2026 Local Football and Netball Preview

2026 LOCALFOOTBALL &NETBALL Preview

INSIDETHISISSUE

• Welcome to season 2026/Predictions...................................Page 2

• Gippsland League Pages 3-6

• North Gippsland League ................................................Pages 7-10

• Mid Gippsland League Pages 11-14

• Gippsland Power/Junior Football.........................................Page 15

• Female Football Gippsland / AFL and AFLW Representatives Page 16

• Fixtures ......................................................................Pages 17-19

2026LOCALFOOTBALL&NETBALL

BY LIAM DURKIN

WHAT'S happened has happened.

The wildest offseasoninliving memoryhas come to an end.

Nowthe real stuffstarts.

In amatterofmonths,the contenderswill be separated from the pretenders.

Beforethen however, it is essentiallyalevel playing field.

Everyone is keen andnobody has played. Eagerness greets everyfootball/netball season, and 2026 is no exception.

Anumber of teamslookprimedtocement championship status even further,while it could be nowornever forafew others.

Recruitment, most of it unashamed, wasrife during aone-month windowbetween October and November last year

Some big names were announced and plenty of jaws dropped, none moresothanwhen Sale pair JackJohnstone and Shannen Lange were announced as Cowwarr’s new recruits

As if that wasn’t enough, the Saints then landed Tristen WaackfromTraralgon.

If it is greatness Cowwarr wants, it is greatness they’vegot, with these three players allcomingwith VFL experience

Liam Durkin

Senior football premier

Gippsland League: Moe

North Gippsland: Heyfield

Mid Gippsland: Foster

AGrade netball premier

Gippsland League: Moe

North Gippsland: Woodside

Mid Gippsland: MDU

Heatison: Moe: Threepreliminary finals in arow,and now with an absolutestarstudded line-up powerbrokers will settle fornothing lessthana grand final.

Close watch: Sale: Afterthe train wreckoflast season, just howfar will the Magpies fall?

Welcome to season 2026

Greatness as faraspremierships is not guaranteed however.

These players still have to perform, and the team still has to operativewith cohesion.

One could argue North Gippsland has become the IPL of local footy.

While thereare stronger leagues around, the moneyissimplytoo good to refuse

Woodside has Hudson Holmes at the helm, another with VFL experience,while Gormandale has the one-two combination of Michael Diaz and Chris Wangman.

The TigersplayTTU in Round1

The Bombershaveplayedinthe last four grand finals,but lost just about everyplayerin the space of one offseason.

Gormandale has finished on the bottomofthe ladder everyseasoninthe same timeframe

Given howmuch the twolists have changed however, could the Tigersinfact roll TTU?

As Brokhampton said “it’sfunny howthings can change”.

Things do certainlychange in local footy.

Howstrange is it seeing former powerhouses Mirboo North and Newborough nowin rebuilding phases

The Mid Gippsland pair have added to its stocks however, and the Tigersespecially have welcomed afew players from Gippsland

League club Sale,who unfortunatelylook to be in aworld of hurt.

Churchill wasinaworld of hurtlast season, butshould nowbestronger given favourite sonChris ‘Squid’ Williams is backas coach.

Ben Kearns is also backona regularbasis, and Leongatha senior premiership player

Travis Nash has come across

Ah the Parrots

It seems to be said everyyear that they‘have to’dropoff

Will this finallybethe year?

Youcan onlyadmirewhatthey’vedone: afull decade at the top.

Everyera has its great team

When Gippsland League players of this era areasked by their grandkids who the best team of their time was, they will answer without hesitation: ‘Leongatha’ Moe will hope to become that answer, but needs to eradicateclose to 60 yearsof shortcomings first.

Traralgon won’tbeallowing that to happen without afight.

Expect Morwell to be good fornuisance value once again as well.

The Tigers’ little brother,YallournYallourn North, aretippedtobeamong the teamsto beat in North Gippsland.

Heyfield has been around the markfor a number of years, andwith Maffragames recordholder Daniel Bedggood nowinthe driver’s seat, the Kangaroos have some serious firepowerinside 50 to work alongside Leigh Brown.

Don’tforgetthe little clubs though.

Glengarrykeeps fighting the good fight, and while the Magpies might not have much on-field success to showfor it in recent seasons,byall accounts,club culture is strong and morale is high.

Aclub like Glengarryisactuallyinabetter position than aclubofsimilar demographics paying the salarycap just to field asenior team.

The Mid Gippsland Magpies,Yinnar,well and trulylook liketheyare goingfor aflag, having recruited extensivelytobolster the side that onlymissed playing in the grandfinal by a kicklast season.

Hill End has also bolstered its stocks, although its immediategoal is farremovedin comparison to Yinnar’s Fellowhamlets Boolarraand Thorpdale, finalists last year,will hold similar aspirations yetagain, in the quest to get the Mid Gippy cup out of South Gippsland.

Our team’s2026 predictions

Blake Metcalf-Holt

Senior football premier

Gippsland League: Leongatha

North Gippsland: Heyfield

Mid Gippsland: Yinnar

AGrade netball premier Gippsland League: Moe

North Gippsland: Sale City

MidGippsland: Foster

Heatison: Cowwarr: Recruiting suchhigh-profile andtalented playersnaturally brings attention and expectation from both insideand outsidethe fourwalls

Close watch: Hill End: Given their mix of youngand experienced recruits, to go along with aproven coach at the helm, it'llbeinteresting how farthe Rovers can rise up the ladder

David Braithwaite

Senior football premier

Gippsland League: Moe

North Gippsland: Heyfield

Mid Gippsland: Foster AGrade netball premier Gippsland League: Moe

North Gippsland: Sale City

Mid Gippsland: Fish Creek

Heatison: Cowwarrand Moe: With bigrecruits come big expectations Cowwarr haslanguished in the bottom half of theNGFNL ladderlong enough, while Moe’spremiership drought is well-document. Will their investments deliver thedividends theywant?

Close watch: Sale: Plenty hasbeen said in local footy circlesaboutthe Magpies (how much is actually true?) Willchanges at theMagpies leadtoa turnaroundinfortunes on the field, or ayear on struggle street?

AI

Senior football premier Gippsland League: Moe

North Gippsland: Tooclosetocall

Mid Gippsland: Fish Creek

AGrade netball premier Gippsland League: Moe

North Gippsland: Woodside

Mid Gippsland: MDU

Heatison: Basedon2026preseason reports, Moe is undersignificant pressureto win adrought-breaking GippslandLeague flagafter 59 years, havingassembled astar-studded side with added talent Drouin is also under scrutiny,returning to the league after arejectedmovetoWest Gippsland,while Gormandale seekstoend a63-gamelosing streak.

Close watch: Moe is carrying themost interest in the 2026Gippsland League season following amassive recruiting drive to end a59-year premiership drought, including thesigningofex-AFL player James Harmes.Otherkey clubsfor 2026 includeLeongatha, who remainthe team to beat. k

GIPPSLANDFOOTBALL Preview

BY LIAM DURKIN

SOME yearsago,Wonthaggi Football-Netball Club wanted to leavethe Gippsland League Officials said playing in the major league was “too hard”

Aformer Powerseniorcoach refutedthat however, rightlysaying:

“That's the whole point of the Gippsland League -it’ssupposed to be hard.”

Hardness,toughness and high levels of commitment will all come to the fore,asthe startofanother Gippsland League season looms large

These areGippsland’sbiggesttowns, competing in the best league,with some of the biggest names to rivalany country football competition across the state.

Moe has Melbourne premiership player James Harmes,Wonthaggi has Collingwood flag winner Jarryd Blair,and Warragul has twotime NormSmith medallist GaryAyres Get the picture?

You’re notplaying against pub and post office towns here.

If you’re offyour game forevenone week,the consequences can be severe

Leongatha has ruthlessly destroyed anyteam that’sbeen offits game over the last decade

The result has been one of the greatest dynasties imaginable

The stats since 2015 speaks foritself: five premierships from nine consecutivegrand finals

These gets Wi has suppor each The sounds am Bo At tir and Ben Fo

Wh inside ther good

chance PatrickIreland or Jenson Garnham will hit the scoreboard.

If either of those twofail, thereisusually Justin Pellicano or Jack Hume chipping in with goals

And in the resolutedarkness of atotal scoring failure, theycan rely on a36-year-old averaging 15 rebounds and 30 possessions a game drifting down from half-back.

The absurditythatthe birdconsidered the least menacing on the ornithological chart is the mascot of the league’s strongest team has,strangely, neverbeencalled out.

If anything,it’sbecome abadge of honour

Leongatha wonthe premiership last season by close to 100points.

Traralgon wasrunner-up,and Moe completed an unwanted trifecta, finishing thirdfor the thirdtimeinthree seasons

Moe’s departing players to Hill End mayhave figured they’dnever beat Leongatha, so they might as well wear their colours.

The Lions have lost alot of depth players,but recruited some star powertocome in over the top.

The star powerisundoubtedlystrong,and really, Moe is not going to geta better chance at winning apremiership than this season.

As Traralgon proved in 2024, and even way backin2005 however, nothing can ever beat ateam of mates who arewilling to play for and support each other

If you’re beatingLeongatha in today’s world, and Maffraofthe 2000's,you know absolutelyeverybody is playing forthe right reason.

Morwell demonstrated this in its back-tobacksuccess of 2013-14.

Sale wasjustabout untouchable backthen.

The Magpies areexpected to barely be competitivethis year

Ascarcelybelievable2024 (definitelyastory foranother day) nowsees Sale in afull rebuild.

This is arebuild from the absolutebottomup as well. The Magpies have lost at least 15 senior players,but that is onlyone part that needs fixing

Sale senior coach Jack Leslie knows the task ahead will be difficult, and has said from the outset this season will be all about repairing the club’sreputation.

Leslie at least has afreehit forevery game this year,asdoesDrouincoach Jordan Kingi.

The Hawks onlyhaveahandful of players over the age of 21.Naturally, theywill lose games on sheer inexperience

Leslie and Kingi will likelyb fighting each other to avoid wooden spoon this season, and could have Bairnsdale forcompanyinthat race to thebottom.

Absolutely no time to rest in pursuit of flag

road forall of 2024 while their ground was redeveloped.

It is very rare fora team to go through aseason without winning at least one game,and Drouin got on the boardafter defeating Wonthaggi midway through last year

Amazingly, that result cost the Powera finals berth. Wonthaggi defeated the top three teamsonthe runhomeand won10 games in total.

In anyother season that would have been enough to qualify forfinals

Not last year however.

It’saruthless competition, and thereare no easy games.

The Power, having been one of the competition's most consistent teams since 2021, could nowdropaway, at the expenseofMaffraorWarragul.

Therein lies the harshreality of the Gippsland League as well -ifyou don’t take your opportunity, someone else will.

AsWonthaggi wasworkingtoward a possible flag,the Eagles were slowly plotting he her nd of the e apult

ung ships ny comes ion. ahard is League hard. aralgon,

nthaggi, ,Drouin,

New Traralgon playingcoach DylanLoprese File photograph Moe

BY LIAM DURKIN

DON’T complain, don’t explain.

Traralgon -the club that just gets it done

Neverany fanfare, neverany desireto self-promote, or blame factorsoutside their control.

The Maroons just roll with the punches

Theywereforced to make sevenchanges beforelastyear’s qualifying final -four after the side wasannounced on the Thursdayand still won.

On that occasion, Flynn Kennedyand Jarn Macumber came up afterspending the entire season in the reserves.

Macumber wasevenondebut.

Howmanyother clubs wouldplayadebutant in asenior final?

Culture.

Disregarding the result forthe sakeofthe argument, Traralgon onlyused 23 player points in the grand final last season.

Again, culture.

Someone who has driven that culturewill now do so from the coach's box.

Dylan Loprese has made the move from playing assistant to playing-coach, and said he hoped to continue the work of his predecessor Troy Hamilton, who did the impossible by rolling Leongatha in the 2024 grand final.

