GNFL 2024 season preview: The top clashes to circle in this year’s footy calendar

On the eve of the Great Northern Football League’s 2024 season, we preview some of the anticipated matches to keep a lookout for — clashes all footy fans should certainly circle in their calendar.

Round 1

Northampton vs Railways (League)

Purcher International Oval

Not only is this clash a rematch of one of the most storied — and controversial — grand finals in recent memory, but it also launches the 2024 season.

The clash is sure to set up an exciting season, after the Rams ended their premiership drought in dramatic fashion in the 2023 decider.

Whoever is on scoreboard duty for this match will be watched like a hawk after the grand final controversy showed Railways winning at the siren, when the scores were actually tied.

Northampton of course went on to win the game in overtime, but in the rematch the Rams will be looking for a strong start for the campaign to go back-to-back while Railways will be out for redemption.

Round 2

Brigades vs Chapman Valley (League)

GBSC Sports Park

Both sides will launch their 2024 campaigns in round two with one of the most anticipated matches of the season, which will see the Schofield brothers take on their old team, Brigades.

One of the biggest moves in the off-season saw Jayden and Kim Schofield leave Brigades and move to Chapman Valley. The first time they suit up in the royal blue will be against their old side.

Both teams will have a point to prove — the Royals will want to show they are a team to beat, while the Hawks will want to demonstrate they can still be one of the league’s premier sides without their top two best and fairest finishers from last year.

Round 4

Brigades vs Towns (Women’s)

GBSC Sports Park

In the women’s comp, close to half of Brigades’ championship side has departed to Towns.

As the most dominant team last year, the Hawks went undefeated and won the flag, but this season they have been forced into a rebuild with a big chunk of their team leaving.

The biggest names include Jessica Giuidice-Nairn, who takes over as the Bulldogs player-coach, and Gemma Dix who shared the 2023 women’s best and fairest award with Olivia Bidwell. Now the rivals become teammates.

The sides will meet in round four, with Brigades looking to get up without their former players while Towns look in position to be one of the top teams.

Round 5

Northampton vs Mullewa (Colts)

Purcher International Oval

Another rematch to circle will be between the two best young teams in the league — Mullewa and Northampton colts.

The two teams met four times in 2023, with the Saints getting the win in three of those contests and proving to be a thorn in the side of an otherwise strong Northampton colts team.

A replay of last year’s grand final will prove to be a good one, with both sides looking to be at the top of the colts ladder again.

Round 10

Chapman Valley vs Northampton (League)

Mazzuchelli Oval

While the Rams broke their finals curse last season, the Royals are the only team without a flag in the 2000s.

That could all change as the Schofield brothers look to turn Chapman Valley into a winning side.

Northampton and Chapman Valley both appear to be contenders in 2024, but won’t meet each other until round 10. By that time, the league will have a good idea about who are the teams to beat, and this could have serious implications for ladder positions.

On top of that, the match will see JJ Clune co-winners Kim Schofield and Flynn Dillon go head-to-head for the first time since the preliminary final that saw Northampton book their ticket into grand final last year.

If nothing else, the match will be an exciting one to watch.

Round 16

Towns vs Rovers (League)

Wonthella Oval

Both teams are expected to look different in 2024 with player-coaches Chris Scott and Beau Walker in their first years at the helm.

Scott takes over from Ian Comben but has a long history with the Rovers, while Walker comes over from Northampton to Towns.

At the pointy end of the season, each team will know where they stand but this clash could see finals spots up for grabs as both have aspirations of making the top four.