Gippsland League returns for season 2026 with plenty of movement across the competition, as clubs reshape their lists and set their sights on the year ahead. With a mix of premiership contenders, emerging sides and fresh storylines, another compelling season awaits. Check out the below preview by Nick Duck!
By Nick Duck
Bairnsdale
2025: 8th
Ins: Oscar Morrison (St Josephs), Sam Townsend (Old Scotch), Hamish Dawson (Bell Park)
Outs: Will Mitchell (Greensborough), Tom Blenheim (Banyule), Ricky Tatnell (Lucknow), Tate Clay (Morningside), Lachlan Cloak (Morwell), Josh Lando (Lindenow)
The Gippsland League’s eastern-most club are aiming to rebound from a disappointing 2025 as they deal with a number of notable departures during the off-season.
After sliding from eight wins in 2024 to just five last year, the Redlegs have lost their primary ball-winner in Will Mitchell, who has gone to Greensborough after three prosperous seasons as one of the league’s most prolific midfielders.
Add to that the loss of senior regulars Tom Bleheim, Ricky Tatnell, Tate Clay and Lachlan Cloak and the Redlegs have some work to do if they are to get on the right track.
On the positive end Bairnsdale has a league-equalling four players at Gippsland Power, indicating there should be a bright future ahead.
Inclusions include tough midfielders Sam Townsend and Hamish Dawson and rangy forward Oscar Morrison, who nailed 42 goals in 19 games for St Joseph’s out Barwon way last season.
Bairnsdale last made finals in 2014. Can they make some inroads into ending that drought?
Drouin
2025: 10th (1-17)
Ins: Lane Ward (Warragul), Vincent Kuol (Warragul), Jordan Kingi (Ellinbank), Tyler Canute (Officer), Sam Pratt (Ellinbank), Tommy Trist (Old Xaverians), Tyler Fowkes (Catani), Riley McLeod (Catani), Adam Campbell (Ellinbank)
Outs: Ben Tranfield (Pakenham), Jarrod Marshall (Devon Meadows), Kye Quirk (Devon Meadows), Caleb Quirk (Monbulk), Zach McMillan (Buln Buln), William Brewer (Warragul), Kyle Baker (Hill End), Aden Quirk (Pakenham)New season, new faces, old coach.
Drouin have looked back to go forward as they enter season 2026 with one of the youngest list profiles you're ever likely to see in country footy.
Jordan Kingi returns to lead his young charges into a new era after a year at Ellinbank as he looks to tackle some much more experienced teams.
Kingi last coached the Hawks from 2018-2022 and is one of just two coaches to have led the club's senior side into Gippsland League finals.
"Things are good so far. It's good to get back and get to a familiar place, familiar people," he said of his comeback to the maroon and gold.
"I can't fault the boys at all, their effort and intent at training has been awesome so far."
The Hawks will be thankful to be back on solid ground in 2026, having had to take the show on the road for almost all of last year while the Drouin Recreation Reserve underwent resurfacing works.
Now back at their traditional home and back to the Gippsland League following a failed attempt to switch leagues last year, the Hawks are building for the future.
Kingi coming back to Drouin has been driven in part due to the club seeking more on-field leadership for their young brigade, the majority of the Hawks' list now sitting between 18 and 23 years old.
Kingi even joked that by him coming back he's now 10 years older than anyone else he'll be playing with.
The veteran will be certainly a voice of reason and experience on the field. Given some of the names that have left in the off-season, it's something they're certainly going to need.
A big reason Kingi will be by far the most senior Hawk is the fact that a host of the team's regulars have left, headlined by brothers Kye and Aden Quirk.
The dynamic pair have largely driven the team's midfield for a number of years, with both sitting among the top players in the league for contested possessions and clearances.
Add to that the fact that skipper Jarrod Marshall also is gone and it leaves a fair hole to be filled, especially for a team that was already skewing extremely young.
Where others see issues, however, Kingi sees opportunity.
"It's a totally different group now which is awesome. Yes we lost some really good players, talented players but we lost what we thought we were going to lose and we were okay with that. We wanted to pretty much get a fresh start," he said.
"It's not going to be dependent on too few which is the biggest thing. They're obviously really great players and really good people and we know what they provided for Drouin but it gives us a really good opportunity to peel it all the way back and start fully fresh."
The Hawks have plenty of young talent to burn, with three of their players - Blake Bibby, Caleb Kleeven and Kaiden Walmsley - on Gippsland Power's list and another (Jett Proctor) on the development list. Three more of their players - Lane Ward, Brodie Atkins and Max Williames - are also on VFL lists.