“Wehaveaverysimilar list so we don’t need

2026LOCALFOOTBALL&NETBALL GIPPSLANDFOOTBALL

Maroons market looking after locals

to change toomuch,”Loprese said.

Hallyburton, while Luis D’Angelo and Joel Scholtes arehaving acrack in the VFL.

“It means acouple less players forus, butthat just brings up the next person in line togive them achance,” Lopresesaid.

“We’ve hadpeople knocking down the door preseason. We’vehad twoteams finish in the grand final last year,sowehavesomedepth there, it isgood to see our young players gettingrewarded.”

Lopreseisexpected to again playcentre half forward. Assisting him on the sidelines will be some familiar faces in Paul ‘Jumbo’ McCulloch and DanMcKenna, along with Brenton ‘Wonga’ Wight(midfield) and Mitch Membrey (backs). D’Angelo willalso help the midfielderswhen available Coach: DylanLoprese

2025: runner-up

“The boyshaveall been really supportiveand

than 100games with the Maroons,saidhe wasn’t taking anything for granted.

gy gg

yy pp the club’shelped (in the coaching handover) so it’sbeen really nice to have allofour players on the track.”

The local list has been maintained, via the additions of ahost of players from North Gippsland club Traralgon TyersUnited. Interest will abound to see howthe TTU quartetofJye Neilson, Frazar Brouns, Kade Duncan and Hayden Willaton go at the next level, although theyall have strong connections to Traralgon anyway through work and the social scene Loprese,atwo-time flag winner across more

“It’sastrong league.Warragul aregoing to be alot better, Moe clearly put themselvesupthe topwith some newrecruits and Leongatha, being over the hill, always keep it pretty quiet over there, butthey’re looking strong again,” he said.

“Making the topfivewill be agreat start. We just want to get on the parkand keep everyone healthyand hopefullyget into the topfive, if that means topthree,well then we’ll be really happy.”

The Maroons will be without swingman Tristen Waackand runningmachine Sam

In: Frazar Brouns,Michael Jacobsen, Jye Neilson, Hayden Willaton, Kade Duncan (all TTU), Samuel Walker (Grovedale)

Out: Ben Hagley(Maffra), Ben Cheetham (Glengarry), Kade Marsh(Glengarry), Sam Hallyburton, Tristen Waack, Goanar Ruach (all Cowwarr), PeterStrong,Ethan Roscoe (both Gormandale), Chris Williams (Churchill), MatthewPearce (NorthcotePark)

VFL: Luis D'Angelo,Joel Scholtes (both Casey)

Theme song for2026: BorntoRun -Bruce Springsteen

Player points are there to be used

BY LIAM DURKIN

DEVOTEES of trashyAustralian produced SBS comedies will be familiar with anumber of cult classics

One of them, Swiftand ShiftCouriers, introduces each episode with the line: "why does Keith's depot, always manage to stuffit up?"

Unfortunatelyfor Moe,asimilar question has applied over the last three years.

The Lions have been persistent -three preliminaryfinals in arow

They’vealso been consistent -three preliminaryfinal losses in arow

Moe has had very strong teams-some of them seeminglypremiership worthy -yet they'venever even got close to playing in a grand final, let alone winning aflag

It’sbeen morethan aquarter-centurysince theyreached the former,and well over half-acenturysince theyachievedthe ultimate.

About the worstway to assess Moe wouldbe through statistics

Theyaren’tunimpressive, butrarelywould youfind ateam with these numbershaveso little to showfor it.

In home-and-awaymatches since 2017,the

than adding James Harmes intoa midfield that already includes Myles Poholke, or Riley

D’Arcy intoaforwardline that has Ben Crocker coming off90-plus goals

D’Arcy joins acontingent of Mornington-based Moe players,and has kickedgoals by the bucketloadalong the Peninsula.

With that of course,comes pressureofa different kind.

Just Google image Mornington Peninsula, and then Google Image Moe,and you’ll get an idea of what these blokes areleaving behind.

“The worldwill go on,”Poholke said. “I'vewon premierships,Moe's searching for that premiership and Iunderstand that and there's definitelyawanttogiveit.

“But Moe's got everything that is more important than winning

“They'rea super club,super well run, super supportive, great family environment. So whilst we do want to win, Moe's already got morethanwhatwinning can bring.”

Coach: Leigh Poholke

2025: third

ing per r,

recordissix wins from 15 games

Clearly,Moe has had very competitiveteams, perhaps just not completeteams over the last decade

The Lions will hope that all changes in 2026. And really,you aren’t goingtoget much better

Second-year coach Leigh Poholkehas maintained from preseason, it is all chips in for2026.

“Our expectation is to playinagrand final, hopefullywin agrand final, no one is shying away from that," he said.

“We'll put agoodteam together,wethink we'regood enough, got to stay healthy.

“Forty-four players last year is probably nota great recipe to wina flag

“If we canstick around 30, Ithink we'vegot 36 senior players in our team,ifwecan onlyplay 30,Ithink we'regoing to be hardtobeat.”

And if the unthinkable happens?

In: James Harmes (AFL), BlakeMullane, RileyD'Arcy (both Frankston YCW),Zach Skinner (Newborough), Lachlan Rees (YYN) Out: TomMurphy(Pines), ChrisProwse (Phillip Island), MattHeywood (Newborough), Justin Morrow,WarrenHester, Cody Wood, JarydRiddle,Bailey Sword, Brodey Wolfenden, SamHanson, Will Luke, Will Robinson, Dustin Blackshaw(allHillEnd), Lachlan Rock (Dalyston), Robert Matthews (Nilma Darnum)

VFL: LukeCheffers(CaseyDemons), Jordan Shields (Frankston)

Theme song for2026: HolyGrail -Hunters &Collectors

Leaders: Traralgon’scoaches for2026 Adam Jaensch(fourths), Dylan Loprese (seniors), PeterRuyters (reserves) and Troy Adams (thirds). Photograph supplied

Lions have won92of136 games In finals during the same period however, the

Welcome aboard: Moe coachLeigh Poholke with prized recruit James Harmes File photograph

BY LIAM DURKIN

YOU arewhatyour record says you are.

Over the last four years, it is hardtoargue Morwell hasn’tbeenanaverage team.

Not above average.

Not below average.

Just average.

Since 2022, the Tigers have finished fifth, sixth, sixth and fourth.

In a10-team competition, if you are constantly finishing in the middle of the pack, that makes you average.

Morwell has had above-average performances since 2022.

The Tigers defeated Leongatha in both home-and-away matches in 2024, and have beaten Moe and Traralgon twice in the last four years.

But again, those have been their only victories over the top three sides (including one draw against Traralgon. Match of the centurydon’tforget).

So in 26 games against Leongatha, Moe and Traralgon since 2022, Morwell has won only six of them.

The Tigers won their first final in morethan a decade last season, and while conventional wisdom suggests this should be the minimum this year,itisnot going to be easy

“From our perspective, it’sjust about making sureweget offtoa good startatthe beginning of the year,” he said.

“It’satough competition as everyone knows, and everyweek you come up against some quality teams.

“For us it’sjust about continuing to build on what we’ve worked on over the preseason and make surethat we continue to build momentum as the season progresses.

back of aless than ideal preseason.

The Tigers recruited Will Lewis from the VFL, yet he is now playing in the big league with the WesternBulldogs.

Anumberofquality local players, understood to be disappointed with how the senior coaching position post-Boyd Bailey was handled, have also departed.

For incoming coach Shaun Mooney,hesaid early season wins would be critical for him as anew coach trying to gain collective buy-in.

“Thereisnodoubt that our team is going to look different -but that’sokay,itjustprovides opportunities for some of our new players but also some of our young players which is exciting for the footy club.”

Mooney’sappointmentwas kept under wraps until mid-September last year.By all reports, less than six people knew he’d signed on beforeitwas public knowledge.

Sale had put the feelers out, but Mooney surely dodged the biggest of bullets by not agreeing to coach the Magpies.

Mooney is familiar with the Gippsland League, having enjoyed asignificant career with Bairnsdale -arguably the toughest coaching job in the league.

He coached the Redlegs to finals in 2014 -their first since re-joining the major league from East Gippsland.

As they say,all clubs aredifferent, but also

Bairnsdale

Coach: Kane Ashwood

2025 result: eighth

In: Oscar Morrison (St Josephs), SamTownsend (Old Scotch), Hamish Dawson(Bell Park).

Out: Will Mitchell (Greensborough), Tom Blenheim (Banyule), Ricky Tatnell (Lucknow), Tate Clay(Morningside), Lachlan Cloak (Morwell), Josh Lando (Lindenow)

VFL: Jonah Walker (Casey), Cooper Vickery (Carlton)

Gippsland Power: Kael Frith, Jobe Froud, WilMalady,Jonah Walker

Theme song for2026: On the Road AgainCanned Heat

Drouin

Coach: Jordan Kingi

2025 result: 10th

In: Lane Ward,Vincent Kuol (both Warragul), Jordan Kingi, SamPratt,AdamCampbell (all Ellinbank), Tyler Canute (Officer), TommyTrist (Old Xaverians), Tyler Fowkes,RileyMcLeod (both Catani).

Out: Ben Tranfield (Pakenham), Jarrod Marshall, KyeQuirk (both DevonMeadows), Caleb Quirk(Monbulk), Zach McMillan (Buln Buln), William Brewer (Warragul), Kyle Baker

(Hill End), Aden Quirk(Pakenham)

VFL: Lane Ward (BoxHill), Brodie Atkins (Sandringham), Max Williames (Frankston)

Gippsland Power: BlakeBibby,Caleb Kleeven, Kaiden Walmsley

Theme song for2026: Bright Side of the Road -Van Morrison

Leongatha

Coach: Trent McMicking

2025 result: premier

In: Fraser Phillips (Mount Eliza), Jack Sheridan (Old Geelong), Tom Vuillermin (Fish Creek), Josh Williams (Inverloch-Kongwak), Lucas Allan (Inverloch-Kongwak)

Out: Cooper Alger (Garfield), Travis Nash (Churchill), Aaron Turton (Korumburra), Mitch De Kleuver (Meeniyan Dumbalk United)

Gippsland Power: Hamish Gill

Theme song for2026: Oh, What aBeautiful Mornin' -Oklahoma!

soundtrack

Maffra

Coach: Hayden Burgiel

2025 result: seventh

In: Max Stobie (Collegians), Seth Smith (England/Cricket), Ben Hagley(Traralgon), Noah Szabatura(Orbost Snowy Rovers)

Out: Daniel Bedggood (Heyfield), Joel

Lambourn(Heyfield), Andrew McKenzie (Boisdale-Briag), Zach Felsbourg(Rosedale)

VFL: Max Stobie (Williamstown), Zach O’Keefe(Richmond)

Gippsland Power: JimmyLittle,Judd Burgiel, Leo Stephenson, Will Burgiel, Macauley Pendergast

Theme song for2026: You're Gonna Go Far, Kid -The Offspring Sale

Coach: Jack Leslie

2025 result: ninth

In: Brad Dessent (returing), Mitchell Thacker(returning), Thomas Mann (Woodside), Kaden McCulloch (Sale City)

Out: Jack Johnstone (Cowwarr), Shannen Lange (Cowwarr), Cooper Whitehill (Hampton Park), Nathan Whitford(Sale City), Bohdi Walker (Sale City), HarryTatterson (Heyfield), Thomas Campbell (Mirboo Nth), Hayden Potts(Mirboo Nth), Will Leslie (Woodside), Hudson Holmes(Woodside), RonanJames, HarryRonchi, Lachie Ronchi, JakeHutchins

Theme song for2026: Horror Movie -Skyhooks Warragul

Coach: GaryAyres

2025 result: fifth

In: Will Brewer (Drouin),

All might be revealed four rounds in

the same in many ways.

“Culturally verysimilar,verymuch a‘footballnetball’ club which is really important,” Mooney said comparing the two.

He won’thave to wait long to play against his old side, with Morwell taking on Bairnsdale in Round 3.

The Tigers may need to wait some time however beforethe game plan clicks.

