Bentleigh and Doveton to Launch Seymour Law Cup

Last year’s Division 1 grand finalist Bentleigh and 2017 Division 3 flag fancies Doveton Eagles will launch the Southern Football Netball League’s exciting new preseason competition, the Seymour Law Cup, at Springvale Reserve on Monday night.

The Demons and the Eagles are among eight clubs from across the League’s three senior divisions that are all vying for the $3000 winner’s cheque at the end of the inaugural four-week round robin tournament.

The competition will see the clubs pooled into two groups of four teams based on relative strength, which is hoped will create competitive matches between the sides. Reigning Division 3 premiers Mount Waverley and Division 2 club Hampton have been drawn alongside Bentleigh and Doveton Eagles in Pool A, while Pool B will be an all Division 3 affair featuring Hallam, Lyndhurst, Dandenong and Carrum Patterson Lakes.

Each team has been scheduled to play the other three in its pool in the first three weeks of competition. Ladder positions will then determine the fixture for the final week, with the top two ranked teams to face off on Wednesday 29 March for the inaugural Seymour Law Cup.

All clubs are set to receive a guaranteed prize money return based on the final competition standings.

The Seymour Law Cup will also see several modified rules take effect. Quarter lengths will be reduced to 15 minutes to allow for two matches to be played per night at 6:40pm and 8:10pm timeslots, while teams will be restricted to 16 players on the field in a trial for the first two weeks of competition.

Coaches and captains will be engaged to provide feedback on the 16-a-side concept.

SFNL General Manager Operations Adam Sparrow said that both the League and the competing clubs would benefit enormously from this new preseason competition.

“This is certainly an exciting initiative and will be a great precursor to the 2017 SFNL home and away season,” Sparrow said.

“For clubs, it will provide a great opportunity to participate in four hit outs prior to Round 1, where the burden of securing a venue, an opponent and umpires has been taken out of their hands. As an added bonus, it will also provide a potential alternative revenue opportunity for participating clubs on the eve of the season.

“The buy in from clubs to date has been fantastic and it’ll be exciting to see teams from across all three divisions pitted against each other. Early indication is that many teams expect to blood new players and young talent, which will bode well for our competition’s future.”

SFNL Hall of Famer and former Chairman Mark Seymour said he was thrilled to have his business, Seymour Law, aligned with the new preseason competition as its exclusive naming rights partner.

“The idea of a SFNL preseason competition has been on the drawing board for some time and I am very pleased to be associated with the concept,” Seymour said.

“This competition should stand the clubs involved in good stead for the 2017 season proper, as these won’t be the usual run-of-the-mill practice matches given four points and prize money are involved.”

All Seymour Law Cup matches will be played on Monday and Wednesday nights at Springvale Reserve throughout the month of March.