture is now open to feedback from clubs before it is finalised.
BFL DRAFT 2015 FIXTURE
Round 1
Saturday, April 18
Ballarat v Lake Wendouree
Darley v Sunbury
Redan v East Point
Sebastopol v Bacchus Marsh
Melton South v Melton (N)
Bye North Ballarat City
Round 2 - ANZAC Day Round
Saturday, April 25
Bacchus Marsh v Darley (AST)
East Point v Ballarat (AST)
Melton v Sebastopol (N)
North Ballarat City v Redan (N)
Sunbury v Lake Wendouree (N)
Bye Melton South
Round 3
Saturday, May 2
Ballarat v North Ballarat City
East Point v Sunbury
Lake Wendouree v Sebastopol
Melton South v Bacchus Marsh
Redan v Darley
Bye Melton
Round 4 - Mother's Day Round
Saturday, May 9
Darley v East Point
Melton v Lake Wendouree
Ballarat v Redan
Sunbury v Melton South (N)
Sunday, May 10 2015
North Ballarat City v Bacchus Marsh
Bye Sebastopol
U/18 Challenge Match
Wednesday May 13
Ballarat FL v Riddell DFL
Round 5
Saturday, May 16
Bacchus Marsh v Ballarat
Lake Wendouree v Redan
Sebastopol v East Point
Sunbury v Melton (N)
Sunday, May 17
North Ballarat City v Melton South
Bye Darley
WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Championships
Saturday, May 23
Ballarat FNL v Bendigo FNL
Round 6
Saturday, May 30
Ballarat v Melton
Darley v North Ballarat City
Melton South v Sebastopol
Redan v Sunbury
Sunday, May 31
Bacchus Marsh v East Point
Bye Lake Wendouree
Round 7 - Queen's Birthday Weekend
Saturday, June 6
Lake Wendouree v East Point
Melton v Darley
Redan v Melton South
Sebastopol v North Ballarat City
Sunbury v Bacchus Marsh
Bye Ballarat
Round 8
Saturday, June 13
Ballarat v Sebastopol
Bacchus Marsh v Lake Wendouree
East Point v Melton
Melton South v Darley
North Ballarat City v Sunbury
Bye Redan
Round 9
Saturday, June 20
Darley v Sebastopol
East Point v Melton South
Melton v Redan
Sunbury v Ballarat
Sunday, June 21
North Ballarat City v Lake Wendouree
Bye Bacchus Marsh
Round 10
Saturday, June 27
Bacchus Marsh v Melton
Melton South v Ballarat
North Ballarat City v East Point
Sebastopol v Redan
Sunday, June 28
Darley v Lake Wendouree
Bye Sunbury
Round 11
Saturday, July 4
Ballarat v Darley
Lake Wendouree v Melton South
Redan v Bacchus Marsh
Sebastopol v Sunbury
Sunday July 5
Melton v North Ballarat City
Bye East Point
Round 12
Saturday, July 11
Bacchus Marsh v North Ballarat City
East Point v Sebastopol
Lake Wendouree v Melton
Melton South v Sunbury
Redan v Ballarat
Bye Darley
Round 13 - Rivalry Round
Saturday, July 18
Darley v Bacchus Marsh
East Point v Lake Wendouree
Melton v Melton South
North Ballarat City v Ballarat
Sunbury v Redan
Bye Sebastopol
Round 14
Saturday, July 25
Ballarat v East Point
Bacchus Marsh v Sunbury
Lake Wendouree v Darley
Redan v North Ballarat City
Sebastopol v Melton South
Bye Melton
Round 15
Saturday, August 1
Darley v Melton South
East Point v Bacchus Marsh
Lake Wendouree v Ballarat
Sebastopol v Melton
Sunbury v North Ballarat City
Bye Redan
Round 16
Saturday, August 8
Melton v Ballarat
Redan v Lake Wendouree
Sebastopol v Darley
Bye Bacchus Marsh, East Point, Melton South, North Ballarat City, Sunbury
Round 17
Saturday, August 15
Bacchus Marsh v Ballarat
East Point v Darley
Melton South v Redan
North Ballarat City v Melton
Sunbury v Sebastopol
Bye Lake Wendouree
Round 18
Saturday, August 22
Bacchus Marsh v Sebastopol
Darley v Redan
Lake Wendouree v North Ballarat City
Melton South v East Point
Melton v Sunbury
Bye Ballarat
Qualifying/Elimination Finals
August 29 & 30
Teams TBA 2.15 PM
Semi Finals
September 5 & 6
Teams TBA 2.15 PM
Preliminary Final
Saturday, September 12
Teams TBA 2.15 PM or
BFL Grand Final
Saturday, September 19
Teams TBA 2.30 PM