Gippsland: 2025 fixture released with April 5 start

Gippsland premiers Traralgon will unfurl its flag in the season opener next year. See other highlights of the 2025 fixture.

The Gippsland league is set to rubber stamp an extension of the system where its 10 clubs get to host at least one finals match every two years.

A move away from all finals being played at Traralgon, Morwell and Moe has resulted in Bairnsdale, Wonthaggi and Drouin staging matches that draw the biggest crowds.

The change was introduced last year and league chairman Andrew Livingtone said “clubs were very happy with it”.

“From a league perspective we had a lot of record gates over the last two years,” he said.

“We think we will continue a similar model for another couple of years.

“We’ve just got to fine tune the catering side of things.

“There was a lot of scepticism two years ago, but everyone is pretty happy now.”

Traralgon beat Leongatha in the Gippsland league grand final this year. Picture: Warren ‘Wazshots’ Leyden

Overall gate-takings for the last two finals series of $134,146 (2024) and $141,677 (2023) were higher than the 2022 figure of $125,444.

Grand final gate-takings in the last two seasons ($53,832 and $59,381) were also up on 2022’s $43,912.

Morwell has hosted the last two grand finals won by Leongatha and Traralgon.

Meanwhile, the Gippsland league has released its 2025 fixture with the season to start on April 5 and end with the grand final on September 20.

The grand final rematch between Traralgon and Leongatha will be played in round one.

Bairnsdale and Moe will again stage their “Big Freeze” MND fundraiser matches on the King’s Birthday weekend.

No matches are scheduled at Easter after Bairnsdale hosted Traralgon this year.