“Weneedtobepatient, need to understand that thingswill look different,” Mooney said.

“Boyd having done sucha great job for the last four years andbeensuch agreat player, we’ll obviously miss him, having anew coach, itjust takes time and patience, but we’reall looking forwardtothe challenge.”

Coach: Shaun Mooney

2025: fourth

In: Kye Declase (Box Hill), Cody Chapman (Ballarat), Isaac Caroleo (Trafalgar), Lachlan Cloak (Bairnsdale)

Out: Harri McColl, Sam Walsh (both Yinnar), Brandon Macaulliffe, Cody MacDonald, Tom Gray (all YYN), Will Clark (Wantirna South), Brandon McDonald (Ellinbank coach), Boyd Bailey (Sealake coach)

VFL: Kye Declase (Box Hill)

Theme song for2026: From Little Things Big Things Grow -PaulKelly

Is there anystopping the Parrots'premiership machine?

AndreBattista(Moe), Levi Moore, Xavier Olson

Out: Will Hayes, Koby Grass, Lane Ward (Drouin), Brayden Fowler (retired)

VFL: Liam Serong

Gippsland Power: Keenan Boi, Ash Mounsey, HenryAllsop

Theme song for2026: Read About It -Midnight Oil

Wonthaggi

Coach: Tristan Francis

2025 result: sixth

In: Daniel Bourke (Hurstbridge), TomGlen (Koo WeeRup), Nathan Muratore(Koo WeeRup), BryceJoyce (Elinbank), Matthew Wade (CalderUnited), JaxonFoon (Dalyston)

Out: Ryan Sparkes, JaxonWilliams (both Inverloch-Kongwak), Andrew McNeel (Parkside)

Gippsland Power: Thomas Macmillan, Connor Macmillan

Theme song for2026: Still Standing -Hilltop Hoods

That’s because Morwell will virtually have a whole new team in 2026 -this coming offthe

Moose muscle: New Morwell coachShaun Mooney File photograph

BY LIAM DURKIN

Moe

Last season: premier Coach: AlexMoody

In: Emma Sculley(pregnancyreturn)

Out: Hollie Bugeja (Yinnar), CharlizeBird (injured), RamayerKeilty(pregnant)

VNL players: Jordan Pyle,RamayerGourley (Gippsland Stars), AlexMoody (Express), Georgia Moody (Blaze), Ash Mawer(Hawks), Olivia Barnett(Hawks)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment players: Taylah Voumard, Virginia Daley, Lexi Doherty FOUR in arow?

Whynot.

When youhaveateam this good, youhaveto makethe most of it.

Moe offers ascaryproposition coming into season 2026.

The Lions have no less than five VNL players, twoofwhom, Georgia Moody and Ash Mawer, arewith Super Netball squads

Most Moe players arealso entering their prime mid-20s years, meaning thereislittle to suggest theywill be slowing down anytime soon.

That being said, returning coach AlexMoody isn't taking anything forgranted.

"The group is still really hungry andmotivated. "While we’reproud of what we’veachieved, the girls areveryaware that everyseason is anew challenge and success isn’t agiven," she said.

Warragul

Last season: runner-up

Coach: Sienna Green

In: nil

Out: Emma Ryde (Kilcunda Bass), AlexCole (Garfield), Naomi Allardyce (Trafalgar)

VNL players: Ella Rees (Casey), Sienna Green (Hawks)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment players: BrookeCahill

OH dear

What ahuge price to payfor losing agrand final by four goals

Warragul entersseason2026without its leadingshooter and skipper from last season. Emma Ryde and AlexCole have gone from teammates to opponents,with goal scoring machine Ryde defecting to Kilcunda Bass, and midcourtQueen Cole to Garfield.

And thereare no ins

The Gulls still have plenty of qualityinthe form of ReneeNobelius,EllaRees and Sienna Green, who is making the step up to coach the side

Just howgreat the losses arehowever could be seen by the time all teamshaveplayed each other

Morwell

Last season: third

Coach: Rachael Patterson

In: Isabella Rosato(Trafalgar), Edie VanDer Velden

2026LOCALFOOTBALL&NETBALL GIPPSLANDNETBALL

Out: TiffanyBoatman, TanyaBudge (retired), JaydeParsons (Maffra), HollyStephens (Longwarry), DaisyHill (Gippsland Stars)

VNL players: Anna Solomon (Gippsland Stars)

MORWELL players will knowexactlywhere theystand

That's howPatto operates

The straight-talking club favouriteisbackin aposition she knows well -riding solo as Morwell AGrade head coach.

Patterson knows all about premierships, having been at the forefront of Morwell's two most recent successes in 2019 and 2022.

Anumber of players from these teamsare still playing,meaning the Tigersshould again be competitivethis season.

The exits do outweigh the inclusions however, and some big names have departed, particularly retiring key defender Tanya Budge,while evergreen champion Courtney Garth will miss achunk of the season on maternityleave

Isabella Rosatojoins from Trafalgar,while the side will also hope to have Anna Solomon available moreweeks than not returning from Gippsland Starsduty.

Drouin

Last season: fourth

Coach: Ruby Pratt

In: Mwai Kumwenda (West Coast Fever), KymDiston (returning), SarahRoughead (returning)

Out: Christie Edwards,April Bethune (Warragul Industrials)

VNL players: Stacie Gardiner,Lainey Downie (Gippsland Stars), Mwai Kumwenda (Waves), AvaGaul (Express), Charlize Traumanis (Hawks)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment players: Reagan Joyce ATTACK of the 50 foot woman netball version?

Drouin landed the biggest recruit of the offseason, snagging Commonwealth Games athleteMwaiKumwenda.

The goal shooter is expected to be amongthe most prolific scorersinthe competition.

Historically, the Hawks have been a powerhouseofGippsland League netball, and aftera10win season in 2025, will be looking to enterthe topthree this time around.

Bairnsdale

Last season: fifth

Coach: Alyshia Kennedy and Alison Dwyer

In: Chloe Felsbourg(Maffra)

Out: Myah Healey, Brielle Malady,Maddison Fullgrabe

VNL players: Alison Dwyer,SallyDeller, Anna Mooney, Chloe Felsbourg(Gippsland Stars)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment players: Sophie Scott, Heidi Allen, Maizy Duck,Mia Ballinger,Chloe Allen

BAIRNSDALE appearstobeinahealthy position heading into2026.

The Redlegs have made finals the last two seasons,and with four VNL players, as well

as five with Gippsland Starsdevelopment, the immediateand long-termfuturelooks bright.

Leongatha

Last season: sixth

Coach: Lyndell Bruce

In: Ashlyn Pavey(Traralgon), Gemma Thomas

Out: Amber Walker,LaraGill, Audrey McGannon

VNL players: Tyla Peters (Gippsland Stars), Gemma Meadley(Casey), Jayde Hall, Taylah Brown(Express)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment players: LaceyFennell

LEONGATHA hasgained morethanit's lost.

The Parrots also have five VNL players, which should mean theyremain super-competitive most weeks

Aftermissing finals by onlyhalf-a-game last season, expectations arethatLeongatha will be among acluster of teams looking to break intothe topfive.

Leongatha generallyhas strong depth in its netball, rightdowntojunior grades

The Parrots wonthe BGrade premiership last season, and centreStaceyGilliam is one playerthat has come up to AGrade

Traralgon

Last season: seventh

Coach: Fiona Morrow

In: LaraNoblett(Boolarra), MarleyWallace(Mirboo North), StaceyJacobsen (returning), Kasey Guttridge (B Grade)

Out: Sophie Lecchino (Warragul Industrials), MillyMurphy(MorwellEast), Ashlyn Pavey (Leongatha), Cassidy Smith (B Grade), Grace VanTilburg(Gormandale)

VNL players: LaraNoblett, MarleyWallace (Gippsland Stars)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment players: Sianna Wilkinson, Beth Wallace,Ella Bigham, Ruby Bridger,Rahni Wissmer GUESS who's back.

Traralgon netball legend StaceyJacobsen will returntothe courtinseason 2026.

The 300 gamer will add invaluable experience to the list, which has been complemented by rising starsLaraNoblett andMarleyWallace making the step up from Mid Gippsland level. Both arewith the Gippsland StarsVNL program.

Fiona Morrow is also stepping up,having coached the Maroons to BGrade success in recent seasons

"Overall preseason has been extremely positive,"she said "A wonderful vibe amongst all grades,who look to be competitiveonce again.

"Strong junior teams, depth in the senior grades and the recruitment of exciting young talent to hopefullylaunch anew erafor the club."

The newera will see abrand new(andlong awaited) netball courtunveiled, to go with a sparkling pavilion this season.

Wonthaggi

Last season: eighth

Coach: Zac Mabilia

In: MillyJobe,Mackenzie Oracz (Tyabb), Olivia Oracz (Tyabb), Bella Anderson, Kathryn Scott(Dalyston)

Out: Chloe Cengia (pregnancy), Olivia Gilmour (interstate), MacyPeterson, Mia Plenkovich (travelling)

VNL players: Mackenzie Oracz (Blaze) WONTHAGGI area better team than eighth.

The Powerwas smashed by injurylast season, losing star local and former AFLW playerShannon Danckert earlyinthe campaign.

From there, things didn't get much better, and come the last fewrounds,Wonthaggi was simplytrying to save face

Anew season offers aclean slatehowever, which could be exactlythe sortofreset the Powerneeds

Former men'sAustralian netballer and Wonthaggi's ownZac Mabilia will coach the side, and his knowledge alone could be far more valuable than what is reflected in the wins and losses column.

The Powermade the BGrade grand finallast season and wonthe CGrade premiership Therewas suggestion howeverBGrade was stacked, so the acid could be on afew players to makethe step up

Sale

Last season: ninth

Coach: Julie Gerrand

In: EveSabell (Bairnsdale)

Out: Hannah Abdalla (Maffra), Emma Grunwald, Rachel Ronaldson (Ellinbank)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment: EveSabell DEVELOPMENT will be front of mind forSale in 2026.

The Magpies had achallenging 2025, as reports of playerdisgruntlement filtered through at various stages Maffra

Last season: 10th

Coach: Staci Scott

In: JaydeParsons (Morwell), LinleyBertacchini (Rosedale), EllyWeatherly, Rachel Weatherly,TillyFox,HannahAbdalla (Sale)

Out: AvaBuckland, Chloe Felsbourg (Bairnsdale), Chloe Proud, Ieesha Abdalla, Jana Hennig,KirbyBoyle,Maddy Dalton

VNL players: JaydeParsons (Gippsland Stars)

Gippsland Starsdevelopment players: Jesse Daly

MAFFRA has atotallydifferent team in 2026. The Eagles will likelywin morethanthe one game it did last season, given the qualityof ins.

The inclusion of JaydeParsons is significant.

By BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

NORTH Gippsland underwent quite the makeover during the offseason.

In morewaysthanone actually

Clubs across the board, both recently successful and less so, saw 2025 as a tipping point, and as such, the league had plenty of eyeballs on it during the recruitment window

Almost everyseniorside has brought in, not just one or two, but ahandful of Gippsland League and broader experienced players to help in their pursuit of the flag and areturnto competitive balance across the competition.

The last three years in particular has seen a significant gap between the best three or four teams and the rest.

That could be limited even moresotojust two sides, as Woodside and Traralgon Tyers United have played offinthe last three senior grand finals, and shared the top two spots on the ladder in each of those seasons.

While athreepeat hasn't been achieved since Heyfield did so from 1997 to 2000 (the only other is Glengarryfrom1966 to 1968), Woodside is in apositiontoreach that feat.

The Wildcats have lured Maffra premiership player Hudson Holmes as player coach for 2026, as well as Holmes' former Sale teammate Will Leslie.

The two Gippsland League clubs have been drained of talent in recent years, ahead of this season specifically,asHeyfield also revealed last September that Eagles legend Daniel Bedggood would coach the Kangaroos.

Bedggood, who takes over from Heyfield favourite son Leigh Brown, will join the likes of former Maffra teammates Mitch Bennett and Darren Sheen in the blue and white.

