Gippsland: Every club to host a final over next two years

A system whereby only three clubs hosted the biggest matches of the year has been shelved by the Gippsland league. Read about the changes.

The Gippsland league’s 10 clubs will each host at least one finals match over the next two seasons in a break with the recent tradition of playing them all at its three most central venues, Morwell, Moe and Traralgon.

Early finals will be played this year at Wonthaggi, Sale, Maffra, Morwell and Warragul followed by Drouin, Bairnsdale, Leongatha, Moe and Traralgon next year.

The 2023 and 2024 grand finals will be played at Morwell.

Leongathas’ Tom Marriott starred in last year’s Gippsland league grand final played at Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

“The aim of the community system is to showcase the member clubs and their facilities across Gippsland and promote the league’s showcase events across the five local government areas,” league general manager Daniel Heathcote said.

“The move away from the centralised system for the next two seasons is something that a number of member clubs have been campaigning strongly for.

“The recent off-field stability and success of the Gippsland league’s business operations has given an opportunity to explore the community system option.

“The board considers that allocating finals to all 10 member-club venues over the

centralised system’s financial, travel and supporter focus, that the member clubs will have a

greater opportunity to promote and showcase football and netball in their region.”

Moe’s Ted Summerton Reserve hosted last year’s grand final between Leongatha and Sale.