SFL: See the 2025 Community League fixture, new grand final day plans

The Southern Football League has revealed plans for its two men’s competitions grand finals later this year. Plus, get your first look at the 2025 fixture for the Community League.

Cygnet playing coach Lachy Watt and captain Joe Direen Cygnet with the cup. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The new-look Southern Football League will have two bumper grand final days at North Hobart Oval in September with the Community League to have its own premiership showdown a week before the Premier League’s top two teams do battle for their cup.

After waiting about a month longer than the six Premier League clubs for their schedule, the eight teams in the Community League now have their home-and-away fixture.

The key features are the Rivalry Round on May 3, Anzac Day games, and night games in the 16-round series, culminating in Community League grand finals on September 13 and Premier League grand finals on September 20.

The new two-tier SFL competition starts with a full round of Premier League games on April 5, and a single Community League game between Cygnet and Claremont at Cygnet Oval on the same day.

The other three Community League games are a week later, with the highlight being Huonville Lions hosting New Norfolk at Huonville Oval.

The Mercury will live stream a game from each round of the SFL Community League this season, starting with Huonville/New Norfolk, featuring the Lions playing Collingwood legend Dane Swan in a one-off appearance in the red, white and blue.

Dane Swan will play Huonville Lions. Photo: Michael Klein.

“We are very excited because that is a big season opener for the Community League,” O’Byrne said.

“The club wanted to start the season with a bang and get a few more people to the game.

“A marquee player like Dane Swan playing in the opening round is a big coup for the club and will certainly achieve that, and they are having a car raffle as well, so it’s a big gala day and very exciting.”

The roster came out a month later than the Premier League fixture while the SFL waited for final player registrations came in for all Community League levels.

O’Byrne said the dual grand final days would be great for followers of regional football.

“We have a Rivalry Round, so that’s a key weekend, and Anzac Day games, we’ve got eight teams [Community League] so everyone plays each other twice with a couple of extra games,” he said.

“We’ve got two big grand final days in September, both at North Hobart, and that will be very exciting moment for the SFL.”

The winner of the SFL’s goal kicking awards will be given the boot, with Blundstone to sponsor the award for the first time.