Each of Woodside and Heyfield are expected to be favourites for the flag, after facing offinlast season's preliminaryfinal.

The Wildcats' grand final opponent of the last three years, TTU, wereonthe opposite end of the transfer blitz, losing astaggering amount of players across the break.

Plenty of now ex-Bombers sought achange of sceneryfollowing its consecutive grand final loss at the hands of Woodside, with the likes of reigning back-to-back league bestand-fairest Michael Jacobsen and senior captain Jye Neilson exiting to Traralgon in the Gippsland League.

Breaking out as apowerhouse team across the last four seasons, boasting an incredible win-loss record of 65-8, TTU has succumbed in three of its four grand final appearances.

The Bombers' potential slippage opens the door for new finalists, as clubs look to pounce on the opportunities that present themself.

After Woodside captured its first North Gippy flag in 2024 (having exited the now defunct

Aapp achieved senior premierships this century, bar Gormandale (in 1995).

Speaking of, the Tigers wereone of the first clubs to put themselves out therewith a collection of new signings, including former Morwell player Judah Leak and journeymen Chris Wangmanand Michael Diaz as headliners.

Gormandale will be desperate to see change in 2026, pushing to break its longstanding losing streak.

By the time of Round 1against TTU, the Tigers will not have sung the song in the senior grade since the first game of 2022, which has led to apainful 62 games over the last four seasons.

Gormandale's offseason pales in comparison to that of Cowwarr,asthe Saints' trio of recruits continues to be the most discussed topic ahead of the season.

Last October,Cowwarr shocked the footballing public when they announced the signings of 2025 Sale coach Jack Johnstone, Gippsland League great Shannen Lange and former VFL player and Traralgon premiership player Tristen Waack.

Shaking thingsupinNorth Gippy footy

p

in finals for the first time since 2012.

Cowwarr will need to take an all-in approach and not rely on aselect few though, as anumber of other clubs will be finals contenders.

YallournYallournNorth has added some necessaryfirepower in an efforttorebound from missing the postseason for the first time in adecade, while Sale City brings in aplethora of Sale recruits to push for athird straight finals appearance.

Rosedale will equally bode well as they steadily build adeveloping list.

Having achieved its first finals victorysince 2019, the Blues will again be led by Michael Driscoll, despite being side-lined this year with aknee injury.

After atreacherous 2025 season, Churchill appear to be trending in the right direction with the returnofclubchampionChris 'Squid' Williams as playing coach.

Battered almost all season long due to a mass exodus of players and large injury list, the Cougars will look for marginal

improvement and some revenge for how things played out last

gpy y Yarram will have to dig deep this season, after losing more players than they've gained.

The same applies for Glengarry, who have sat near the bottom of the ladder for the last five years, and will again rely on ayoung crop of players.

The North Gippsland Football-Netball League also welcomes anew boardfor 2026, led by Paul Griffin as league president. Due to the amount of new players across the table, the league would relish amoreeven competition.

North Gippsland hasexperienced some monster scores and blowouts over the last handful of seasons.

Last yearalone, the senior competition had 25 games wherethe final margin went over triple figures, with six of those being by 150 points and three by 200.

Ladder prediction: Woodside, Heyfield, YYN, Sale City,Cowwarr,Rosedale, TTU, Yarram,Churchill, Gormandale, Glengarry.

Alberton Football-Netball League in 2008), ll North Gippsland member clubs have

With those marquee names and anumberof other ins, the Saints areexpected to feature

year

Team to beat:Woodside will be pushing fora thirdconsecutive North Gippsland flag File photograph

2026LOCALFOOTBALL&NETBALL

Churchill

Coach: Chris Williams (in -Traralgon)

In: Hunter Barry(Wangaratta), Bailey Flanigan, LukeMarriott(both Boolarra), Nathan McRae (Tarwin), BlakeDyson, Trent Johnson, Louie Jikow (all YYN), Travis Nash (Leongatha), Xavier Hughes (Inverloch-Kongwak)

Out: NickTwomey(Cowwarr), Marcus Sbaglia-Smith (Gormandale), Ben Skinner

2025 ladder: 10th (2 wins,14losses)

ONE year wasenough, time to turnthis ship around.

After2024resulted in just the second time Churchill missed finals in 30 years, 2025 proved even worse.

Amassexodus ahead of the season saw the Cougarsspiraltoasecond-bottomfinish, returning just twowins on the year

One who movedonwas club champion Chris 'Squid' Williams,spendinga year at Traralgon in the Gippsland League.Hehas nowreturned to lead ayoung side backup the ladder

Despitethe clear incentivetoimprove, as Churchill aren't necessarilyuse to limited success forthisextensiveoftime, their recruits have been relativelysubdued with an eye still on development.

"Looking forwardtothe challenge of the upcoming season," Williams said.

"Wewant to be competitiveinevery game we playin, we will see whereittakes us "Hopefully, we can get some rewardfor afew Churchill guysthatdid it toughlast season."

With the return of the 2019 premiership coach, othershavereappeared including playing-assistant coach Ben Kearns,Bailey Flanigan and Nathan McRae

Williams will also be supportedbystarrecruit Travis Nash, arriving to the club fresh offa premiership with powerhouse Leongathawherehe's celebrated on the last daythree times all beforethe age of 24.

Churchill will also have to split time with Moe forthe firstmonth, as the Lions playtwo home games at Gaskin Park while upgrades are completed at TedSummertonReserve

Cowwarr

Coaches: LukeHegarty,Keenan Hughes and Tristen Waack(in -Traralgon)

In: Jack Johnstone,Shannen Lange (both Sale), SamHallyburton, Goanar Ruach(both Traralgon), NickTwomey(Churchill), Oscar Kalan (Morwell), Caleb Michie (TTU), Jace Paulet (Boolarra)

Out: Robbie Farnham (Newport), Haydn Hector (Berrigan)

2025 ladder: eighth (5 wins,11losses)

FROM October onwardslast year,therewas no club talked about morethan Cowwarr

The Saints executed three of the biggest signings ever seen in North Gippsland's recent history, with the additions of Sale coach Jack Johnstone,Gippsland League great Shannen Lange and former VFL playerTristen Waack.

Much has been discussed by league pundits and followers alikeregarding howthis eventuated and what it means amid salary cap concerns

However, it can't be denied, the benefit forthe competition overall seeing aclub that hasn't playedfinals since 2012 push to move the needle Cowwarr co-coach LukeHegarty spoke to the Weekly Times not long afterthese monumental announcements,saying that the club's pre-existing high-end players sacrificed their ownplayerpayments in order to see success

Hegarty,who has led the senior group the last twoseasons seeing incremental improvement, stamped the expectation of a finals appearance in 2025.

"A big point of ourswith the players that we (brought) in to help us achieve those goals, and we thinkwe'vebrought in the right blokes to hopefullypointusinthe right direction," he told the Express

The club is said to be oozing with excitement, with apreseason featuring greatnumbers. Hegarty added that everyone hastoworkfor their spots

"It's not just the Cowwarr of old whereblokes can just think that they'regoing to geta game,"hesaid.

To go along with aplethoraofrecruits,the Saints also held ontostarforwardKeenan Hughes,despitemurmurs of apossible exit.

Glengarry

Coach: AlexBermingham

In: Ash Dugan(most recentlyMoe), Ben Cheetham, Kade Marsh(both Traralgon), Jarvis Kirk(Gormandale)

Out: JetHodges (Gormandale), Seth Healy, LukeHealy (both Morwell)

2025 ladder: ninth (3 wins,12losses,1draw)

IT'S difficult to judgethe Magpies. On one hand, theyare committedtoa young group,and with the personnel at their disposal, should eventuallysee results shift noticeably

On the other hand, Glengarrydoesn't appear to be adestination club,despitea great collection of volunteersand strong culture. Duetowaning results in recent seasons,the Magpies haven't been able to get the ball rolling and steadilyclimb backupthe ladder

One maythink that the senior side sits closer to Gormandale than anyone,but they've actuallyonlysat second-bottomonceinthe last four seasons

The Magpies have managed to nag a surprise win or twoeachyear to the dismayof those fighting fora spot in finals

Afterbeing thrusted intothe senior coaching role backin2024, club stalwart Alex Bermingham has been astabilising presence forateamthat's tagged development in recent times

Perpetually, Glengarryhas sat either first, second or thirdbottominalmost every season since 2014

Canthis be the year the Magpies makethat push?

It makes it toughwith who around them have recruited, butall theycan do istry

Heyfield

Coach: Daniel Bedggood (in -Maffra) In: Jack Challands (most recentlyMaffra), Liam Heasley(Springvale), HarryTatterson (Sale), Jake Boccari(Cora Lynn),Tyson Birss (SANFL reserves), Joel Lambourn(Maffra)

Out: nil

2025 ladder: third(15 wins,4 losses) NOTa badreplacement fortheir former AFL premiership player.

Maffra legendDaniel Bedggood will coach Heyfield in 2026, with the hope of elevating the Kangaroos intothe big dance

Afterafew seasons floating among the top teams in the competition, Heyfield looks set to go to thenextlevel afterapreliminaryfinal loss

Bedggood told the Express that coaching had always been on his mind, and afterafew seasons out of finals contention at Maffra, the starsaligned at Heyfield with Leigh Brown stepping aside

"I think it's going to be ahardfought season with clubs recruiting very well," he said.

"Ultimately, everyone is out theretowin the premiership and we arenodifferent "Wewilllook to celebratethe little wins along the wayand hopefullyweare thereabout come the pointyend of theseason."

Still giftedwith ahealthymix of youthand experience,the Kangaroos havebeen right around the mark this decade,but notgood enough to reach agrand final.

Heyfield supporters will keenlywatch on in anticipation of getting backtothe big dance forthe firsttime since 2016 -the last of a five-yearrun which began with the 2012 premiership and then four straight grandfinal losses

Brown, the former Collingwood flag hero and nowHeyfield football director,will play on, contributing to astrong forwardline alongside Darren Sheen -former teammate of Bedggood at Maffra.

Rosedale

Coach: Michael Driscoll

In: Zach Felsbourg(Maffra), Ben Agnew (NorthernTerritory), Hayden Bell (returning), RileyBoyle (Kangaroo Island), BrodeyRudd (Cairns), Hunter Henry(Traralgon)

Out: Harper Fox (WAFL)

2025 ladder: fourth (10wins,7losses,1 draw)

AFTER winning afinal forthe firsttimesince 2019,where to nowfor the Blues?

The onlyway is up,and Rosedale is fully awarea consecutivefinals berth won'tjust be handed to them.

Michael Driscoll returnsascoach afterthe success of his firstyear at the club

The Swiss Army Knife, as one of the most effectiveplayers down back andalso swinging forwardtokick25goals on the year,will have to take adifferent approach in commanding his younggroup this year

Aftersuffering an ACLinjuryinthe Blues' semi-final loss to Heyfield, Driscoll will lead from the side-lines all season long "Reallylooking forwardtothe year," he said. "Hoping our young, exciting list can playa moreconsistent brand of footyand show maturityintheir development."

Still remaining true to their morals,the Blues have added add even more younglegs to their side in an effort to followwhat once worked.

Rosedale should remain confident, and patient, in what they'redoing,asthe Blues onlymissed out on aspotinthe preliminary final by 12 points

Being one year older is sometimes betterthan adding fresh faces to the mix.

TTU

Coach: Jack Brown

In: Rohan Hildebrand (returning)

Out: Caleb Michie (Cowwarr), SamDuguid (YYN), StuartGoddard(Geelong District), JyeNeilson,Frazar Brouns,Hayden Willaton, Michael Jacobsen, Kade Duncan (all Traralgon), James Jacobsen (Yinnar), Riley Denovan(Woodside)

2025 ladder: runner-up (16wins,2loss)

END of an era?

Foraclub that has playedinthe last four senior grand finals forthe returnofone premiership,the sceneryatTraralgon Tyers United will surebedifferent come Round1

Afterasecond straight loss in the big dance at the hands of Woodside,aherdofplayers elected to play their football elsewherein 2026.

