The Ararat Rats and Stawell Warriors are preparing for a big crowd on Good Friday after the Victorian Government has given the green light to crowds of up to 5000 people.
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The annual Good Friday clash between Ararat and Stawell will kick-off the Wimmera Football Netball League season, and signal the return of winter sport to the region with a big crowd anticipated at Alexandra Oval.
Ararat Rats president David Hosking is expecting more than 1000 people to be at the match with the club already putting preparations in place.
"We'll have a big Good Friday and it will be a big day out and a good game of footy," he said.
"We're hoping to get a lot of people there, particularly because there hasn't been a lot of footy played.
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"There is a lot of extra preparation that will go into the game because everything is bigger.
"We're confident we'll get more than 1000 people there now.
"We're really looking forward to it and so is Stawell, it should be a really good game.
Often clubs have recruited a marquee player to take part in the match, but with the announcement of the increased crowds coming at short notice Mr Hosking said Ararat have had to juggle those plans.
"We had a marquee player coming, it's unlikely that he'll come now because he has now booked a holiday, but even though it's short notice we'll try to get another one in." he said.
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"The AFL was going to let 50,000 people into the MCG, but we couldn't have more than 1000. The fact common-sense has prevailed and we're now allowed 5000 is good, but it's probably come too late for us to do the day that we wanted to do.
"Whilst we are happy that Good Friday will happen and we'll have a big crowd here, it's not what it could have been."
Stawell Warriors president Tim Williams is also looking forward to the day and the prospect of bigger crowds at big matches and finals.
"Historically gates (entry) have been around the 1000 mark, between 800 to 1100 and so we hope there will be as many there as we can get," he said.
"The bigger the crowd builds more atmosphere, more money for the club, bring more people through the gates to enjoy the day
"It's great for the players and good for the day.
"The gate money is very important and we want as many people attending as we can and more importantly we also want members and we want them signed up."
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