The 2026 Gippsland League season came to a thrilling conclusion at the Traralgon Showgrounds, with 10 premierships decided across football and netball on Alinta Energy Grand Final Day.
A record crowd of 6,615 packed the Traralgon Showgrounds for Grand Final Day, with the action also reaching a huge online audience as Gippsland League TV recorded 75,528 live stream views.
Traralgon enjoyed an outstanding day across both codes, claiming five premierships, while Drouin completed a memorable netball double and Moe broke through for the Senior football premiership.
FOOTBALL
SENIORS
Moe 14.7 (91) def. Leongatha 11.17 (83)
Moe ended its long premiership wait with an eight-point victory over Leongatha in an absorbing Senior Grand Final.
Leongatha made the stronger start, kicking 4.2 to Moe’s 3.3 in the opening quarter to take a five-point advantage into the first break.
The Lions responded in the second term, adding five goals to two to turn the deficit into a nine-point half-time lead, 8.5 (53) to 6.8 (44).
Leongatha fought back after the main break, kicking four goals in the third quarter and reducing the margin to just six points at three-quarter time.
The final term produced a gripping finish. Moe added 3.2 while Leongatha generated plenty of opportunities but could manage only 1.6. The Lions held firm to prevail 14.7 (91) to 11.17 (83) and claim the 2026 Senior premiership.
STAN AITKEN MEDAL
James Harmes (Moe)
AFL VICTORIA MEDAL
Dyson Heppell (Leongatha)
GOALS
Moe: H. Pepper 2, B. Crocker 2, R. D’Arcy 2, M. Poholke 2, B. Mullane, H. Sim, B. Smith, M. Woodall, N. Scagliarini, S. van Dyk
Leongatha: F. Phillips 3, J. Hume, D. Heppell, K. Drew, A. Heppell, N. Argento, J. Garnham, T. Brill, C. Maskell
BEST
Moe: S. van Dyk, R. D’Arcy, J. Harmes, N. Scagliarini, A. Paxton, D. Keilty
Leongatha: T. Marriott, C. Maskell, D. Heppell, J. Sheridan, T. Sauvarin, A. Heppell
EVANS PETROLEUM RESERVES
Traralgon 3.11 (29) def. Leongatha 3.5 (23)
Traralgon survived a tense, low-scoring battle against Leongatha to claim the Evans Petroleum Reserves premiership by six points.
There was little separating the sides early, with Traralgon taking a narrow 1.3 (9) to 1.1 (7) advantage into quarter-time.
The Maroons kept Leongatha scoreless in the second term and extended their lead to 11 points by half-time, before another tight third quarter left Traralgon ahead 3.7 (25) to 1.3 (9).
Leongatha made one final push, kicking two goals in the last quarter while holding Traralgon goalless. The Maroons added four behinds and did enough to withstand the challenge, winning 3.11 (29) to 3.5 (23).
BEST ON GROUND
Riley Adams (Traralgon)
GOALS
Traralgon: F. Watts 2, C. Booth
Leongatha: B. Fort, L. Allen, K. Berryman
BEST
Traralgon: R. Adams, K. Duncan, C. Booth, C. Ruyters, F. Kennedy, C. Scandrett
Leongatha: F. Donohue, I. Fox, B. Davidson, B. Willis, S. Westaway, A. Williams
THE ATHLETE’S FOOT THIRDS
Traralgon 12.7 (79) def. Maffra 5.6 (36)
Traralgon completed an impressive finals campaign with a convincing 43-point victory over Maffra in The Athlete’s Foot Thirds Grand Final.
The Maroons burst out of the blocks with five straight goals in the opening quarter, establishing a 30–14 advantage at the first break.
Maffra was held goalless in the second term as Traralgon moved 24 points clear by half-time, before the Maroons continued to control the contest after the main break.
Traralgon took a 9.4 (58) to 3.4 (22) advantage into three-quarter time before adding another three goals in the final term to complete a 12.7 (79) to 5.6 (36) premiership victory.
