Warracknabeal and Morwell locked in to host grand finals in Wimmera and Gippsland
Six years after hosting its last grand final, Warracknabeal has secured the Wimmera decider as Ararat chases a historic premiership treble.
Warracknabeal’s Anzac Park will be in “pristine condition” for the Wimmera league grand final next month when modern day powerhouse Ararat could complete a premiership hat-trick.
The Wimmera league last week confirmed venues for all finals matches including the return of the grand final to Anzac Park on September 20 for the first time since 2018 when Horsham Demons won its 13th flag since 2003.
Anzac Park will only be used once more before grand final day by the Warrack Eagles with their round 16 home clash to be played at Brim.
“We will handle it and enjoy having it as well,” Warrack Eagles president Paul Rowe said.
“It’s a great opportunity.
“It is probably in the best two grounds in the competition and is well maintained.
“We will only play one game on it in the next three weeks.
“It’s just had 40mm of rain on it so it will be in pristine condition.”
The last two Wimmera league grand finals won by Ararat have been played at Dimboola and in 2022 the grand final was played at Horsham City Oval.
Morwell was confirmed as the venue for Gippsland league grand final for the third year in a row following the first post-Covid grand final at Moe.
Morwell has also been locked in for the second semi-final after all finals were put to tender by the league after all clubs hosted a final across the two 2023-24 seasons.
The Gippsland grand final will also be played on September 20 as will the Ballarat, Bendigo, Central Murray and Murray league grand finals.
The Goulburn Valley and Ovens & Murray grand finals will again go head-to-head on September 21.
The GV grand final was traditionally the last country football grand final played on the day after the AFL grand final until 2016 when the decision was made to bring it forward a week following the pre-finals bye introduction in the AFL.
GV chairman Peter Foott said the league recently put the option of going back to the day after the AFL grand final to clubs.
“We put it to a vote just recently and they all voted to stay as it is,” he said.
“We put it up as a board after having enough people asking can we go back.
“Crowds haven’t changed that much since we moved it and we’re getting the same sort of gates.”
Foott confirmed admission prices for the preliminary final and grand final will increase.
“They haven’t moved for a long time,” he said.
The Hampden league is playing its grand final on the Friday public holiday before the AFL grand final this year for the first time.
Meanwhile, the Upper Murray league grand final will be the first in the state on August 30 and the second semi-final victor secures hosting rights.
