The silly season is over and we now head into a period of certainty. No words just wins and losses.
What sometimes gets lost is just how many challenges a major league like Gippsland is dealing with, not only to remain relevant as the premier competition in the region, but to stay progressive in what is becoming a very competitive environment.
Having spent time as a club president, football director, and coaching at both junior and senior level, these aren’t theoretical issues. They’re real. They’re discussed. And in a lot of cases, they’re still unresolved.
Expansion and competition structure sit right at the centre of it. With Drouin attempting to exit in recent seasons and a growing disparity in results across the outlying clubs (which are still strong compared to other major leagues), this is no longer hypothetical. The question is simple, what does the Gippsland League look like in 10 years?
West Gippsland continues to grow and is clearly progressive in its intent. The real opportunity is in building a broader, tiered structure that aligns with population growth, particularly through the western corridor. That’s where the numbers are, and West Gippsland has direct access to it. They’ve talked a big game, but they’re yet to fully deliver, and that gives Gippsland League a window.
That said, short-term decisions can’t come at the expense of long-term outcomes. Travel, logistics, and junior participation are genuine concerns, particularly for eastern clubs if things continue to push west. Since 2020, Sale is the only eastern club to play finals in senior football, and Bairnsdale the only one in A grade netball. That’s not coincidence; that’s structural. It’s something the Gippsland League will need to keep working through with AFL Victoria, Netball Victoria and its clubs to ensure it remains a strong, viable ten-team competition.
The reserves competition is another area that can’t be ignored. There’s already been an outflow of players from really competitive football programs into neighbouring leagues where opportunity, perhaps reduced commitment and in some cases financial incentives are more appealing. That’s not blame, that’s reality.
Not all juniors step straight into senior football. Most need one, two or three years to develop physically, mentally and in confidence. Those players become your depth, your role players, the 25 to 40 you rely on in the middle of July when Europe beckons or a tight calf rears up, these are the underbelly off your success.
I’ve seen how important that layer is. At Sale in 2019 and 2021, the reserves didn’t win a game across two seasons. With some deliberate work, bringing in an experienced coach, selling a clear vision to top-age under 18s, and retaining a few experienced players who could have easily walked, that same group ended up playing in a Grand Final and guess what so did the Seniors. That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when the reserves are treated as a priority, they are the backbone of any club.
History backs it up. In over 30 years, only one club has won a senior premiership without its reserves playing finals…..Sale in 2006. Depth matters. Reducing numbers, financial rewards for reserves and exploring rules (ie lasoo) could be potential changes to look at if the reserves competition is to stay relevant within the major league.
Netball is facing similar pressures. The All-Stars program has been a real positive, but competitive balance is becoming an issue. Clubs in the west have better access to VNL-level players, while eastern clubs are dealing with more travel, higher costs and less access to elite talent. The gap at the top end is growing.
Retention is key. The connection between junior and senior programs needs to be strong if clubs are going to stay competitive. Losing players to smaller leagues hurts the competition as a whole. A points system probably needs to be part of that conversation, but equally the league needs to provide support and clubs need to prioritise stability and growth.
Umpiring remains one of the biggest issues. Pay differences, multiple associations, inconsistent standards and no aligned structure continue to create frustration. For a league that sees itself as the premier competition in Gippsland, this needs to be better.
There’s an opportunity here. Whether it’s a dedicated Gippsland League umpiring panel for senior games, better financial support for senior field umpires, or using existing associations more effectively across grades, something needs to shift.
Clubs have previously had to fund and support umpiring “minor grades” themselves, while smaller leagues sometimes have better coverage. That doesn’t stack up. If you’re the leading competition in Gippsland, you need the best umpires officiating the best games, consistently.
The Match Review Panel will again be a talking point in 2026. Some of the changes in 2025 were positive, but there were still too many examples of players being sanctioned for incidents that weren’t even deemed reportable on the day.
From experience, the frustration isn’t accountability, it’s inconsistency and overreach. I’m aware of players receiving multiple low-level sanctions in a season for actions that weren’t considered reportable during the game. That creates confusion and chips away at confidence in the system.
This is country football.
The MRP should be there to deal with serious incidents, pick up what’s missed, and sanction actions that warrant it. It should also work with clubs to educate players and provide clarity. What we don’t need is over-analysis of minor incidents or low-level penalties that detract from the game.
From what I’ve seen, the competition is in a strong position and generally played in good spirit. The MRP should support that.
It’s also important to acknowledge what the league is doing well. The All-Stars programs, strong administration, use of data and vision, and improved communication and social media have all strengthened the competition. It’s an extremely well-run league.
The next step is evolution. There’s clear opportunity around more live games, expanded commentary across football and netball, deeper analysis and continued innovation in how the competition is presented.
The league needs to be clear on one thing, where it wants to be in 10 years. That long-term direction should guide decisions now, not short-term pressure driven by individual club positions, opinions or pressure from the West.
Season 2026 won’t just be about results. It will be about direction.
The Gippsland League is in a strong position, but like any leading competition, it needs to keep adapting and improving.
Standing still isn’t an option.