Eight players have exited from last year's grand final team,withTraralgon the biggest beneficiaries,namelyaddingBombers premiership skipper JyeNeilson andreigning back-to-backleague best-and-fairest winner

Michael Jacobsen.

Bruting ruckman Frazar Brouns,Hayden Willaton (brother of Traralgon premiership playerLiam) and Kade Duncan nowtakes the number of ex-TTU players at the Maroons to 10 since the Bomberswon the flag

An overwhelming majorityofthat list featured in TTU's breakthrough premiership in 2023. However, the Bombersstill remain around half of its grandfinal winning side at the club, including premiership coach Jack Brown. Despitethe noise surrounding TTU,a completenosediveshouldbeunlikely this season.

Given the pedigreestill at their disposal, the team will still be competitiveaslong as they have players available

Opportunities will nowbepresented to other players to flourish, as TTU has been even moresuccessful in the reservescompetition in recent years, manyof whom will nowbe pushed up intothe maingame

The Bombershavewon three of the last four reservespremierships,and additionally celebrated an under 18sflagin2024.

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YYN

Coach: Dean MacDonald and Barrie Burnett

In: Cody MacDonald, Brandon Mcauliffe, TomGray, Brandon Bailey(all Morwell), Sam Duguid (TTU), Korey Carrison (Yarram)

Out: BlakeDyson, Trent Johnson, Louie Jikow (all Churchill), Blair Clymo,Bailey Brown(both Morwell East)

2025 ladder: sixth (9 wins,7losses)

AGOLDENpairing to saythe least.

YallournYallourn North's two-time premiership coach Barrie Burnettofficiallyreturns to the coaching ranksin2026, supporting secondyear coach Dean MacDonald.

The Jets missed finals forthe firsttime in adecade last season, requiringa levelof introspection forthe group.

Additional hands on deckwas apparent to supportfirst-time coach MacDonald.

The premier forward, who is less than 50 goals away from the 1000-milestone, acknowledged their downfalls last season, but noted greatexcitement around the club

"Preseason has been very solid with the boys putting in the hardwork," he said.

"Lots of familiar faces and acouple of new ones,it's been great."

Just as the Jets (then Bombers) did when theystormed up theladderin2015, the recruitment of ahandful of Morwell players is being tagged as acentral component to putting them backinapositionfor the premiership

Tenyearsago,itwas the returnofYYN boys TomHuttonand Campbell MacInnes from the Tigers, bringing with them coach Adam Bailey and MacDonald.

Following the homecoming of three-time club best-and-fairest and 2019 premiership captain Tyler Brownlastyear,the Jets nowadd four players from aside that featured in Gippsland League finals last season.

Burnett, YYN's senior games recordholder of morethan 400 games,saidthe workload will be shared equallythisyear

"Reallykeen to be back working with Mac (MacDonald) this year," he said.

"The newboyshavebeena great lifttothe group."

Gormandale

Coach: Shane Duncan

In: JetHodges (Glengarry), JudahLeek (Morwell), Chris Wangman, Michael Diaz (both Morwell East), PeterStrong,Ethan Roscoe (both Traralgon),Marcus SbagliaSmith (Churchill), JaxonMembrey (Noosa), BryceCortese (Frankston)

Out: Jarvis Kirk(Glengarry)

2025 ladder: ninth (0wins,15losses)

Sale City

Coach: Jacob Schuback

In: BaileyHarrison, Nathan Whitford, Tyson Dobson, Bohdi Walker,Sam Treglown (all Sale)

Out: Jaxsyn Whitehill (personal) 2025 ladder: fifth(9wins,7losses)

Woodside

Coach: Hudson Holmes (in -Montmorency)

In: Will Leslie (Sale), RileyDenovan (TTU)

Out: Brody Stainer,Liam Leeson, Cooper Ryan (allretired)

2025 ladder: premier (17wins,2losses)

Yarram

Coach: Brett Mitchell

In: Toby Mitchell (WaburtonMillgrove), Tyler Chisholm (WesternAustralia)

Out: Boadie Motton(Warragul Industrials), Jordan Knox, Lachlan Earles (both Toora), Dylan Garnham, NickMcKenzie (both Tarwin), Korey Carrison (YYN) 2025 ladder: seventh (6 wins,10losses)

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BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

BUZZ surrounds the Mid Gippsland FootballNetball League ahead of season 2026.

As is the case beforeevery football year, all clubs enter with worlds of hope and anticipation.

It is onlyasthe cold winter months arrive, especiallyonthe tough grounds of Mid Gippy, that positivitybegins tofade as results,and reality, begins to show.

The 2020's have showcased predictable opponents on grand final day, barone special exception, the toptwo teamsonthe ladder have regularlyfeatured on the last day. Under newguidance,Foster will be the hunted rather than the hunter aftersecuring its firstseniorpremiership since 2019

The Tigersfought tooth-and-nail to denyFish Creek's claim forback-to-back-to-backflags last September

Despitesome from the premiership team retiring or missing due to injury, first-year coach Jake Best will have histroopsready for Round 1, with the expectation of defending what theyrightfullygained.

Aformer Traralgon senior coach and CaseyDemons player, Best returned to his hometownclubin2024and wonhis firstflag with the Tigerssince 2010

Foster recalibrated its list with the re-emergence of Best (who has booted 164 goals since arriving in Mid Gippy), butwill againbetested by adominantFish Creek outfit.

At the beginning of last season, it didn't appear anyone wouldget near the Kangaroos in the foreseeable future, aftercollecting its 37th and 38th senior premierships in the second and thirdcompleted seasons competing in Mid Gippsland.

Once again led by Jarrod Walker,his side wasdenied entryintothe exclusivethree-peat club,which has onlybeen achievedthree times in league history(Newborough 1988 to 1990,Yinnar 1969-1971, and Hazelwood 1951-1953).

Fish Creek has already achievedthat feat and betterinits ownclub history, most recently with consecutiveflags from 2016 to 2018 in the nowdefunct AlbertonFNL (and going back, from 2000-2002, 1963-1967,and 19581961), meaning the Kangaroos will continue to be adifficult opponent forthe competition. Unlikeother clubs who created noise across the break, Yinnar stealthilystakedits position near the topwith some under the radar signings

The Magpies,who have reached at minimum the preliminaryfinal in three of the last four seasons,will see former Yinnar juniorsand recent Morwell players SamWalsh and Harri McColl backinthe blackand whiteinpursuit of the club's 15th senior premiership

Despitebeing just akickawayfroma second straight grand final appearance,the Magpies look fittorespond in full forcefollowing three

Mid Gippsland goes back to the future

d mg g

aftercapturing the premiership in 2022 coming from sixth place

Yinnar's result that year should be on the minds of anyone of the clubs eyeing finals placement, which included five teams, from fifthtoninth, separated by twowins by the end of the last regularseason.

Thorpdale finished at the topofthat list, ironicallyled by Yinnar's 2022 premiership coach Daniel Taylor,while Mirboo North were on the outside looking in.

Similar to what the AFL implemented for this season, the Tigerswereforced to play a wild card-esque match in Round18against Boolarratodetermine who wouldqualify for finals

The twoclubs look to have improved, each with third-year coaches at the helm and tactical inclusions

Under Damien Turner,Mirboo North has added experience to ayoung list.

The Tigershavedonethe hardyards previously, relying on homegrown talent to shoot up the ladder p footballersdonning theDemons coloursto keep them in the mix.

Newborough experienced adownyear in 2025, butwith some fresh legs at the disposal of second-year coach Patt Frendo,the Bulldogs will hope to respond.

South Gippsland clubs Meeniyan Dumbalk United and Tarwin appear to be holding steady foranother shot at finals

While unlikelytoinstantly slide intothe topsix, Hill End completed an impressiveoff-season, which included the appointment of anew coach and an abundance of newplayers to its existing group

Afterthree yearstoiling at the bottomor near the bottomofthe ladder,the Rovers announced former Newborough and Trafalgar senior coach TomHallinan wouldbeleading the next stage of its rebuild.

What followedonfromthatwas amonsoon of playersignings,namelybeing atotal of 10 blokes from Moe's senior and reserves list making the jump to Hill End, along with a number of other Drouin, Trafalgar and broader imports

rs gy ar forthe betterment of development. Similar sentiments will be flowing through Morwell East as well this season, after experiencing asurprise spiral down the ladder

While the Hawks might struggle in the senior grade foranother year,a positivewillbethe returnofanunder 18 team -wherethey'll featurefor thefirst time since 2021, and prior to that, 2017

In great news,Mid Gippsland FNLwill return to afullfixtureoffootball on Saturday's with both under 18sand under16s getting up Afterturning around its thirds (U18s) competition last year,the league revealed that they hadreacquiredunder 16sfromthe CentralGippsland Junior Football League

It is expected that amajorityof clubs will field twojunior teams this season, in an effort to forgeamoreseamless pathway foryoung footballers, likethere once was Ladder prediction: Yinnar,Foster,Fish Creek, Tarwin, MDU,Boolarra, Mirboo North, Thorpdale,Newborough, Toora, Hill End, StonyCreek,Morwell East.

Brendan Mason once again controls Boolarra's fate,with a plethoraofexternal

Most likelystill afew yearsaway, the Rover will be looking at small wins across the yea

Photograph supplied

2026LOCALFOOTBALL&NETBALL

Boolarra

Coach: Brendan Mason

In: MattDevon (Trafalgar), Liam Flanagan, Callum Flanagan, Hayden Schugmann, David Kruse,LeonardFerreira, Adam Cullen (all NorthernTerritory), Ethan Wyss (Warrnambool), Hamish Towns (most recently Morwell East)

Out: BaileyFlanigan, LukeMarriott(both Churchill), Jace Paulet (Cowwarr), Nathan Giardina (Morwell)

2025 ladder: sixth (8 wins,9losses) OUT forblood in 2026.

The Demons of Boolarraare preparing forthe opportunitytoreach consecutivefinals series forthe firsttimesince 2014

Pinching apostseason berth by the skin of their teeth, third-year coach Brendan Mason will be hoping to see his troops cement themselveshigheronthe ladder

The list has added aplethoraofrecruits, including anumber of NorthernTerritory players,although Mason warned that hard work still needs to occur in order to return to finals

"(The) team is shaping up well with afew handy players coming in," he said.

"We'll be looking to improveonlastyear with atougher fixtureand other teamspicking up well.

"Weknowwewill have to take our game to another leveltoget intofinals again."

Boolarrasuccumbed in last year's elimination final to Yinnar,asthe Magpiesbroke the game open afterhalftime

Bar aselectfew,the Demons have retained most of its list to go along with plentyof additions

This will bode well fortheir reserves, plus in case of injury, as Boolarrawerealmost forced to forfeit at least once last year in thelower grade due unavailabilityplayers

Hill End

Coach: TomHallinan

In: Tyrell Mick(NorthernTerritory), Ashton Hermanus (Pakenham), LukeSummersgill (most recentlyYYN), Jarryd Riddle,Warren Hester,Will Luke, Justin Morrow,Cody Wood, BaileySword,Dustin Blackshaw, Sam Hanson, Will Robinson, BrodeyWolfenden (all Moe), TomJohnstone (VAFA), Josh Mills,ZachMills (both Trafalgar), Kyle Baker (Drouin)

Out: nil

2025 ladder: 12th (2 wins,14losses)

REGARDLESS of an exact ladder placement by season's end, it's hardtosee theRovers not trending in the right direction.

Hill End wasone of ahandful of clubs across Gippsland to flood its social media with player signing announcements,contributing to much buzz around the club over summer

Beforethe recruits came, firstwas the installation of former Newborough and Trafalgar coach TomHallinan.

Aplethoraofex-Moe players and broader exports then followedsoonafter,with the hopes of reigniting the club in due time

With an abundance of players at his disposal, through the retentionofyesteryear's list to go along with heavy inclusions,Hallinan is looking forwardtothe challenge

"Thereissometangible belief and excitement forthe season ahead at Hill End," he said.

