Ovens and Murray, Wimmera: Lavington and Horsham will host grand finals

Two more leagues have confirmed grand final venues. Find out where the Ovens and Murray and Wimmera league deciders will be played.

The Ovens and Murray league grand final is returning to the Lavington Sports Ground following a trouble-plagued $19.6 million redevelopment of the venue.

The league’s showpiece match had been played at Wangaratta Magpies’ home ground in 2018 and 2019 during works at Lavington that included one of the appointed contractor’s financial collapse and cost blowouts associated with discovery of unsuitable soil on a secondary sportsfield.

Wangaratta bid to host the grand final again, but the O and M announced this week it would be returning to Lavington.

“The league is incredibly fortunate to have two outstanding venues to choose from to host the grand final,” O and M chairman David Sinclair said.

“(Lavington) has undergone a significant renovation and will be an outstanding facility for spectators and players alike for the first O and M grand final day since 2019.

“We look forward to working with Lavington Panthers and Albury Council to bring to the region a wonderful grand final event that’s well supported by the local community.”

Sydney and GWS played at the redeveloped Lavington Sports Ground in February. (Photo by Mark Jesser/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

However, concerns were raised about spectator comfort at Lavington’s netball facilities that were not included in the almost $20 million upgrade.

“My personal opinion is Wangaratta is a better option because it’s netball courts are more spectator and competitor friendly,” Corowa-Rutherglen A grade netball coach Georgie Bruce said.

“I understand the reason it’s gone to Lavington because of the upgrade of its football facility.

“But Wangaratta, all things said and done, would have been a better option based on accessibility.”

The O and M grand final is one of two in Victoria being played the day after the AFL grand final, September 25, with the other being the Goulburn Valley grand final at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve.

Meanwhile, the Wimmera league confirmed this week its grand final will be played at Horsham City Oval on September 17.

EARLIER

Moe and Moama will host the Gippsland and Murray league grand finals respectively as leagues try to recover lost revenue after two seasons wiped out by Covid.

The GFL grand final was last played at Moe in 2017 and Moama has not held a MFL grand final since 2016, but both leagues believed they were the best choice of venues to get “bums on seats”.

Gate takings from finals matches are the biggest source of income for many leagues with finals series starting in most competitions across the state within a month.

Bruthen won the Omeo and District grand final 2019. The ODFL grand final will be played on August 27 at Omeo.

The GFL will play finals at Traralgon, Morwell and Moe with the latter to also host the second semi-final.

In 2019, Maffra hosted the second semi-final and went straight into the grand final, which it won over Leongatha at Traralgon.

Leongatha is three matches clear on top of the ladder this season.

.@GippyLeague have announced their finals venues for 2022https://t.co/GP8WE5s1jv

— Gippsland Footy (@GippslandFooty) July 22, 2022

GFL chairman Brett Tessari said having centralised finals venues was fair for all 10 clubs.

“It’s about the locations more than anything,” he said.

“The prices of fuel, travelling meant we decided to go this way and showcase the league all within half an hour of each other.

“There are a lot of positives to it.”

Moama hosted the MFL grand final between 2014 and 2016 following the departure of Tocumwal to the Picola league.

Tocumwal had been the long term home of the MFL grand final with Finley hosting the 2019 grand final.

Lavington won the 2019 Ovens and Murray grand final at Wangaratta. The O and M is yet to announce a grand final venue for this year. Picture: Mark Jesser, The Border Mail

The MFL has struck a deal with Murray River Shire to return the grand final to the recently upgraded Moama ground.

“The ground has got all the bells and whistles,” MFL general manager Dale Norman said.

“It’s right up there as a top rate facility and bums on seats are the priority.

“At a grand final you’re going to get the supporters of the clubs that are in the grand final and it’s about attracting the neutral ones to come along as well.

“Taking it to Moama in 2014, it opened up a whole new market.”

The first grand final to be played in the state will be the Omeo and District league on August 27 at Omeo.

Hampden league officials are meeting with Warrnambool Council next week to discuss playing the grand final at the Reid Oval following its $7.5 million redevelopment.