Ward headlines their off-season acquisitions, crossing over from Warragul as a dynamic young gun in the midfield.
While he will be likely busy on duty for Box Hill for a lot of the year, Ward has certainly been a presence at training according to Kingi, and will be a valuable addition going forward.
Other new faces largely come from the local leagues, as Vincent Kuol, Sam Pratt, Tyler Fowkes, Riley McLeod and Adam Campbell all join from nearby clubs. For Drouin's midfield mix, newly minted captain Seb Amoroso will be leading the charge after committing to the club full time for the year. One of the most passionate players going around, Amoroso won't be leaving anything on the park.
Kingi also expects new recruit Tommy Trist to feature heavily as well as Zayne Atkins.
He also highlighted young gun Darcy Britt and the hardworking Noah LaFrantz as players to keep an eye on.
For his own role, Kingi hopes to be a coach first and player second.
"I think this year it'll be a lot less me trying to find the ball and a lot more me trying to help people, set the ground up, keep on top of people. Being more of a coach than a player is how I'm going about it."
While bullish about Drouin's young list and what they can accomplish in years to come, some short term pain is expected.
The Hawks won just one game in 2025 and while being back at home is sure to help the club as a whole, the senior team's success in 2026 won't be defined by how many games they win.
"We want us to be in games for as long as we can and if we do that we will give ourselves plenty of opportunities to win games," Kingi said.
"We'd love to win enough games to make finals and we'd love to win enough games to not be on the bottom of the ladder but from our point of view it's being in as many games at three quarter time to give ourselves the opportunity to win as we can. If we can be in 12 games at three quarter time we can look back and go okay well we had 12 opportunities to win games.
"It's going to be tough, there's some bloody good teams out there. We will have our work cut out but I also think we've got some talent and we've worked pretty hard this pre-season so hopefully the hard work we've put in can match the talent we've got and hopefully we can shake some feathers."
Leongatha
2025: 1st (premiers)
Ins: Fraser Phillips (Mount Eliza), Jack Sheridan (Old Geelong), Tom Vuillermin (Fish Creek), Josh Williams (Inverloch-Kongwak), Lucas Allan (Inverloch-Kongwak)
Outs: Cooper Alger (Garfield), Travis Nash (Churchill), Aaron Turton (Korumburra), Mitch De Kleuver (Meeniyan Dumbalk United)
They go alright out at Leongatha.
The Parrots saved their best ‘til last in 2025, utterly annihilating Traralgon in the grand final and avenging their 2024 defeat in the same fixture.
One of the most dominant sides in country footy added yet more silverware to their collection, their third in four years (and fourth in five if you count the truncated 2021 season).
Even when they struggled with personnel at times the Parrots kept the wins rolling, finishing on top of the table and winning the grand final by a staggering 95 points.
Personnel won’t be an issue for them this season after signing VAFA star ruck Jack Sheridan, who racked up a whopping 106 hit outs in a single game last year to go with a club best and fairest for Old Geelong.
Former Carlton rookie - and ex-Warragul local - Fraser Phillips also joins following a successful stint at Mt Eliza.
Leongatha have lost a couple too - Travis Nash has left after being a part of last year’s flag while Cooper Alger and Aaron Turton won’t be returning to the club after both missing the 2025 season.
But until proven otherwise the Parrots are once again the team to beat.
Given they’re the side that has featured in every grand final the Gippsland League has played since 2025, how could they not be?
The challenge is there for the other clubs - the question is if anyone can meet it.
Maffra
2025: 7th
Ins: Max Stobie (Collegians), Seth Smith (England/Cricket), Ben Hagley (Traralgon), Noah Szabatura (Orbost)
Outs: Daniel Bedggood (Heyfield), Joel Lambourn (Heyfield), Andrew McKenzie (Boisdale), Zach Felsbourg (Rosedale)
Maffra’s climb back up the table will look to continue in season 2026 under new coach Hayden Burgiel as they continue to develop their burgeoning young talent.
The Eagles won six games in 2025, up from two the year prior while their junior contingents took out both the under 18s and under 16s flags.
It’s that developing talent that Maffra will hope is the thing to carry them forward following another symbolic changing of the guard.
Maffra legend Daniel Bedggood has departed the club to coach Heyfield, bringing to an end one of the most storied stints in Gippsland League history.
Bedggood was the Eagles’ senior game record holder, a three-time premiership winner and their captain from 2018-2024.
