By Tallon Smith

The picture surrounding the 2024 George Tooke Shield season has been made much clearer after the competition draw was released to the public last week.

Eight teams will contest the competition this season, with fourteen rounds scheduled for the regular season.

The year will begin with a grudge match when the Harden Hawks will face perennial powerhouses Bungendore Tigers at Mick Sherd Oval in a rematch of last year’s Minor Semi Final.

As two of the more successful sides in the competition’s history, the Hawks and the Tigers will be out to make an early statement to begin the year.

The remainder of the opening round sees Crookwell face the returning Binalong Brahmans, who are back after a year in recess, while North Canberra take on reiging premiers Boorowa and UC Stars host Cootamundra, with all games held on Saturday April 13. 

The dates of other major games throughout the season have also been set in stone, with none bigger than the Grand Final rematch between Boorowa and Crookwell, set down for Round 3 on April 27 at Boorowa Showground.

The competition’s Canberra derby will also occur that same day when North Canberra host UC Stars at Kaleen Enclosed Oval, with the League Tag Grand Final rematch between Harden and Cootamundra also part of what shapes as a massive day of football.

There will also be a night game at Boorowa in Round 4 when the Rovers host the Binalong Brahmans under lights from 7:00pm on Friday May 3, while the Grand Final has been set down for Saturday August 31, with kickoff at 2:30pm as per usual.

Meanwhile, in another revelation to come out of the draw, the Boomanulla Raiders have joined the Burrangong Bears in withdrawing from the competition and entering recess. 

The losses of the Bears and Raiders continues the trend of clubs withdrawing from the competition, after the losses of Braidwood (2016) and Gunning (2020).

That leaves eight teams contesting the Shield in 2024, the lowest number since 2020’s pandemic season which saw 4 teams compete.

It has been confirmed that the current five-team finals series will remain the same despite the loss of the two clubs.

The full draw is attached below.

Full 2024 George Tooke Shield Draw

• Home team listed first
• All games Saturday Unless Noted

Round 1 (April 13)

Crookwell v Binalong

North Canberra v Boorowa

Bungendore v Harden

UC Stars v Cootamundra

Round 2 (April 20)

Binalong v North Canberra

Boorowa v Bungendore

Cootamundra v Crookwell

Harden v UC Stars

Round 3 (April 27)

Binalong v Bungendore

Boorowa v Crookwell

North Canberra v UC Stars

Harden v Cootamundra

Round 4 (May 4)

Boorowa v Binalong (Fri 3rd)

Bungendore v Cootamundra

Harden v North Canberra

Crookwell v UC Stars (Sun 5th)

Round 5 (May 18)

Boorowa v Harden

North Canberra v Cootamundra

Bungendore v Crookwell

UC Stars v Binalong

Round 6 (May 25)

North Canberra v Bungendore

Cootamundra v Binalong

UC Stars v Boorowa

Harden v Crookwell

Round 7 (June 1)

Binalong v Harden

Crookwell v North Canberra

Cootamundra v Boorowa

Bungendore v UC Stars

Round 8 (June 15)

Binalong v Crookwell

Boorowa v North Canberra

Cootamundra v UC Stars

Harden v Bungendore

Round 9 (June 22)

Crookwell v Cootamundra

North Canberra v Binalong

Bungendore v Boorowa

UC Stars v Harden

Round 10 (June 29)

Binalong v UC Stars

Crookwell v Bungendore

Cootamundra v North Canberra

Harden v Boorowa

Round 11 (July 6)

Binalong v Boorowa

North Canberra v Harden

Cootamundra v Bungendore

UC Stars v Crookwell

Round 12 (July 20)

Crookwell v Boorowa

Cootamundra v Harden

Bungendore v Binalong

UC Stars v North Canberra (Sun 21st)

Round 13 (July 27)

Boorowa v Cootamundra

North Canberra v Crookwell

UC Stars v Bungendore

Harden v Binalong

Round 14 (August 3)

Binalong v Cootamundra

Crookwell v Harden

Boorowa v UC Stars 

Bungendore v North Canberra