"With arejuvenated playing list that nowhas genuine depth, we aim to bringa modern style of playthatweanticipatewill place the seniorsand development teamsinaposition to be morethan competitiveinour centenary year."

Onlymanaging three wins across the last three season's means it won'tbeanovernight fix, butwith time,results will become more consistent.

Hallinan will be supportedbylead Moe recruit Justin Morrow as playing assistant coach.

Hill End FNC celebrates 100yearsof football, 50 yearsof netball, and 20 yearsasajoint club on June 20, when theyplayNewborough at Willow GroveRecreation Reserve

Mirboo North

Coach: Damien Turner

In: DarbyKratzat (Leongatha), Thomas Campbell,Andrew Campbell, Hayden Potts (all Sale), Jayden McCormack(Yarragon)

Out: Josh Taylor (retired)

2025 ladder: eighth (7 wins,9losses)

THE young Tigershaveplentytobuild on from 2025.

Afterafew yearssitting in limbo toward the bottomofthe ladder,Mirboo North had the opportunitytoplayfinalslast year,but succumbed in the last round to Boolarra.

Third-year senior coach and favouriteson Damien Turner said the aim wastoget over the hump and returntofinals.

"It came down to the last game last year to get in and we didn't get quiteoverthe line," he said.

"(The list) is still on the young side, butthe experience is starting to build and their confidence is starting to build."

The Tigersof Mirboo North have gone about it the rightway in termsoftheir rebuild, ensuring opportunities forhomegrown kids in an effort to getbacktotheir dominance in the late2000's and 2010's

The Campbell brothersfromSale,who played forMirboo North during the 2021 COVIDrestricted season, givethe Tigerssome maturebodies in preparation fora long year Bar the Sale trio and Jayden McCormack from Yarragon andpreviouslyBoolarra, all other recruits come backtothe club as former juniors.

Playerpoints has neverbeen an issue forthe Tigersinrecent years-onlyusing 22 of 46 in their final match of 2025 -which gives them leewaytoinclude some more experienced, higher-end players

Given the upwardtrajectorywith the prioritisation of its youth, the four-timeMirboo North premiership player, Turner,iswell in his rights to eye afinals berth forthe firsttime this decade

The club previouslyhad played postseason senior football for17yearsstraight -from 2003 to 2019

Morwell East

Coach: Ben Marks

In: Blair Clymo,BaileyBrown (both YYN), Dechlan Morrison (TTU)

Out: Max Jacobsen (Queensland), Brad Kimberley(interstate), Chris Wangman, Michael Diaz (both Gormandale) 2025 ladder: 13th (2 wins,14losses) WHATreallyhappened to the Hawks?

Morwell East went from ateamthat was building intoa hopeful premiership contender afterreaching finals consecutivelyin2023and 2024, beforeitall came crashing down last year

Season 2024 proved to be one that slipped through its fingers, losing the finalthree games of the home-and-awayseason to fumble the double chance,cumulating in aheart-breaking after-the-siren loss to Newborough in the elimination final.

An almightyfall followed, as the Hawks plummeted to the wooden spoon last season, nevershowing anysigns of lifewith just two wins on the year

Ben Marks takesthe reins as senior coach afterPaul Henrystepped aside aftersix years at the helm across twostints forthe Hawks. Similar to what Newborough did ahead of last season with Patt Frendo taking over from club legend Craig Skinner,Marks comes intothe topgrade fresh offleading the reservestoa premiership -the club's firstfootball flag in 14 years.

With atough task ahead, Marks noted that the younggroup,which has lost amultitude of experienced players,will take it week-to-week. "The boys areveryenergised afterasolid preseason," he said.

"Three practice matches hasus in good stead keen to improveonlast year's results and looking forwardtoseeing what our young groupcan do " Perhaps most exciting, the club has done the hardyards in theoffseason to getanunder 18sside on the parkfor the firsttime since 2021, and prior to that 2017

Newborough

Coach: Patt Frendo

In: MattHeywood (Moe), Liam Fitzpatrick (most recentlyHill End)

Out: Zach Skinner (Moe)

2025 ladder: ninth (7 wins,9losses)

WHILE one door closes,another reveals itself

Afterplaying offinback-to-backgrand finals, as well as another finals run, Newborough appear to be on the other side of that premiership window.

The Bulldogs were afforded little breaks in coach Patt Frendo's firstyear at the helm, with injuries to their best players becoming a regular occurrence

Nowintoyear two, theBulldogs reset with the aim of returning to finals action.

While theyhaven't tinkered the playing list dramaticallyasopposed to other clubs,they do welcome amassinflux of under 18 kids who nowmoveuptothe senior grade fresh offapremiership

Despitebeing hit with the injurybug last year, one silverlining wasthe abilitytoexpose some juniorstothe topgrade well in advance, hopefullyeasing their transition this season.

"Reallylooking forwardtothe season ahead, (with) this year having agreat combination of senior and youngerplayers now,"Frendo said.

"Preparing ourselvesasbestwecan to hopefullystart theseason offwell." Frendo has also secured additional support in the form of former coach Les Stothardand star playerNathan Wheildon as assistant coaches

Wheildon wasside-lined forthe entirety of last season due to aleg injury, andwill undoubtedlybeone of the biggest X-factorsin the league upon his return

The mercurial mid-forwardbroke out with 41 goals in season 2024, and alongside the addition of former Moe hardnut Matt Heywood, will createa midfield to be reckoned with.

The 2016 premiership team,the club's last senior flag,will be celebrated on June 13 when theytakeonMirboo North at Northern Reserve,Newborough.

Thorpdale

Coach: Daniel Taylor

In: JordyPatullo (Phillip Island), Ayden Ramm (Neerim South)

Out: James De Virgilio (Yinnar), Joel Monger (personal)

2025 ladder: fifth(9wins, 8losses)

DO the Blues have it in them foranother year?

Thorpdale rebounded in 2025 to reachthe postseason forthe second time in three years, afterthe tragic injurytofavourite son and former Essendon playerJason Winderlich derailed its 2024 attempt. Bringing in proven premiership coach Daniel Taylor last season provided stabilityfor alist that could have gone one wayorthe other following that.

Thorpdale wasone of afew Mid Gippyclubs to deal with amounting injurylist that almost threatened even fielding asidesome weeks. The Blues have some reassurancewith the arrival of JordyPatullo from powerhouse Phillip Island in the West Gippsland competition.

Patullo filled in fora game with Thorpdale last season to play with his brothersJacob and Jesse already at the club,alongside Josh -marking their firsttime stepping on the field together in 14years.

Jordyisapremiership playeratPhillip Island, having playedinfour grand finals across his time at the Bulldogs

If Thorpdale can withstand injuries to their key players,there's no telling what theycan't do in 2026.

Yinnar

Coach: SamMcCulloch

In: SamWalsh,Harri McColl (both Morwell), James De Virgilio (Thorpdale), James Jacobsen (TTU), ZackBrown (Trafalgar)

Out: Josh Bugeja (overseas), Michael Robertson (Poowong)

2025 ladder: third(14 wins,5losses)

WILL Yinnar swoopinand grabthe premiership?

With some under-the-radar,yet major signings,the Magpiesarguablyhaveits best list since the flag of 2015

Former Yinnar juniorsSam Walsh and Harri McColl, with the latterapartofthe club's last senior premiership in 2022, makeupastrong contingent of recruits,alongside past Mid Gippsland grand final best-on-ground James De Virgilio and TTU premiership playerJames Jacobsen.

SamMcCulloch entershis thirdseason as coach, building offagrand final and preliminaryfinal appearance in his firsttwo years.

He acknowledged the excitement surrounding the club ahead of the campaign.

"It has been averypositivepreseason, with strong training numbersand aclear enthusiasm across the grouptobefit and ready," McCulloch said.

"The players have worked hardonkey areas identified forimprovement following last season, and the overall commitment has been very pleasing

"On the recruitment front, we'vemadesome encouraging additions

"All have fitinwell and fullyembraced the club's culture."

The Magpies lost the preliminaryfinal to eventual premier Foster by asinglepoint last year,and were mereminutes or seconds away from aconsecutivegrand final to get revenge on Fish Creek -who bested them in the 2024 decider

Anticipation will have to wait an extraweek forthe Yinnar faithful, with their firstmatch coming in Round2 at home against MDU

Fish Creek

Coach: Jarrod Walker

In: RhettWeidemann (VAFA), Jackson Weidemann (North Albury), JyeDouthat (Wonthaggi)

Out: nil

2025 ladder: runner-up (15wins, 3losses)

Foster

Coach: Jake Best

In: Leevi Lidstone (Wonthaggi); Jack Weston (Toora)

Out: Mitchell Green, MatthewClark(both retired), Michael Green (injury), Jake Thornell (overseas), BillyFlavelle (injury)

2025 ladder: premier (17 wins,2 losses)

MDU

Coach: RhettKelly

In: Mitch De Kleuver (Leongatha), Lucas Vanderzalm (Darling Downs), Jamie Youle (Phillip Island)

Out: Lachie Wright(Leongatha), Shea Walsh (Queensland)

2025 ladder: fourth (11wins,7losses)

StonyCreek

Coach: Troy Shepherdson

In: LukeFrith (Dingley)

Out: not supplied

2025 ladder: 11th (5 wins,11losses)

Tarwin

Coach: Lachie Jones

In: Kyle Yann (Wonthaggi), Dylan Garnham, Nick McKenzie (both Yarram), Toby Mahoney, TaiteCumming,Jordan Bertacco,Rem Del Pozzo(allInverlochKongwak), Ed McMicking (Gembrook)

Out: Nathan McRae (Churchill), Jacob Proctor,FlynBrosnon, DarcyBrosnon, Tom Vanderkolk, Bobby Williams

2025 ladder: seventh(7wins,9 losses)

Toora

Coach: Jake Smart

In: Lachlan Earles,Jordan Knox(both Yarram), Jared Bent, MattAllen (both Mornington Peninsula), Karl Grift(Mooroolbark), Lachie Breen (most recentlyMooroolbark)

Out: Will Cashin,Aiden Peile, SamFrawley, GusGordon(allretired), Jack Weston (Foster) 2025 ladder: 10th (6wins,10losses)

Boolarra

Coach: Bronwyn Joyce

In: not supplied

Out: LaraNoblett (Traralgon)

2025 ladder: 11th (1 win, 14 losses,1draw)

BOOLARRA has been a consistent forceinnetball ranks. Most of that comes from its junior program, which will hopefullysoonsee results shiftin AGrade competition as youngplayers come through.

The Demons will again be led by coach Bronwyn Joyce, who showedgreat leadership and commitment coaching an inexperienced side last season.

Boolarrahas lost junior superstar Lara Noblett, who is testing her trade in the premier Gippsland League forTraralgon. She previouslywon back-to-backunder 17s premierships with the Demons and doubled up in AGrade

Fish Creek

Coach: AmyVan't Hof

In: notsupplied

Out: not supplied 2025 ladder: third(14 wins, 4losses)

THE Kangaroos will see achange of coach, with AmyVan't Hof replacing long-time player-coach Jayde McGlead.

While Fish Creek finished second on the ladder,theycouldn'tavenge aheart-breaking loss in the 2024 Grand Final, losing in last year's preliminaryfinal to the same opponent, MDU

Foster

Coach: EbonyBest

In: Hanna Weston (Toora)

Out: Chloe Chaseling (maternityleave)

2025 ladder: runner-up (16 wins,2losses)

FRESH of agrand final loss,the Tigers of Foster will be determined to redeem themselvesthisyear

Retaining most of its squad bar returning club champion Chloe Chaseling,the Tigersalso welcome Hanna Weston from Tooraasa previous Foster junior

"Weare looking to redeem ourselvesfromlast year," coach EbonyBestsaid.

"Wehad afantastic season, butnot getting over the line in the grand final hurt.

"Wecan't wait to get backout on the court."

