The marquee fixture has been scheduled as a standalone match a week ahead other round one match-ups.

Sebastopol is expected to be a big mover under new coach Leigh Hutchinson and after a vigorous recruiting campaign on the back of having just one win last season. 

This will be one of eight night matches in the opening four rounds.

These include Redan's first outing on an upgraded City Oval, when it will meet Lake Wendouree on Saturday, May 5.

Redan will also have a night home game against East Point in round four on May 12.

Ballarat (two), Lake Wendouree (one), North Ballarat City (one) and Sunbury (one) will also host matches under lights.

With the emergence of more night fixtures, Sunday games now take a back seat.

Sebastopol and Ballarat will meet in the only Sunday match at Marty Busch Reserve on May 6.

Supporters will not have to wait long for the much anticipated grand final rematch between reigning premier Darley and Bacchus Marsh, with this taking place in the opening round on April 21.

However, with this being at Maddingley Park, Darley will have to wait until its first home game against Melton in round two to unfurl its second BFL premership flag.

East Point will have its first outing on a newly refurbished Eastern Oval surface against Sebastopol in the second round.

On the netball front, reigning premier Sunbury will have to wait until round six before facing North Ballarat City in an A grade grand final rematch.

FULL FIXTURE

ROUND 1

SATURDAY, APRIL 14

Sebastopol v North Ballarat City (n)

SATURDAY, APRIL 21

Melton v Melton South

Sunbury v Redan

Bacchus Marsh v Darley

Ballarat v East Point (n)

Lake Wendouree bye

ROUND 2

SATURDAY, APRIL 28

Darley v Melton

East Point v Sebastopol

Melton South v Sunbury

Lake Wendouree v Ballarat (n)

North Ballarat City v Redan (n)

Bacchus Marsh bye

ROUND 3

SATURDAY, MAY 5

Bacchus Marsh v North Ballarat City

Melton v East Point

Sunbury v Darley

Redan v Lake Wendouree (n)

SUNDAY, MAY 6

Sebastopol v Ballarat

Melton South bye

ROUND 4

SATURDAY, MAY 12

Darley v Lake Wendouree

Melton South v Bacchus Marsh

Ballarat v North Ballarat City (n)

Redan v East Point (n)

Sunbury v Melton (n)

Sebastopol bye

ROUND 5

SATURDAY, MAY 26

Darley v Redan

East Point v Bacchus Marsh

Melton v Ballarat

North Ballarat City v Melton South

Lake Wendouree v Sebastopol

Sunbury bye

ROUND 6

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

Bacchus Marsh v Ballarat

Melton South v Lake Wendouree

North Ballarat City v Sunbury

Redan v Melton

Sebastopol v Darley

East Point bye

ROUND 7

SATURDAY, JUNE 9

Ballarat v Redan

Darley v Melton South

East point v Lake Wendouree

Melton v Bacchus Marsh

Sunbury v Sebastopol

North Ballarat City

ROUND 8

SATURDAY, JUNE 16

Bacchus Marsh v Redan

Lake Wendouree v Melton

Sebastopol v Melton South

East Point v North Ballarat City

Ballarat v Sunbury

Darley bye

ROUND 9

SATURDAY, JUNE 23

Bacchus Marsh v Sunbury

Ballarat v Darley

Melton South v East Point

North Ballarat City v Lake Wendouree

Redan v Sebastopol

Melton bye

ROUND 10

SATURDAY, JUNE 30

Darley v North Ballarat City

Lake Wendouree v Bacchus Marsh

Melton South v Ballarat

Sebastopol v Melton

Sunbury v East Point

Redan bye

ROUND 11

SATURDAY, JULY 7

Bacchus Marsh v Sebastopol

East Point v Darley

Lake Wendouree v Sunbury

Melton v North Ballarat City

Redan v Melton South

Ballarat bye

ROUND 12

SATURDAY, JULY 14

Ballarat v Lake Wendouree

Darley v Bacchus Marsh

Melton v Redan

North Ballarat City v East Point

Sunbury v Melton South

Sebastopol bye

ROUND 13

SATURDAY, JULY 21

Ballarat v Sebastopol

Lake Wendouree v Darley

Melton South v Melton

North ballarat City v Bacchus Marsh

Redan v Sunbury

East Point bye

ROUND 14

SATURDAY, JULY 28

Bacchus Marsh v Lake Wendouree

Darley v Sunbury

East Point v Ballarat

Melton South v North Ballarat City

Sebastopol v Redan

Melton bye

ROUND 15

SATURDAY, AUGUST 4

East Point v Melton South

Melton v Sebastopol

North Ballarat City v Ballarat

Bacchus Marsh bye

Lake Wendouree bye

Sunbury bye

ROUND 16

SATURDAY, AUGUST 11

Ballarat v Melton

Lake Wendouree v North Ballarat City

Sebastopol v East Point

Sunbury v Bacchus Marsh

Darley bye

Melton South bye

Redan bye

ROUND 17

SATURDAY, AUGUST 18

East Point v Redan

Lake Wendouree v Melton South

Melton v Sunbury

North Ballarat City v Darley

Sebastopol v Bacchus Marsh

Ballarat bye

ROUND 18

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25

Bacchus Marsh v Melton

Darley v East Point

Melton South v Sebastopol

Redan v Ballarat

Sunbury v Lake Wendouree

North Ballarat City bye

QUALIFYING FINAL/ELIMINATION FINALS

SEPTEMBER 1-2

SEMI-FINALS

SEPTEMBER 8-9

PRELIMINARY FINAL

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

GRAND FINAL

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22