FOOTBALL
GIPPSLAND LEAGUE
By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT
THE Gippsland League fixture for season 2025 has released well ahead of yet another anticipated and sure to be great year of top-tier country football.
As it is every year, the inevitable complaints and finger-pointing at what club has been favoured will be made – it happens at any level of football. ‘Why are Collingwood fans complaining when they play 15 games at the MCG every year?’
Some intriguing points regarding the draw have surfaced, which could factor into who will and who won’t be playing off for the premiership in 2025.
BAIRNSDALE aren’t only the first team mentioned because of alphabetical placement – they have been dished one of the toughest cards of all.
The Redlegs play five away games in eight weeks between Round 6 and 12, by far the most kilometres in one stretch during the season for any club.
Even more is the challenges that present during this period, where they have to travel to Wonthaggi (200kms), Sale, Morwell, Moe and Leongatha with an added home game against premier Traralgon sandwiched in Round 8.
Fuel cards may be necessary for Bairnsdale players and officials during this time.
Considering the Redlegs were only a game off fifth spot with a round to go last season, things seem to have only gotten more difficult.
MOE will be at Ted Summerton Reserve in four of the first six rounds, which includes four home games in five rounds if you remove their Round 1 match in Bairnsdale.
That is evened out in the backend of the regular season though, where the Lions play four away games in five rounds from rounds 11 to 15.
LAST season, Wonthaggi fought from a 1-4 start in the win-loss column to play finals.
The Power will sure hope to get off to the best start possible to avoid keeping themselves outside of the postseason loop for the first time since 2019.
Not only will Wonthaggi matchup against last year’s top trio in Traralgon, Leongatha and Moe (first two away games) back-to-back-to-back from Round 7 to Round 9, they’ll also have to be ideally placed ahead of their final five matches.
The Power conclude with games against Sale, at Bairnsdale, Traralgon, Leongatha and at Moe before the home-and-away season is completed.
Depending on how they track in the lead up and through those stretches, it could set them up for finals – although, the luxury of resting players ahead of finals most likely won’t be on the cards.
THE Gippsland League season will commence on Saturday, April 5 2025.
The schedule again features 18 home-and-away matches, with a number of marquee fixtures. Traralgon will unfurl its senior premiership flag against season 2024 runner-up Leongatha at Terry Hunter Oval in Round 1 in a twilight time slot.
The Battle of the Birds between Maffra and Sale will also be a key fixture on the Sunday in the opening weekend of matches.
The A Grade Grand Final rematch between Moe and Warragul will have to wait until Round 8 after the Gippsland League fulfilled Moe’s request to take on Warragul on the King’s Birthday Weekend.
Bairnsdale and Moe will both continue their MND theme match days on the King’s Birthday weekend in Round 8, with this year’s draw also containing three significant league-run theme rounds.
The annual Mental Health Round returns to Round 2 in the fixture, while Orange Round will again be scheduled in June with the introduction of an Indigenous Recognition Round in July.
The byes will fall on Easter and in the July school holidays. Round 7 will also feature a bye with a split round being re-introduced to provide a break for clubs leading into June.
Drouin football and netball fixtures will be relocated during the season due to ground resurfacing works at Drouin Recreation Reserve. The venues for Drouin home matches will be advised at a later date.
Finals begin on the last weekend in August, with the Grand Final scheduled for September 20.
2025 Gippsland League Fixture
Round 1 – April 5: Bairnsdale v Moe; Morwell v Drouin; Wonthaggi v Warragul; Traralgon v Leongatha (twilight); Sale v Maffra (Sunday).
Round 2 – April 12: Maffra v Wonthaggi; Leongatha v Sale; Warragul v Morwell; Drouin v Bairnsdale; Moe v Traralgon.
EASTER BYE: April 19.
Round 3 – April 26: Traralgon v Morwell (Friday); Wonthaggi v Drouin; Bairnsdale v Leongatha; Moe v Maffra; Sale v Warragul.
Round 4 – May 3: Warragul v Bairnsdale; Drouin v Sale; Leongatha v Moe; Morwell v Wonthaggi; Maffra v Traralgon.
Round 5 – May 10: Sale v Wonthaggi; Traralgon v Warragul; Bairnsdale v Maffra; Moe v Drouin; Morwell v Leongatha.
Round 6 – May 17: Warragul v Leongatha; Moe v Sale; Wonthaggi v Bairnsdale; Maffra v Morwell; Drouin v Traralgon.
Round 7 (spilt round) – May 24: Traralgon v Wonthaggi; Warragul v Maffra.
Round 7 (split round) – May 31: Morwell v Moe; Sale v Bairnsdale; Leongatha v Drouin
Round 8 – June 7: Drouin v Maffra; Moe v Warragul; Sale v Morwell; Bairnsdale v Traralgon; Leongatha v Wonthaggi.
Round 9 – June 14: Maffra v Leongatha; Morwell v Bairnsdale; Traralgon v Sale; Wonthaggi v Moe; Warragul v Drouin (Sunday).
Round 10 – June 21: Moe v Bairnsdale; Drouin v Morwell; Warragul v Wonthaggi; Leongatha v Traralgon; Maffra v Sale.
Round 11 – June 28: Wonthaggi v Maffra; Sale v Leongatha; Morwell v Warragul; Bairnsdale v Drouin; Traralgon v Moe.
Round 12 – July 5: Drouin v Wonthaggi; Leongatha v Bairnsdale; Maffra v Moe; Warragul v Sale; Morwell v Traralgon (Sunday).
LEAGUE BYE – July 12.
Round 13 – July 19: Bairnsdale v Warragul; Sale v Drouin; Moe v Leongatha; Wonthaggi v Morwell; Traralgon v Maffra.
Round 14 – July 26: Wonthaggi v Sale; Warragul v Traralgon; Maffra v Bairnsdale; Drouin v Moe; Leongatha v Morwell.
Round 15 – August 2: Leongatha v Warragul; Sale v Moe; Bairnsdale v Wonthaggi; Morwell v Maffra; Traralgon v Drouin.
Round 16 – August 9: Wonthaggi v Traralgon; Bairnsdale v Sale; Maffra v Warragul; Moe v Morwell; Drouin v Leongatha.
Round 17 – August 16: Maffra v Drouin; Warragul v Moe; Morwell v Sale; Traralgon v Bairnsdale; Wonthaggi v Leongatha.
Round 18 – August 23: Leongatha v Maffra; Bairnsdale v Morwell; Sale v Traralgon; Moe v Wonthaggi; Drouin v Warragul.
FINALS
Qualifying Final: August 30
Elimination Final: August 31
Second Semi Final: September 6
First Semi Final: September 7
Preliminary Final: September 13
Grand Final: September 20
