The Alinta Energy Gippsland League Board of Management has released the venue allocations for the 2023 & 2024 finals series.
The Board of Management moved to implement a community finals series over the next two seasons which will see all 10 venues utilized in the home and away season of the Alinta Energy Gippsland League used to host a finals matchday.
The aim of the ‘Community System’ is to showcase the member clubs and their facilities across Gippsland and promote the Alinta Energy Gippsland League’s showcase events across the five local government authority areas that the Gippsland League reaches.
The move away from the Centralized 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 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 Centralized Systems financial, travel and supporter focus, that the member clubs will have a greater opportunity to promote and showcase football and netball in their region.
2023 will see the finals held at Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve, Sale Oval, Maffra Recreation Reserve and Western Park, Warragul with the Grand Final held at Morwell Recreation Reserve. The Grand Final for both seasons has been allocated to Morwell Recreation Reserve after the League was advised by Latrobe City that the other major venues in Moe and Traralgon will have their football ovals continue the maintenance practices from 2022 which, from feedback provided by stakeholders, saw the ovals not present in line with the image and standard for major finals matches.
The 2024 finals will see Bairnsdale City Oval, Drouin Recreation Reserve, Leongatha Recreation Reserve, Ted Summerton Reserve and Traralgon Recreation Reserve used for the minor finals. The schedule for the Community System will see the all four major regions of the League (West, Central ,South, East) utilized each year of the system taking football and netball across Gippsland for both the 2023 & 2024 finals series.
THE FINALS – 2023 schedule
WEEK 1 – 2nd September & 3rd September
Qualifying Final – Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve
Elimination Final – Western Park, Warragul
WEEK 2 – 9th September & 10th September
2nd Semi Final – Morwell Recreation Reserve
1st Semi Final – Maffra Recreation Reserve
WEEK 3 - 16th September
Preliminary Final – Sale Oval
WEEK 4 – 23rd September
Grand Final – Morwell Recreation Reserve
THE FINALS – 2024 schedule
WEEK 1
Qualifying Final – Drouin Recreation Reserve
Elimination Final – Bairnsdale Recreation Reserve
WEEK 2
2nd Semi Final – Leongatha Recreation Reserve
1st Semi Final – Ted Summerton Reserve, Moe
WEEK 3
Preliminary Final – Traralgon Recreation Reserve
WEEK 4
Grand Final – Morwell Recreation Reserve