Maffra will welcome back two young guns in Max Stobie and Seth Smith, the former returning from a stint in the VAFA and the latter from time away in England playing cricket. Despite their lack of wins over the past couple of seasons the Eagles have been a notably tricky opposition at times, their shock win over Traralgon last year proving they can be a real handful.
Improvement isn’t linear in footy and they may end up missing other players like Andrew McKenzie and Zach Felsbourg.
But there could be some exciting times ahead for a club that has become pretty used to success.
Moe
2025: 3rd
Ins: Blake Mullane, Riley D’Arcy (Frankston YCW), James Harmes (Western Bulldogs), Zach Skinner (Newborough)
Outs: Tom Murphy (Pines), Chris Prowse (Phillip Island), Matthew Heywood (Newborough), Justin Morrow, Warren Hester, Cody Wood, Jarrod Riddle, Bailey Sword, Brodey Wolfenden, Sam Hanson, Will Luke, Will Robinson, Dustin Blackshaw (Hill End), Lachlan Rock (Dalyston)
Safe to say it’s been a big off-season at Moe.
The Lions have made headlines across the past few months, namely after becoming the landing spot for even more premium talent.
The headliner is Melbourne premiership player and recently retired Western Bulldog James Harmes, who comes to the Lions just weeks after stepping away from the highest level of the game.
He joins great mate and fellow recruit Blake Mullane, who captained Frankston YCW in the Mornington Peninsula league, winning a league best and fairest in that time.
While their acquisition of Harmes has raised a few eyebrows around Gippsland given the Lions’ already stacked list, it’s primed them for yet another flag assault as they hunt their first senior premiership in 59 years.
Moe now boasts four players on their list with prior AFL experience, those being Myles Poholke (Adelaide), Ben Crocker (Collingwood, Adelaide), Declan Keilty (Melbourne) and now Harmes.
Add to that some key position power from Riley D’Arcy (who booted 55 goals in 19 games last year) and Zac Skinner and the Lions are a pretty scary prospect on paper, even with star midfielder Riley Baldi busy playing in the SANFL.
Moe will play the first two home games of their campaign at Churchill’s Gaskin Park due to works at Ted Summerton Reserve, but are aiming to return after that.
Coach Leigh Poholke will be taking more of an off-field role this season, dropping himself to the twos to help accommodate the player points cap thanks to the new recruits.
He won’t be complaining too much given the sheer talent he has to play with.
Of course, this isn’t the first time the Lions have entered a season with the best looking list in the competition. Time will tell if they can finally turn a team of superstars into a superstar team.
Morwell
2025: 4th
Ins: Kye Declase (Box Hill), Cody Chapman (Ballarat), Isaac Caroleo (Trafalgar), Lachlan Cloak (Bairnsdale)
Outs: Harrison McColl, Sam Walsh (Yinnar), Brandon Macaulliffe, Cody MacDonald, Tom Gray (Yallourn Yallourn North), Will Clark (Wantirna South), Brandon McDonald (Ellinbank), Boyd Bailey (Sealake)
Some major turnover puts Morwell in a bit of a hard spot to predict heading into 2026.
The Tigers fought their way back into the top five last season, breaking through for their first finals win since their 2014 premiership when they pipped Warragul in the elimination final.
Since then they’ve had some quality talent leave, while getting plenty back in return.
Coach Boyd Bailey has stepped down and left the club after four years in charge as a host of senior regulars depart.
Yallourn-Yallourn North have especially benefitted, picking up a trio of Tigers in Brandon Mcaulliffe, Cody MacDonald and Tom Gray.
Experienced coach Shaun Mooney succeeds Bailey in the senior role.
Coming in is VFL player Kye Declase, who spent some time on Melbourne’s list in the AFL, as well as Ballarat’s Cody Chapman, young Trafalgar forward Isaac Caroleo and Bairnsdale’s Lachlan Cloak.
Unfortunately for the Tigers their off-season has been known as much for a player they didn’t get as much as the ones they did.
Morwell had Footscray’s Will Lewis lined up for the year before the Bulldogs’ senior club picked him up late through the pre-season supplementary selection period.
Ironically Morwell’s loss also became a gain for a nearby rival - the Bulldogs only had a spot open for Lewis due to the retirement of James Harmes, who was quickly snapped up by Moe. All’s fair in love and footy.
Morwell’s last finals campaign was followed by two years of missing out - can Mooney keep the Tigers up the top?
