
The Finals have come and gone and what an experience it was to have premier community football and netball back during September. The 2022 finals were met with heightened anticipation on the field with two sides in the premier grades going into the finals undefeated. Leongatha senior football side were on one of the longest winning streaks in country football while Morwell A Grade, still reigning premiers from 2019, cam in with 17 wins and a sole draw during 2022.
The fans were out in force during the minor finals with record crowds through the first two weeks of finals action. The Preliminary Final day was another huge crowd with Grand Final competition from three district Leagues on the day. The Grand Final forecast was bleak but the weather in the morning was as traditional as you could get for a Grand Final. The clouds and rain closed in the afternoon as the Senior match finished in torrential rain. There were still well over 4000 fans at the Grand Final which again makes the day to a major community sporting event.
10 clubs feature in the 2022 finals with all member clubs having one side in the football and netball to cheer on during the finals series. In testament to the state of the League, every club feature a side in week two and three of the finals. While the results went against the spread for Grand Final day, there was still representation from six clubs on the day throughout the football and netball grades.
Our social media smashed all records we had previously set. Over the finals series our Facebook and Instagram posted reached a total of 1.5 million. Obviously the content is seen by our followers on a regular basis but to get the reach combined with our engagement figures totaling over 50 thousand likes on our content, over 2.5 thousand fan comments and just short of 2 thousand shares of our content to a broader audience.
Gippsland League TV streamed a total of 20 finals to our fans that couldn’t get to the matches. This included 11 netball finals with the streaming of all A Grade matches for the first time ever. Our online awards day ‘SUPER SUNDAY’ where our online vote counts were broadcast live. Well over 15 hours of work went in to creating the presentations and to have over 9000 unique views was a huge positive with multiple gatherings viewing the counts live.
The onfield action was at a premium and especially on the football field the margins were unbelievable competitive across the field. The entire finals series in the Senior football was decided by 87 points. With the average winning margin under 15 points. This was highlighted on Semi Final weekend with both matches being decided by 4 and 3 points respectively. Qualifying Final day saw the two junior matches decided by a point and the overall margins for the day averaged out under 8 points. Overall 42% of all matches were decided by 2 goals or under with2 one point classics in the Thirds including the Preliminary Final where the Red Legs were seconds short from a Grand Final spot.
After one of the great finals series, there are many including us that can’t wait for the 2023 finals series already.

KEY STATS FINALS SERIES 2022
SOCIAL MEDIA – August 22 – September 20
Total Post Reach - 1,512,419.00
Total Post Likes - 50,870.00
Total Post Comments - 2,566.00
Total Post Shares - 1,910.00
CROWDS – Finals
#1 – Ranked Minor Finals Series Crowds
10,453 – Minor Final attendance
3 – Record Finals gates (Qualifying, Elimination and 1st Semi Final) – Note 2nd Semi Final had a record gate and attendance for a day 2nd Semi Final.
Gippsland League TV
9226 views – Super Sunday Awards weekend
818 hours of content viewed via Youtube during Super Sunday
9 – Football finals streamed live for fans
11 – netball finals streamed live for fans
2561 –devices and screens watching the 2022 Senior Football Grand Final
1583 –devices and screens watching the 2022 Senior Football 2nd Semi Final
Preliminary Final Wonthaggi Power v Sale - Most watched minor final with 23,410 minutes of content
278 - devices and screens watching the 2022 Netball A Grade Grand Final
CLUBS
10 Clubs with a football team in finals
10 Clubs with a netball team in finals
100% of Gippsland League clubs with a team playing on Preliminary Final weekend
0 – losses by the 2022 major grade premiers Leongatha and Morwell go through the A Grade and Senior seasons undefeated
THE MARGINS
3.5 points – the average winning margin of Senior Football finals on Semi Final weekend
7.5 points – the average winning margin on Qualifying Final day in the Football
14.5 points – the average winning margin for the entire Senior Football finals series
42% – of all matches decided by two goals or less in all football finals
87 points – total combined winning margins of all senior finals