New Gippsland League draw schedules grand final rematch in Round Two

THE official season 2024 fixture for the Gippsland League has been released. The schedule features 18 home and away matches with the season proper set to kick off on April 6, 2024.

The finals series will begin on the last day of August leading into the first weekend of September with the Grand Final scheduled for September 21.

Season 2024 will however be launched on Easter Saturday, March 30, with Bairnsdale hosting Traralgon in a special "Season Opener" match. This feature was trialed a few years ago with Wonthaggi and Drouin having a successful event and with both the Red Legs and Maroons keen to test the market in 2024 the match looks set to be an early season highlight.

The first round of competition will see a number of key matchups and local rivalries headlined by the A Grade Grand Final rematch with Moe taking on Morwell at Ted Summerton Reserve. Leongatha will also have the opportunity they wanted, being able to unfurl their Senior and Reserves premiership flags at Leongatha Recreation Reserve in round 1 against Traralgon. The Battle of the Birds between Maffra and Sale will also be a key fixture to look out for in the opening weekend of matches.

This year’s draw has produced a number of feature rounds with Round 2 playing host to the annual Loy Yang B Mental Health round. Traralgon and Moe again headline that theme round with a night match scheduled at Traralgon.

The Senior Grand Final rematch will also take place in round 2 with Wonthaggi hosting Leongatha.

The Round 9 Kings Birthday weekend will also be a feature again in the fixture with Bairnsdale hosting their annual 'Big Freeze' event against Sale on Saturday, June 8. Moe have also indicated they would like to run a repeat of their 2023 MND event and will have the opportunity to do that at home against Wonthaggi.

Traditional rivals Morwell and Traralgon will also meet up on Kings Birthday weekend but their day of eagerly awaited contests will be held on Sunday in a marquee matchday.

The draw includes a number of bye weeends on May 18, July 6 and August 10.

The byes this year will have extra significance as the Gippsland League programs the Virtue Homes Rising Star event, set to return on the May bye weekend, and the Dahlsens Gippsland All Stars final looking set to feature on the July school holidays bye weekend.