Sale
2025: 9th
Ins: Brad Dessent (Sale), Mitchell Thacker (Sale), Thomas Mann (Woodside), Kaden McCulloch (Sale City)
Outs: Jack Johnstone (Cowwarr), Shannen Lange (Cowwarr), Cooper Whitehill (Hampton Park), Nathan Whitford (Sale City)
It’s a new era at Sale, who have had some major turnovers in the off-season following a less than ideal 2025.
While for some clubs it’s who’s arrived that is the story, for Sale it’s who’s left - and there wouldn’t be many bigger losses around than Shannen Lange.
The two-time Trood Award and Rodda Medalist has moved onto nearby neighbours Cowwarr, leaving a serious hole in the Magpies’ midfield to fill.
Also heading to Cowwarr is now former coach Jack Johnstone as the North Gippsland club completed one of the more significant trade raids you’ll ever see.
Ruck star Jack Leslie steps into the head coaching role, albeit in a non-playing capacity thanks to a prolonged knee injury, though he aims to be back on the field at some stage.
Brad Dessent and Mitchell Thacker return to the fold to help, but without Lange or Leslie available - arguably the club’s two best players last season when too often was already being left to too few - it’s safe to say the Magpies aren’t expected to be heavy hitters.
Can Leslie and his side surprise a few in 2026?
Traralgon
2025: 2nd (runners-up)
Ins: Frazar Brouns, Michael Jacobsen, Jye Neilson (Traralgon Tyers United), Kade Duncan, Hayden Willaton (Traralgon Tyers United), Samual Walker (Grovedale Tigers)
Outs: Ben Hagley (Maffra), Ben Cheetham (Glengarry), Kade Marsh (Glengarry), Sam Hallyburton, Tristen Waack, Goanar Ruach (Cowwarr), Peter Strong, Ethan Roscoe (Gormandale), Chris Williams (Churchill), Matthew Pearce (Northcote Park)
How quickly things can turn.
The 2024 premiers learned the hard way going back-to-back could be during a comprehensive grand final thumping, bringing to an end what was still a strong season for one of the league’s powerhouse clubs.
The Maroons began the year looking a little shaky - a dour defeat to Maffra certainly shocked punters around the league - but were able to bounce back and end the year in second position before their finals campaign came crashing down.
At times they looked at their lethal best, including a brilliant preliminary final win over Moe, and it’s that form they’ll be looking to carry into 2026.
A number of players have left, namely senior regulars Kade Marsh, Sammy Hallyburton and Tristen Waack, but the Maroons still have plenty of talent at their disposal, led by the league’s leading backman (and occasional forward) in Tye Hourigan.
The club has looked back to move forward, bringing back former Maroons Frazar Brouns, Hayden Willaton and and Michael Jacobsen among other recruits to help bolster newly promoted coach Dylan Loprese’s squad.
Traralgon should be thereabouts once again, given they haven’t missed finals since 2019.
Can they find their way back to the premiers podium in 2026?
Warragul
2025: 5th (11-7)
Ins: Will Brewer (Drouin), Andre Battista (Moe), Rhys Galvin (Old Scotch)
Outs: Will Hayes, Koby Grass, Lane Ward (Drouin), Brayden Fowler (retired)Let the games begin.
Warragul will enter season 2026 with what might just be the most attention on them in their history as AFL legend Gary Ayres takes the reins for his first season as senior coach.
Couple Ayres' arrival with the Gulls coming off their first finals appearance since 2016 and it's a recipe for great expectations.
Season 2025 was a significant one for the club's senior football side, who shook off a number of hoodoos that plagued them for years.
Winning at Maffra? Check. Winning at Sale? Check. Winning at Bairnsdale? Check. Beating Traralgon? Check. Winning two in a row? Check.
That last one turned into their longest streak for some time, the Gulls putting together six on the trot before falling just six points short against eventual premiers Leongatha on the Parrots' home deck.
A breadth of solid recruits and the Gulls' younger players stepping up led to the club earning the four points in eight of their final 10 home and away games, securing a top five berth after almost a decade on the outer.
And while a slow start led to an elimination final heartbreaker against Morwell, Warragul now enter the new season with a sense of optimism that hasn't been seen in a long time.
The CV of their new coach - whose recruitment was one of the worst kept secrets in football last year - needs little introduction.
Ayres won five VFL/AFL premierships in 269 games at Hawthorn, winning two Norm Smith Medals in that time.
He coached more than 200 games through stints at both Geelong and Adelaide and spent 14 years at the helm of Port Melbourne in the VFL, where he led the club to two premierships and three minor premierships.
"It was the right decision, there's no doubt about that from my personal point of view," the man himself said. "I've been excited and energised to a degree."
