The official season 2023 fixture for the Gippsland League has been released.
Featuring 18 home and away matches, the season is set to begin on Saturday, April 1 2023, which will be followed immediately with the Easter weekend bye.
The finals series will start the weekend of September, with the Grand Final scheduled for September 23.
Once again, great emphasis has been placed on factoring in club requests for fixtures to maximize their marquee games.
A number of key matchups and local rivalries headline Round 1, as the Western Derby between Drouin and Warragul will complete the opening weekend.
Other matches include Wonthaggi Power hosting Sale, with both sides fancied to feature deep in September action again in Seniors.
Moe open its account against fellow Latrobe Valley side Morwell.
Bairnsdale take on their neighbouring rivals Maffra in a twilight schedule, while the annual Round 1 Traralgon v Leongatha battle is again set to start the season.
This year’s draw has produced a number of feature rounds, that will include awareness raising for mental health and domestic violence against women, which are yet to be scheduled.
ANZAC round in Round 3 is the earliest scheduled feature round, where Traralgon and Morwell will play under the Saturday night lights at Traralgon Showgrounds.
Also in Round 3, Sale will host Maffra in the Battle of the Birds while Bairnsdale v Drouin will be a feature clash in East Gippsland, due to a split round in the local league on that weekend.
One of the great traditions is Rivalry Round and this year this will feature during the July school holidays in Round 12.
In a salivating schedule of games for football and netball fans, Wonthaggi Power host South Gippsland counter parts Leongatha, Bairnsdale feature against Sale in Sunday afternoon action, with the Western Derby also a feature on the Sunday.
Valley rivals Morwell host Moe and Traralgon take on Maffra at home.
The Grand Final rematches in the premier grades are scheduled for Round 4 with Senior premiers Leongatha hosting Sale, while Morwell A Grade will play their Grand Final rematch in the traditional scheduled match against Leongatha in Round 6.
