The first round of the 2010 season is to be played on April 10, a week earlier than this year's start.

In what can be described as one of the greatest grand finals in recent memory, the Daylesford Bulldogs came from the clouds to overrun Hepburn and claim the club's second CHFL premiership in three years.

With the game being built up during grand final week as cross-town rivalry, more than 6000 spectators showed up to watch the contest.

Daylesford trailed by as much as five goals but its never-say-die attitude got the team back into the contest as it chipped away at the Burras' lead.

In the final quarter, Hepburn had its chances to seal the game but missed opportunities.

In the last frantic minutes of play, Daylesford's Andrew Button wasted no time, nursing the ball beautifully through for his fifth goal, giving the Bulldogs a five-point lead and sending the club's faithful into raptures.

Hepburn had the flag in its clutches, taking a commanding lead from the outset of the premiership game, only to have it cruelly ripped away in the final moments.

The game capped a terrific 2009 season for the Bulldogs.

The clubs have been matched up for the 2010 season according to the position they finished on the ladder this year, providing some tantalising first-up matches in April.

Fuelling the fire of rivalry between the two towns, Daylesford will have to unveil its premiership flag on Hepburn's home ground.

Although the CHFL has pushed the start of the season forward by a week the grand final will remain on the traditional second Saturday in September, this year's date being September 11.

The fixture also retains the now welcome break on the Queens Birthday weekend, June 12-13.

Round one match-ups: April 10: Hepburn V Daylesford; Learmonth V Dunnstown; Buninyong V Waubra; Beaufort V Bungaree; Ballan V Newlyn; Springbank V Creswick; and Clunes V Gordon.