Farrer League president David Oehm would prefer not to be up against the event but said the competition exists within AFL Riverina.

“In an ideal world, it would be good to avoid a clash because there are people who want to go to both,” Oehm said. “But we’ve got to factor in considerations with the junior draws and the RFL (Riverina League).

“The Wagga juniors finish the week before us… and we’ve got to finish a week before the RFL.”

On a blustery and windy day, the Farrer League decider between Marrar and Temora drew a gate of $29,907 – more than $4000 up on last year’s grand final in the wet, but below the $32,612 benchmark set in 2015.

AFL Riverina operations manager Shane Buchanan said it was a quirk of the calendar which will happen again next year. 

The Aggies race day is held on the third Saturday. This year, it fell on September 16. Next year it’s the earliest possible date, the 15^th. 

“The Ag races gate attendance was up, the Farrer League gate was up... so in the end, we’re acknowledging there's a clash but both events were a success in their own right, with increased crowds,” Buchanan said.

The Farrer League season began on April 8 this year before a general bye for Easter. Early indications next year are for a mid-April start, two weeks after Easter. 

Last week’s grand final also clashed with grand finals in Wagga Netball, Wagga Hockey and the Hume League.

“Considering it all, I was very happy with the crowd, a gate of just under $30,000,” Oehm said.

“Our (finals) gates are up about $10,000 on last year.”