BEST ON GROUND
Jimmy Brand (Traralgon)
GOALS
Traralgon: F. Gore 3, H. Anderson 2, L. Hooper 2, M. Farley 2, K. Thorley, J. Murdoch, B. Stevenson
Maffra: J. Halligan, A. Stobie, J. Henry, T. Grumley, B. Cottrell
BEST
Traralgon: M. Podmore, T. Davidson, L. Pass, B. Adams, C. Tatchell, F. Gore
Maffra: M. Pendergast, A. Weatherley, D. Scott, J. Halligan, H. Walker, J. Linford
GIPPSLAND WATER FOURTHS
Traralgon 12.9 (81) def. Leongatha 1.5 (11)
Traralgon produced one of the most dominant performances of Grand Final Day to claim the Gippsland Water Fourths premiership with a 70-point victory over Leongatha.
The Maroons set the tone immediately, kicking 4.1 in the opening quarter while restricting Leongatha to one goal.
From there, Traralgon took complete control. Three unanswered goals in the second quarter stretched the margin to 38 points at half-time, before another three-goal term had the Maroons 10.6 (66) to 1.2 (8) ahead at the final change.
Traralgon finished the job with another two goals in the last quarter while keeping Leongatha goalless after quarter-time, sealing a commanding 12.9 (81) to 1.5 (11) premiership victory.
BEST ON GROUND
Fletcher Adams (Traralgon)
GOALS
Traralgon: H. Macpherson 3, J. Thomas 3, B. Cooper 2, M. Chan, F. Graham, O. Clifton, B. Healey
Leongatha: L. Chila
BEST
Traralgon: W. Edgar, J. Thomas, H. Macpherson, L. Field, T. Siemens, J. Sutton
Leongatha: N. Bradley, N. Cameron, L. Chila, A. Gee, H. Cooke, M. Hogarth
NETBALL
A GRADE
Drouin 75 def. Moe 73 — Double Overtime
The A Grade Grand Final delivered an unforgettable finish, with Drouin and Moe battling through double overtime before the Hawks emerged with a 75–73 victory.
Drouin made the stronger start to lead 15–12 at quarter-time, before Moe exploded with a 21-goal second quarter to take a 33–25 advantage into the main break.
The Hawks responded with a 17–10 third quarter to draw level at 42-all, setting up a gripping final term. Both sides added 15 goals in the fourth quarter, leaving the scores locked at 57-all and sending the Grand Final into overtime.
Still they could not be separated. Moe edged the first extra period 6–5, before Drouin responded with 13 goals to 10 in the second extra period to finally break the deadlock and claim the 2026 A Grade premiership.
BEST ON COURT
Stacie Gardiner (Drouin)
GOALS
Drouin: Charlize Traumanis 53, Stacie Gardiner 22
Moe: Ashlea Mawer 61, Georgia Moody 12
BEST
Drouin: Stacie Gardiner, Charlize Traumanis, Ava Gaul
Moe: Ashlea Mawer, Jordan Pyle, Georgia Moody
B GRADE
Drouin 37 def. Leongatha 35
Drouin completed a senior netball premiership double with a thrilling two-goal victory over Leongatha in the B Grade Grand Final.
The Hawks made the stronger start, opening up a 13–9 quarter-time advantage before another strong second term extended their lead to eight goals at the main break, 24–16.
Leongatha began to work its way back into the contest after half-time, reducing the margin to five goals heading into the final quarter.
The Parrots then launched one final charge, outscoring Drouin 11–4 in the last term, but the Hawks had done enough to hold on for a 37–35 premiership victory.
BEST ON COURT
Sarah Roughead (Drouin)
GOALS
Drouin: Brooke de Riter 22, Karina Proctor 10, Cleo Traumanis 5
Leongatha: Ava Brown 23, Emma Ton 10, Kate Sperling 2
BEST
Drouin: Sarah Roughead, Chelsea De Riter, Brooke de Riter
Leongatha: Morgan Adams, Rebecca Duddington, Keeley Smith
C GRADE
Morwell 37 def. Traralgon 34
Morwell claimed the C Grade premiership after holding off a determined Traralgon comeback to record a three-goal Grand Final victory.