Hill End

Coach: Kellie Orgill

In: CourtneyMcWhinney (Yarragon), Alesha Hallinan (Trafalgar), Kaelee Paltridge, EllyBrown (bothMoe), MegO'Rielley (Newborough)

Out: manybacktoBGrade

2025 ladder: 12th (1 win, 14 losses,1draw)

HILL END'S firstseasonbackinA Grade last year gives the Rovers even greater room to grow in 2026.

Last season's AGrade coach Shane Mynard

Preview

has stepped aside forKellie Orgill, who welcomes alongside herself anumber of new young guns

Gippsland Storm(West/South Gippsland elitedevelopment club) and Gippsland Stars reservesplayerCourtneyMcWhinneyleads astrong contingent of fresh players out at Hill End.

The Rovespinched one win last season, against Thorpdale,who will not be competing in AGrade this season.

"Wehavebeenworking hardonour strength and conditioning in the offseason and training is going well," Orgill said.

"Looking forwardtoagreat season."

MDU

Coach: JasFriend

In: Mish Clarke (Moe)

Out: none

2025 ladder: premier (14 wins,5losses,1draw)

WHILE the Demons cameintolastseason as the reigning premier,theystill went on quite the memorable run.

MDUcamefromfifth last season to capture back-to-backA Grade flags,showcasing dominant stretches when it matteredmost.

Led again by coach JasFriend, the Demons add Mish Clarke tothe mix, whohas been acentral component during Moe's recent B Grade runs

"Seven players from last year's AGrade squad have committedagain this season, providing the team with valuable experience, strong connections on courtand asolid foundation to continue to build from," Friend said.

"The continuitywithin the grouphas created agreat environment, with the players already showing their determination to improveand push themselvestoanother level."

Clarkarrives as ateammateofDemons goal shooter Alahna Arnason, wherethey playtogether at local Big Vbasketball club Gippsland United.

Mirboo North

Coach: EmilyTaylor

In: none

Out: Marley Wallace (Traralgon)

2025 ladder: fifth(11 wins,6 losses)

TWOstraight yearslosing in the elimination final has the Tigershungryfor more.

Mirboo North will again be ledbycoach Emily Taylor,astheypushfor their deepest finals runsince the 2022 Grand Final-wherethey succumbed by one goal.

Taylor expressed greatexcitementahead of the 2026 season.

"One of the things we'remost proud of as a club is our strong groupofhome-grown,local players and the close-knit communitythat surrounds the club," she said.

"It continues to be abig partof who we are.

"Training has had agreat vibesofar,with the girls workinghard, pushing each other and building strong connections."

The club,bothonthe netball courtand on the football field,haveblooded youth and haven't relied on the recruitment front, which should bode well forfavourable results soon enough.

Morwell East

Coach: Katrina Hutchinson

In: Katrina Hutchinson (Churchill)

Out: Danni Dunn (TTU)

2025 ladder: eighth (7 wins, 9losses)

2026LOCALFOOTBALL&NETBALL MIDGIPPSLANDNETBALL

ONE of manysides attempting to getover the hump and intofinalsisMorwell East.

The Hawks have secured the signatureof Churchill stalwart Katrina Hutchinson as A Grade coach ahead of the season.

Despitelosing their best playerinDanni Dunn to TTU,Morwell East has aprovenwinner leading them all year long Hutchinson playedmorethan200 AGrade gamesfor Churchill, and wasapartof the Cougars' 2012 AGrade premiership

She previously coached Churchill's topteam from 2022 to 2024 -taking them to agrand final in 2023.

Newborough

Coach: Kyra Whittaker

In: Sofie Taylor (Western Australia), Paige Dabb (Moe), Tahni Hodgens (B Grade), Meg Findlay(most recentlyYYN)

Out: Meg O'Rielly(Hill End), Demi Caldow (Rosedale), Caitlin Demczuk (Moe)

2025 ladder: 10th (6 wins,10losses)

DESPITE losing asolid attackingpartnership, the Bulldogs keep their eyes on the prize.

Afew young goers arriving from lowergrades or from other clubs gives Newborough anew buzz ahead of the season.

Losing the shooting pair of Caitlin Demczuk and Demi Caldowmakes things alittle tough, butcoach Kyra Whittakerisstaying positive. "Preseason has beengreat," she said. "The girls have put in amountain of work training twice aweek since last year -I think it's our best preseason to date "Finals is firmly on our radar and we think we have the list to push fora finals spot this year."

The Bulldogs haven't played finals since 2022, buthavebeencompetitiveineach season since,falling agonisinglyshortmost times

StonyCreek

Coach: not supplied

In: not supplied Out: not supplied 2025 ladder: seventh (8 wins,8losses)

Tarwin

Coach: Katrina Slidders

In: not supplied Out: not supplied 2025 ladder: ninth (6 wins, 9losses,1draw)

Toora

Coaches: CarlaJenkins and Bee Crawford

In: not supplied Out: Hanna Weston (Foster)

2025 ladder: sixth (10wins, 7losses)

Yinnar

Coach: Maddi Grinstead-Jones

In: Hollie Bugeja (Moe), Patricia Chapman (B Grade), TillyManfield (Trafalgar)

Out: none

2025 ladder: fourth (14wins,4losses)

THE biggest signing across both Mid Gippsland and North Gippsland wassaved forYinnar

The Magpies see the arrival of previous Gippsland Starsgun Hollie Bugeja backto the club afterasuccessful (tosay the least) stint at Moe in recent years.

Featuring in the midcourtofundoubtedlythe greatest regional netball side of the modern era, Budeja wasa part of three consecutive premierships forthe Lions in the Gippsland League,after previouslywinning the 2019 A Grade Mid Gippyflag at Yinnar

Last year's AGrade coach Patricia Chapman, who led the Magpies in their 2019 victory, has also been elevatedintothe topside Yinnar willbeunder newleadership however, as Maddi Grinstead-Jones takesoncoaching duties

"Weare ready to playhardand redeem ourselvesin2026,"she said

TheMagpieslost last year's semi-final to eventual premier,MDU by asingle goal.

Thorpdale

FORthe second time in four years, Thorpdale Football-Netball Club will not field an AGrade side

The club applied forand wasgranted an exemption by the Mid Gippsland Football-Netball League ahead of the 2026 season.

"The MGFNL Executiveand Netball VP supportedThorpdale throughout the 2025 season to field both AGrade andB Grade by allowing players to over qualify and playextra games," aleague statement read

"However,with onlyasmall squad of players this has become untenable in 2026 due to further playerinjuries,workand family commitments,and lackofjunior players to playinsenior teams.

"Other clubs in the league have shown understanding and supporttoThorpdale as theyknowinthe small communities that we livein, finding andretaining players with the skills and abilities to playA Grade can be challenging and theycould be in the same situation themselvesinfutureyears."

Thorpdale waspreviously given ayear's grace forthe 2023 season,aswas HillEnd in 2024.

Despitethe news,there is still exciting times ahead forthe club,as the Blues will featureall three junior grades forthe firsttime in several years.

Thorpdale hasn't had anyjunior teams in any capacitysince 2022.

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

TO further grow the game among the women's and girls' ranks, Female Football Gippsland (FFG) will move under the Gippsland League banner forthe next two seasons

In alogical move,the premier competition of the region will take over administrativecontrol of the topwomen's football competition of the region.

Already runningthe Gippsland All Stars junior program, as well as the local Victorian Netball League club Gippsland Starsalong with itself,the Gippsland League transfer of operations ensures sustainable governance and reassurance forclubs

Brand new era for women's football

Between the senior women's and youth competition, expectation is mounting with potentiallynew additions in each grade

The under 18swill move to adivisional systemrather than ageographical one for 2026, wherethree to four newteams are expected.

DuetoFFG moving under Gippsland League's banner,four to five senior women's newcomersare also expected to bloom, including Moe Football-Netball Club announcing its standalone women's side, breaking away from the previouslyseparate Moe-Newborough combined club

It is hopeful that other neighbouring Gippsland League clubs will be able to forge

asenior women's team in thenear future. Traralgon, who had already assimilated its youth girls programmanyyearsago,has neverhousedasenior women's side,ashas Morwell, despiteMorwell East featuring a senior women's team beforethe pandemic. Sale Cityhad aseniorwomen's side in 2021, while Sale Cityhavefeatured ayouth girl's team forthe past four seasons

Down the line,FFG's U16s competition will jump from six to 13 teamsbythe startofthis season due to the incredible effort of South and West Gippsland clubs

That area of Gippsland is the onlytooffer that levelofgirls footy, with Hill End and Warragul being the closest to the Latrobe Valley.

Female Football Gippsland League –Competition 2026

ä Gippsland League Womens

Boisdale-Briagolong,LindenowSouth, MDU,Moe,Nar NarGoon, Woodside

ä Gippsland League Youth GirlsWesternConference

Drouin, Inverloch, MDU,Nar NarGoon, Phillip Island, Warragul Industrials, Warranor

ä Gippsland League Youth GirlsEasternConference

Bairnsdale,Boisdale-Briagolong,Hill End, Morwell, Sale City, Traralgon, Woodside

Proudly flying the Gippy flag at the top level

BY BLAKE METCALF-HOLT

THE Latrobe Valleyhas manypeople representing it at an AFL and AFLWlevel

Over the course of V/AFL history, the region has produced talent capable of being named among the very best of what football has ever offered.

The likes of Traralgon pair Bernie Quinlan and Kelvin Templeton will be remembered forever, each recipients of the BrownlowMedal, while anew crop of exports will hope to forgegreat careersthemselves.

Morwell's Ben Ainsworthmadethe big move to Carltonduringthe break afternine years with Gold Coast, while Collingwood features fellowMorwell boyTew Jiath and Traralgon's TimMembrey

Jiath's older brother Changkuoth switched from HawthorntoMelbourne also during the trade period, while the Demons feature afurther twolocal talents on its list through Morwell's Ricky Mentha and Moe's Tom Matthews

What wasonce aLatrobe Valleytrioisdown to oneonthe Gold Coast, afterAinsworth departedand fo Moe junior and accept re Baile

lur club

He

is also on the Suns' list, buthas yettoplayan AFL game

At VFL level, the CaseyDemons areturning intoa favourable landing spot forLatrobe Valleylocals

Under former Gippsland PowerBoyscoach RhettMcLennan, to accompanytheir local draftees that will hopefullyget games for Melbourne in due time,Caseyfeaturea staggering 11 additional Gippsland exports Traralgon premiership playerLuisD'Angelo and teammate Joel Scholtes were added to the list at the end of last year,while Moeand Yinnar footballer LukeCheffersisalsointhe Demons' squad.

OthersCaseylocals include recent Heyfield recruit from Sale HarryTatterson, Bairnsdale's Jonah Walker,Nar Nar Goon's ClancyPope, Inverloch's Jobe Scapin, and TooradinDalmorepair Jehi Esler and Jesse Craven. Over in the AFLW, Brisbane obtained Traralgon's Lily-Rose Williamson during the offseason from Collingwood, whereshe previouslyplayedalongside fellowTraralgon exportAmber Schutte

Morwell's CaseySherriffisstill at Hawthorn great Paul tlast year's ather-daughter lsher plays forthe

Kilda include Traralgon pair Darcy Guttridge and Chelsea Sutton-who ydrafted.

he 18 clubs Gippsland export or AFLWlists, ception.

activeGippsland por and AFLW.