Ayres brings to Warragul a kind of pedigree the Gippsland League has never seen before, and it means there will be plenty of eyeballs on the Gulls this year all around Victoria.
That can have its benefits - no doubt Warragul will love to show what they have to offer to more people - but the added attention will naturally bring plenty of scrutiny and pressure.
Ayres has been focusing on what he needs to and that's just what's happening within the four walls.
"It's been encouraging. I must say that the guys have certainly hooked into what we've tried to give them from an education point of view," he said of his time since arriving.
"It's been, I think, received fairly well. It's been pretty energetic and I've certainly seen that there's going to be some good young boys that will develop over the journey. They've certainly been putting in the hard yards."
The Gulls have been fairly quiet on the recruitment front - a fact that may surprise some pundits who expected the club to go on a spree following Ayres' appointment.
Up and coming Drouin swingman Will Brewer and Moe thirds graduate Andre Battista are the only real additions to the Warragul fold.
Instead the club are backing in their current list to grow and develop. Given their wealth of talented players under 25, it's a fair bet.
Luke Garner, Caleb McIntosh, Rory Nettle, Tom Stern, Kai MacLean, Lucas Carter, Xavier Olsson and Alby Phillips are just some of the names that helped lift Warragul to finals last year and it's their continued improvement that officials are hoping can lift them to the next level.
The vast majority of the rest of the senior list have stuck around too - most of their departures come from players who played only part of last season.
"That's exciting from our point of view and my point of view especially because they've shown commitment to the cause and we'd like to think that if they've started something they want to become better and that's all you can ask, really," Ayres said.
The only permanent name to leave is Brayden Fowler, as the forward puts his body first following a tough few years with injury.
In terms of style Ayres is expecting to carry on where previous coach Jed Lamb left off, not wanting to overwhelm his players with an entirely new style.
"I haven't looked at changing a heap because I believe firmly that what Jed and the boys were trying to implement has certainly shown a fair bit of positivity, especially over the last 18 months," he said.
"We've got a little bit of speed so we'd like to make sure that we can put a bit of speed on the ball if possible. Also too have a consistent effort of making sure we get off to a good start. Games might not necessarily be won in the first quarter but they can certainly be lost. It'll be up to us to make sure our planning and preparation during the week is as good as it can be."
The aim for the 2026 season is pretty clear for Ayres as the Gulls seek to position themselves for a bright future.
"It's certainly about making finals again this year. What we're aiming for ultimately is sustained success, like Leongatha or Traralgon, those sort of teams that have been doing it for quite some time. That'll be our expectations and goals," he said.
While aware of the noise surrounding his appointment, Ayres is ultimately a people person, and that's where he's keeping his focus as he gets to know his new charges.
"For me the players are the most important asset you can have at a football club. As long as they believe in the vision of the Warragul footy club we'll be able to make some games over the year.
"It's been all about support. I'm only as good as the people I work with and I'm only as good as the list that I've got."
Wonthaggi
2025: 6th
Ins: Daniel Bourke (Hurstbridge), Tom Glen (Koo wee rup), Nathan Muratore (Koo wee rup), Bryce Joyce (Elinbank), Matthew Wade (Calder United), Jaxon Foon (Dalyston)
Outs: Ryan Sparkes (Inverloch), Jaxon Williams (Inverloch), Andrew McNeel (Parkside), Tom Davey (Kilcunda Bass)
A disastrous run with injuries ultimately cost Wonthaggi big time in 2025 as they challenged but ultimately fell short of a place in finals.
It's no exaggeration to say half of the Power's best side were missing for large chunks of a year where they began 6-1 only for their season to falter, winning five of their final 11 games.
Included in that run were three consecutive defeats by 59 points or more and even a loss to Drouin, making the Power the only side to taste defeat against the Hawks.
To be entirely fair to Wonthaggi they were a bit unlucky in a lot of ways - their final tally of 11 wins would been more than enough to finish in the top five in any of the three prior seasons.
New coach Tristan Francis steps into the top job aiming to put the Power back into the five, despite the loss of superstar midfielder Ryan Sparkes.
Big man Daniel Bourke arrives after stints at Hurstbridge and Phillip Island as Koo wee rup stars Nathan Muratore and Tom Glen will help to fill the Sparkes void.
Veteran Matthew Wade (not the cricketer) may be a shrewd pick-up, having spent time as both captain and coach at a variety of clubs, namely Tooradin and Nar Nar Goon.
With a new leader and a new start, the Power will be out to made amends for a season that slipped out of their grasp.