The Tigers established control early, leading 11–9 at quarter-time before a 13-goal second quarter opened up a 24–15 advantage at the main break.
Traralgon refused to go away and turned the contest around in the third quarter, outscoring Morwell 12–5 to cut the margin to just two goals heading into the final term.
With the premiership on the line, Morwell steadied when it mattered most, winning the final quarter 8–7 to secure a 37–34 victory and the C Grade premiership.
BEST ON COURT
Jacinta Tipping (Morwell)
GOALS
Morwell: Erin Barrow 31, Nadine Soutar 6
Traralgon: Keeley Smith 15, Eden Bourke 11, Nicole Jennings 8
BEST
Morwell: Jacinta Tipping, Erin Barrow, Mikayla Couling
Traralgon: Morgan Adams, Rebecca Duddington, Keeley Smith
17 & UNDER
Traralgon 38 def. Bairnsdale 32
Traralgon secured the 17 & Under premiership after producing a strong finish to defeat Bairnsdale by six goals.
Just one goal separated the sides at quarter-time, with Traralgon leading 9–8, before Bairnsdale responded with a 10-goal second quarter to take an 18–17 advantage into the main break.
Traralgon regained the lead in the third, scoring 10 goals to nine to take a slender 27–26 advantage into the final term.
With everything still to play for, the Maroons produced their best netball when it mattered, winning the final quarter 11–5 to pull away and secure a 38–32 premiership victory.
BEST ON COURT
Amily Smith (Traralgon)
GOALS
Traralgon: Beth Wallace 26, Ruby Bridger 12
Bairnsdale: Ava Langley 16, Olivia Pearson 16
BEST
Traralgon: Amily Smith, Jayme Davis, Ruby Bridger
Bairnsdale: Olivia Pearson, Chloe Allen, Maizy Duck
15 & UNDER
Leongatha 33 def. Traralgon 22
Leongatha claimed the Gippsland Water 15 & Under premiership with an 11-goal victory over Traralgon.
The Parrots made the stronger start, leading 9–5 at quarter-time, before Traralgon responded with a 7–4 second quarter to reduce the margin to just one goal at the main break.
Leongatha took control after half-time, producing a decisive 9–3 third quarter to open up a seven-goal advantage heading into the final term.
The Parrots continued their momentum with another 11 goals in the fourth quarter, running out 33–22 winners to secure the premiership.
BEST ON COURT
Ashlee Spark (Leongatha)
GOALS
Leongatha: Anika Edwards 17, Jemma Rump 16
Traralgon: Emily Sawyer 10, Mylah May 7, Isla Bloomfield 5
BEST
Leongatha: Jemma Rump, Kobie Effern, Ainsley Logan
Traralgon: Emily Sawyer, Harper de Dios, Ella Connolly
13 & UNDER
Traralgon 34 def. Maffra 20
Traralgon opened Grand Final Day with a 14-goal victory over Maffra to secure the 13 & Under premiership.
Maffra started strongly and held a narrow 7–6 advantage at quarter-time, before the game swung dramatically in the second term.
Traralgon held Maffra scoreless while adding eight goals of its own to take a 14–7 advantage into half-time.
The Maroons continued to build after the break, producing an 11–8 third quarter before finishing with another nine goals in the final term. Traralgon scored 28 goals to 13 after quarter-time to run out 34–20 winners and claim the premiership.
BEST ON COURT
Tessa Jennings (Traralgon)
GOALS
Traralgon: Abbie Hazelman 19, Lillian Zanella 15
Maffra: Isla Dorning 11, Tabatha Coggan 9
BEST
Traralgon: Tessa Jennings, Abbie Hazelman, Kenzy Duddington
Maffra: Tabatha Coggan, Myah Henry, Emmy Gieschen