ä Adelaide SamBerry(Maffra)

ä Brisbane

Lily-Rose Williamson (Traralgon), Josh Dunkley(Sale/Yarram)

ä Carlton

Ben Ainsworth(Morwell), HarryMcKay (Warragul),YasminDuursma (Foster)

ä Collingwood

Amber Schutte(Traralgon), Ash Centra (Seaspray), TewJiath (Morwell), TimMembrey (Traralgon)

ä Essendon

Ben McKay (Warragul), Xavier Duursma (Foster), Zach Reid (Wonthaggi)

ä Fremantle

Caleb Serong (Inverloch)

ä Gold Coast Asher Eastham (Heyfield), BaileyHumphrey (Moe), Max Knobel (Maffra)

ä Greater WesternSydney

Ryan Angwin (Foster)

ä Hawthorn

CalsherDear (Churchill legac CaseySherriff(Morwell), Ma Dear (Churchill legacy), Jai Newcombe (Poowong)

ä Melbourne

Changkuoth Jiath (Morwell), Megan Fitzsimon (Bairnsdale), Ricky Mentha (Morwell), TomM (Moe), Tyla Hanks (CoraLynn), Xavier Lindsay(Inverloch)

ä North Melbourne Charlie Comben (Sale), Jacob (Warragul), Jasmine Ferguson WilDawson (Leongatha), Zane (Foster)

ä Port Adelaide

Jasmine Sowden (Lakes Entrance)

ä Richmond

Baia Pugh (Wonthaggi)

ä St Kilda

Abby Hobson (Koo WeeRup), Alix Tauru (Warragul), Chelsea Sutton(Traralgon), DarcyGuttridge (Traralgon), SamFlanders (Fish Creek)

ä Sydney

JaiSerong (Inverloch), TomHanily (Inverloch), TomPapley(Bunyip)

ä West Coast

Archer Reid (Inverloch), Ryan Maric (Drouin), Willem Duursma (Foster)

ä WesternBulldogs

Lachlan Smith (Bunyip), SamDavidson (playedfor Sale and Maffra)

Chasing: Traralgon’sTim Membrey entershis second year forCollingwood afterarriving from St Kilda. Photograph supplied

Glorious: Moe’sBaileyHumphrey is in themidst of hisfourth AFL season with theGold Coast Suns. File photograph

2026GIPPSLANDLEAGUEFIXTURE

ROUND 111-APR

Leongatha vMoe

Morwell vWonthaggi

MaffravSale

Traralgon vBairnsdale (N)

Warragul vDrouin ROUND 218-APR

MENTAL HEALTH ROUND

Bairnsdale vLeongatha

Drouin vTraralgon

Moe vMaffra

Sale vMorwell

Wonthaggi vWarragul

Wonthaggi vDrouin (N)

Traralgon vMoe (N)

MaffravLeongatha

Morwell vBairnsdale

Warragul vSale

ROUND 42-MAY

Bairnsdale vWarragul

Drouin vSale

Leongatha vTraralgon

MaffravMorwell

Moe vWonthaggi ROUND 59-MAY

Morwell vLeongatha

Sale vTraralgon

Warragul vMaffra Wonthaggi vBairnsdale 16-MAY

Drouin vMoe ROUND 616-MAY

Traralgon vWarragul MaffravWonthaggi

Bairnsdale vDrouin

Moe vBairnsdale

Sale vWonthaggi

Traralgon vMaffra

Warragul vLeongatha 31-MAY

Drouin vMorwell

ROUND 86-JUN

Bairnsdale vSale Drouin vMaffra

Moe vWarragul

7-JUN

Morwell vTraralgon Wonthaggi vLeongatha ROUND 913-JUN

Leongatha vDrouin

MaffravBairnsdale

Sale vMoe

Traralgon vWonthaggi

Warragul vMorwell

ROUND 10 20-JUN

Bairnsdale vTraralgon

Moe vLeongatha Wonthaggi vMorwell

Sale vMaffra

Drouin vWarragul ROUND 11 27-JUN

Leongatha vBairnsdale

MaffravMoe

Morwell vSale

Traralgon vDrouin Warragul vWonthaggi

LEAGUE BYE JULY4

ROUND 12 11-JUL

Leongatha VSale Morwell VMoe ROUND 730-MAY

LOY YANG BINDIGENOUS ROUND

Bairnsdale vMorwell

Drouin vWonthaggi

Leongatha vMaffra

Moe vTraralgon

Sale vWarragul

ROUND 13 18-JUL

Morwell vMaffra

Sale vDrouin

Traralgon vLeongatha

Warragul vBairnsdale

Wonthaggi vMoe

ROUND 14 25-JUL

Bairnsdale vWonthaggi

Leongatha vMorwell

MaffravWarragul

Moe vDrouin

Traralgon vSale

ROUND 15 1-AUG

Drouin vBairnsdale

Moe vMorwell

Sale vLeongatha

Warragul vTraralgon

Wonthaggi vMaffra

ROUND 16 8-AUG

Bairnsdale vMoe

Leongatha vWarragul

MaffravTraralgon

Morwell vDrouin

Wonthaggi vSale

ROUND 17 15-AUG

Leongatha vWonthaggi

MaffravDrouin

Traralgon vMorwell

Warragul vMoe

16-AUG

Sale vBairnsdale

ROUND 18 22-AUG

Drouin vLeongatha

Bairnsdale vMaffra

Moe vSale

Wonthaggi vTraralgon

Morwell vWarragul

FINALS

Qualifying Final August 29

Elimination Final August 30

2nd Semi Final September 5

1st Semi Final September 6

PreliminaryFinal September 12

Grand Final September 19

ROUND 111-APR

Foster vFish Creek MDU vNewborough

Mirboo North vToora

Stony Creek vHill End

Tarwin vMorwell East Thorpdale vBoolarra BYE-Yinnar

ROUND 218-APR

BoolarravFoster Fish Creek vMirboo North Morwell EastvStony Creek Newborough vTarwin TooravHill End Yinnar vMDU BYE-Thorpdale

ROUND 325-APR

Foster vThorpdale Mirboo North vBoolarra Tarwin vYinnar

Hill End vFish Creek Stony Creek vNewborough TooravMorwell East BYE-MDU

ROUND 42-MAY

BoolarravHill End Fish Creek vMorwell East MDU vTarwin Newborough vToora Thorpdale vMirboo North Yinnar vStony Creek BYE-Foster

ROUND 59-MAY

Fish Creek vNewborough Hill End vThorpdale

Mirboo North vFoster Morwell East vBoolarra

Stony Creek vMDU TooravYinnar BYE-Tarwin

ROUND 616-MAY

BoolarravNewborough

Foster vHill End MDU vToora Tarwin vStony Creek Thorpdale vMorwell East Yinnar vFish Creek BYE-Mirboo North

2026MIDGIPPSLANDLEAGUEFIXTURE

ROUND 723-MAY

BoolarravYinnar

Fish Creek vMDU

Hill End vMirboo North

Morwell East vFoster

Newborough vThorpdale

TooravTarwin

BYE-Stony Creek

ROUND 830-MAY

Foster vNewborough MDU vBoolarra

Mirboo North vMorwell East

Stony Creek vToora

Thorpdale vYinnar

BYE-Hill End

KING'S BIRTHDAY6-JUN

Tarwin vFish Creek

ROUND 913-JUN

BoolarravTarwin

Fish Creek vStony Creek

Morwell East vHill End

Newborough vMirboo North Thorpdale vMDU

Yinnar vFoster

BYE-Toora

ROUND 10 20-JUN

Foster vMDU

HillEnd vNewborough

Mirboo North vYinnar

Stony Creek vBoolarra

Tarwin vThorpdale

TooravFish Creek

BYE-Morwell East

ROUND 11 27-JUN

BoolarravToora

Foster vTarwin

MDU vMirboo North

Newborough vMorwell East Thorpdale vStony Creek

Yinnar vHill End

BYE-Fish Creek

ROUND 12 4-JUL

Fish Creek vBoolarra

Hill End vMDU

Mirboo North vTarwin

Morwell East vYinnar

Stony Creek vFoster

TooravThorpdale

BYE-Newborough

ROUND 13 11-JUL

Foster vToora

MDU vMorwell East

Mirboo North vStony Creek

Tarwin vHill End

Thorpdale vFish Creek

Yinnar vNewborough

BYE-Boolarra

ROUND 14 18-JUL

BoolarravThorpdale

Fish Creek vFoster

Morwell East vTarwin

Newborough vMDU

TooravMirboo North

BYE-Hill End, Stony Creek, Yinnar

ROUND 15 25-JUL

Fish Creek vTarwin

Foster vYinnar

Hill End vStony Creek

Morwell East vToora

Newborough vBoolarra

BYE-MDU, Mirboo North, Thorpdale

ROUND 16 1-AUG

MDU vThorpdale

Mirboo North vHill End

Stony Creek vFish Creek TooravFoster

Yinnar vMorwellEast

BYE-Boolarra, Newborough, Tarwin

ROUND 17 8-AUG

BoolarravMDU

18 15-AUG

ROUND 111-APR

Yarram vSale City

Rosedale vYYN

TTUvGormandale

Woodside vHeyfield

Glengarry vCowwarr

BYE-Churchill

ROUND 218-APR

Cowwarr vWoodside

Heyfield vTTU

Gormandale vRosedale

YYN vYarram

Sale CityvChurchill

BYE-Glengarry

ROUND 325-APR

ANZAC DAY

TTUv Cowwarr

26-APR

Churchill vYYN

Yarram vGormandale

Woodside vGlengarry

BYE-Heyfield, Rosedale, Sale City

ROUND 42-MAY

PRIDE ROUND

GormandalevChurchill

Cowwarr vRosedale

Heyfield vYarram

GlengarryvTTU

YYN vSale City

BYE-Woodside

ROUND 59-MAY

Gormandale vSale City

Heyfield vChurchill

Cowwarr vYarram

GlengarryvRosedale

Woodside vTTU BYE-YYN

ROUND 616-MAY

Rosedale vWoodside

Yarram vGlengarry

Churchill vCowwarr

Sale CityvHeyfield

YYN vGormandale BYE-TTU

ROUND 723-MAY

INDIGENOUS ROUND

Heyfield vYYN

Cowwarr vSaleCity

GlengarryvChurchill

Woodside vYarram

TTUvRosedale

BYE-Gormandale

ROUND 830-MAY

Yarram vTTU

Churchill vWoodside

Sale CityvGlengarry

YYN vCowwarr

Gormandale vHeyfield

BYE-Rosedale

KING'S BIRTHDAYBYE JUNE 6

ROUND 913-JUN

Cowwarr vGormandale

GlengarryvYYN

Woodside vSale City

TTUvChurchill

Rosedale vYarram

BYE-Heyfield

ROUND 10 20-JUN

Churchill vRosedale

Sale CityvTTU

YYN vWoodside

Gormandale vGlengarry

Heyfield vCowwarr

BYE-Yarram

ROUND 11 27-JUN

GlengarryvHeyfield

Woodside vGormandale

TTUVYYN

Rosedale vSale City

Yarram vChurchill

BYE- Cowwarr

ROUND 12 4-JUL

25 YEARS OF NGFNL

Sale CityvYarram

YYN vRosedale

Gormandale vTTU

Heyfield vWoodside

Cowwarr vGlengarry

BYE-Churchill

2026NORTHGIPPSLANDLEAGUEFIXTURE

ROUND 13 11-JUL

Woodside vCowwarr

TTUvHeyfield

Rosedale vGormandale

Yarram vYYN

Churchill vSale City

BYE-Glengarry

ROUND 14 18-JUL

YYN vChurchill

Gormandale vYarram

Cowwarr vTTU

GlengarryvWoodside

Heyfield vRosedale

BYE-Sale City

ROUND 15 25-JUL

MENTAL HEALTH ROUND

TTUvGlengarry

Rosedale vCowwarr

Yarram vHeyfield

Churchill vGormandale

Sale CityvYYN BYE-Woodside

ROUND 16 1-AUG

Sale CityvGormandale

Churchill vHeyfield

Rosedale vGlengarry

TTUvWoodside

BYE-YYN, Cowwarr,Yarram

ROUND 17 8-AUG

Woodside vRosedale

GlengarryvYarram

Cowwarr vChurchill

Heyfield vSaleCity

Gormandale vYYN BYE-TTU

ROUND 18 15-AUG

YYN vHeyfield

Sale CityvCowwarr

Churchill vGlengarry

Yarram vWoodside

Rosedale vTTU

BYE-Gormandale

FINALS

Qualifying Final August 22

Elimination Final August 23

2nd Semi Final August 29

1st Semi Final August 30

PreliminaryFinal September 5

GrandFinal September 12