FOOTBALL Federation Victoria has revealed major changes in next season's Victorian Premier League schedule.
The biggest change is a later starting date - late March rather than the regular February kick-off.
The season will start with reigning champions Green Gully Cavaliers taking on Bentleigh Greens in a night game on March 23 at the Kingston Heath Soccer Complex.
The Cavaliers, who made it back-to-back championships with a 3-2 grand final win over Oakleigh Cannons this year, will be looking to make it three consecutive titles next season.
The battle of the Greens is just one of an array of exciting fixtures in the opening round.
Mirabella Cup finalists Melbourne Knights kick-start their season at home in a showdown against Hume City on March 25.
The grand final rematch between the Cavaliers and Oakleigh Cannons is set down for the fourth round, the same weekend Mirabella Cup final combatants Melbourne Knights and Northcote City will meet for the first time since City's triumph.
Final round games take place on September 16, filling the void of football-hungry fans with the A-League's decision to start its season after the AFL grand final.
NEXT SEASON'S VPL DRAW
Round 1 (March 23-25): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Green Gully Cavaliers. Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Southern Stars. Sunday: Northcote City v Richmond, South Melbourne v Whittlesea Zebras, Melbourne Knights v Hume City, Heidelberg United v Oakleigh Cannons
Round 2 (March 30-April 1): Friday: Oakleigh Cannons v South Melbourne. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Heidelberg United, Richmond v Bentleigh Greens, Whittlesea Zebras v Melbourne Knights, Southern Stars v Northcote City. Sunday: Hume City v Dandenong Thunder
Round 3 (April 9-April 16): Easter Monday: Heidelberg United v Richmond, Oakleigh Cannons v Whittlesea Zebras. Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Melbourne Knights. Sunday: Northcote City v Hume City, South Melbourne v Green Gully Cavaliers. Monday: Bentleigh Greens v Southern Stars
Round 4 (April 21-22): Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Oakleigh Cannons, Richmond v South Melbourne, Whittlesea Zebras v Dandenong Thunder, Southern Stars v Heidelberg United. Sunday: Hume City v Bentleigh Greens, Melbourne Knights v Northcote City
Round 5 (May 4-6): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Melb Knights, Oakleigh Cannons v Richmond. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Whittlesea Zebras. Sunday: Northcote City v Dandenong Thunder, S. Melbourne v Southern Stars, H'berg United v Hume City
Round 6 (May 12-13): Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Bentleigh Greens, Richmond v Green Gully Cavaliers, Whittlesea Zebras v Northcote City, Southern Stars v Oakleigh Cannons. Sunday: Hume City v S. Melb, Melbourne Knights v Heidelberg United
Round 7 (May 18-21): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Northcote City. Saturday: Richmond v Whittlsea Zebras, Southern Stars v Green Gully Cavaliers. Sunday: South Melbourne v Melbourne Knights, Heidelberg United v Dandenong Thunder. Monday: Oakleigh Cannons v Hume City
Round 8 (May 26-27): Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v S Melbourne, Whittlesea Zebras v Bentleigh Greens, Southern Stars v Richmond. Sunday: Northcote City v Heidelberg United, Hume City v Green Gully Cavaliers, Melb Knights v Oakleigh Cannons
Round 9 (June 1-3): Friday: Oakleigh Cannons v Dandenong Thunder. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Melbourne Knights, Richmond v Hume City, Southern Stars v Whittlesea Zebras. Sunday: South Melbourne v Northcote City, Heidelberg United v Bentleigh Greens
Round 10 (June 15-17): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v South Melbourne. Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Green Gully Cavaliers. Sunday: Northcote City v Oakleigh Cannons, Hume City v Southern Stars, Melbourne Knights v Richmond, Heidelberg United v Whittlesea Zebras
Round 11 (June 22-24): Friday: Oakleigh Cannons v Bentleigh Greens. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Northcote City, Richmond v Dandenong Thunder, Whittlesea Zebras v Hume City, Southern Stars v Melbourne Knights. Sunday: South Melbourne v Heidelberg United
Round 12 (June 29-July 1): Friday: Oakleigh Cannons v Heidelberg United. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Bentleigh Greens, Richmond v Northcote City, Whittlesea Zebras v South Melbourne, Southern Stars v Dandenong Thunder. Sunday: Hume City v Melbourne Knights
Round 13 (July 6-8): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Richmond. Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Hume City. Sunday: Northcote City v Southern Stars, Melbourne Knights v Whittlesea Zebras, South Melbourne v Oakleigh Cannons, Heidelberg United v Green Gully Cavaliers
Round 14 (July 14-15): Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v South Melbourne, Richmond v Heidelberg United, Whittlesea Zebras v Oakleigh Cannons, Southern Stars v Bentleigh Greens. Sunday: Hume City v Northcote City, Melbourne Knights v Dandenong Thunder
Round 15 (July 20-22): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Hume City, Oakleigh Cannons v Green Gully Cavaliers. Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Whittlesea Zebras. Sunday: Northcote City v Melbourne Knights, Heidelberg United v Southern Stars, South Melbourne v Richmond
Round 16 (July 28-29): Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Northcote City, Richmond v Oakleigh Cannons, Whittlesea Zebras v Green Gully Cavaliers, Southern Stars v South Melbourne. Sunday: Melbourne Knights v Bentleigh Greens, Hume City v Heidelberg United
Round 17 (August 3-5): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Dandenong Thunder, Oakleigh Cannons v Southern Stars. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Richmond, Northcote City v Whittlesea Zebras, Heidelberg United v Melbourne Knights. Sunday: South Melbourne v Hume City
Round 18 (August 11-12): Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Heidelberg United, Green Gully Cavaliers v Southern Stars, Whittlesea Zebras v Richmond. Sunday: Northcote City v Bentleigh Greens, Hume City v Oakleigh Cannons, Melbourne Knights v South Melbourne
Round 19 (August 17-19): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Whittlesea Zebras, Oakleigh Cannons v Melbourne Knights. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Hume City, Richmond v Southern Stars. Sunday: South Melbourne v Dandenong Thunder, Heidelberg United v Northcote City
Round 20 (August 24-26): Friday: Bentleigh Greens v Heidelberg United. Saturday: Dandenong Thunder v Oakleigh Cannons, Whittlesea Zebras v Southern Stars. Sunday: Northcote City v South Melbourne, Hume City v Richmond, Melbourne Knights v Green Gully Cavaliers
Round 21 (September 7-9): Friday: Oakleigh Cannons v Northcote City. Saturday: Green Gully Cavaliers v Dandenong Thunder, Richmond v Melbourne Knights, Whittlesea Zebras v Heidelberg United, Southern Stars v Hume City. Sunday: South Melbourne v Bentleigh Greens
Round 22 (September 16): Sunday: Dandenong Thunder v Richmond, Northcote City v Green Gully Cavaliers, Hume City v Whittlesea Zebras, Bentleigh Greens v Oakleigh Cannons, Melbourne Knights v Southern Stars, Heidelberg United v South Melbourne
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