| Formerly | West Gippsland Latrobe Football League |
|---|---|
| Sport | Australian rules football |
| First season | 1954 |
| No. of teams | 10 |
| Country | Australia |
| Most recent champion | |
| Most titles | |
| Official website | Gippsland Football League Official Website |
TheGippsland League (GL), formerly known as theWest Gippsland Latrobe Football League (WGLFL), is anAustralian rules football andnetball league in theGippsland region ofVictoria. It is considered the onlyAFL Victoria major league in Gippsland.
The original Gippsland Football Association was formed in 1889, after a meeting of club delegates from the towns of Hazelwood, Morwell, Rosedale, Thorpdale, Traralgon, and Yarram.[1] The association was open to any clubs from the Gippsland area and would be responsible for arranging matches between clubs and dealing with club disputes.[2]
The Gippsland Football Netball League (GFNL) has roots dating back to the Central Gippsland Football League (CGFL) which was founded in 1909[3][4] with many former CGFL clubs now part of the GFNL.
The CGFL morphed into the Latrobe Valley Football League in 1954. The promoters of the LVFL wanted to have a league that consisted of towns along theOrbost railway line, fromWarragul toSale. "The background of the move, as reported on several occasions in this journal, is (1) to remove unbalances in the present population strengths of the towns at present fielding teams in the Central Gippsland Football League; (2) to link up with towns with the same community of interest; (3) to uplift the standard of football, by bringing the strongest clubs into competition; (4) to strengthen clubs financially through expected enhanced gates."[5]
Three clubs from southGippsland towns,Leongatha,Korumburra andMirboo North, were therefore barred from joining the new league and went on to form the South Gippsland FL. The Central Gippsland Football League actually folded, when seven clubs joined the new La Trobe Valley Football League[6] and due to their geographical location these three remaining clubs chose not to join the La Trobe Valley Football League.[7] These three clubs then joined the South Gippsland Football League in 1954, with Leongatha entering two senior teams – Green & Gold.
The LVFL changed its name, in 1995, to the Gippsland Latrobe FL.
At the end of 2001, the West Gippsland FL and the Gippsland Latrobe FL had an administrative merger. This created a two-division competition and a name change to the West Gippsland Latrobe FL.
From 2002 until 2004, the league comprised a premier division, consisting mainly of the former Gippsland-Latrobe clubs, and a western division, comprising most of the former WGFL clubs.
After the 2004 season, the western division was dissolved, withWarragul, Drouin and Garfield joining the premier league. The remaining clubs from the western division moved to other competitions, such as theAlberton Football League,Ellinbank & District Football League and theMornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.
In 2009, Garfield left the GFL for the Ellinbank & District Football League, whilst Wonthaggi[8] and Bairnsdale[9] joined the GFL in 2010 and 2011 respectively.
TheLatrobe Valley area does not have a team participating in theVictorian Football League. Traralgon competed in the VFL during 1996–97, winning just four matches across those two years, before returning to the regional competition.[10] The region does have a representative team in the TAC Cup Under-18 competition,Gippsland Power.
| Club | Colours | Moniker | Home venue | Former League | Est. | Years in GL | GL Premierships | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | |||||||
| Bairnsdale | Redlegs | Bairnsdale City Oval,Bairnsdale | EGFNL | 1877 | 1960-1998, 2011- | 1 | 1981 | |
| Drouin | Hawks | Drouin Recreation Reserve,Drouin | WGFL | 1903 | 1960-1965, 2005- | 0 | - | |
| Leongatha | Parrots | Leongatha Recreation Reserve,Leongatha | SGFL | 1894 | 1969- | 13 | 1970, 1977, 1979, 1982, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2023, 2025 | |
| Maffra | Eagles | Maffra Recreation Reserve,Maffra | GFL | 1877 | 1960- | 9 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2019 | |
| Moe | Lions | Ted Summerton Reserve,Moe | CGFL | 1888 | 1954- | 2 | 1956, 1967 | |
| Morwell | Tigers | Morwell Recreation Reserve,Morwell | CGFL | 1883 | 1954- | 9 | 1961, 1966, 1983, 1985, 1988, 1993, 1996, 2013, 2014 | |
| Sale | Magpies | Sale Oval,Sale | GFL | 1877 | 1954- | 10 | 1954, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1986, 2008, 2012 | |
| Traralgon | Maroons | Traralgon Recreation Reserve,Traralgon | VFL | 1883 | 1954- | 21 | 1960, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1978, 1980, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2024 | |
| Warragul | Gulls | Western Park Reserve,Warragul | WGFL | 1879 | 1954-1999, 2002- | 3 | 1974, 1976, 1984 | |
| Wonthaggi | Power | Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve,Wonthaggi | AFNL | 2004 | 2010- | 0 | - | |
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in GL | GL Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Churchill | Kangaroos | Gaskin Park,Churchill | MGFNL | 1888 | 1984–1994 | 0 | - | Moved toNorth Gippsland FNL following 1994 season | |
| Garfield | Stars | Garfield Recreation Reserve,Garfield | WGFL | 1935 | 2005–2009 | 0 | - | Moved toEllinbank & District FNL following 2009 season | |
| Heyfield | Kangaroos | Gordon St Recreation Reserve,Heyfield | GFL | 1882 | 1960–1974 | 0 | - | Moved toNorth Gippsland FNL following 1974 season | |
| Newborough | Bulldogs | Northern Reserve,Newborough | MGFNL | 1970 | 1979–1985 | 0 | - | Moved toMid Gippsland FNL following 1985 season | |
| Stratford | Swans | Stratford Recreation Reserve,Stratford | GFL | c.1900 | 1923–1933, 1949–1973 | 0 | - | Moved toNorth Gippsland FNL following 1974 season | |
| Trafalgar | Bloods | Trafalgar Recreation Reserve,Trafalgar | CGFL | 1888 | 1954–1968 | 2 | 1958, 1962 | Moved toMid Gippsland FNL following 1968 season | |
| Traralgon Tyers United | Two Blues | Tyers Recreation Reserve,Tyers | NGFNL | 1981 | 1983–1988 | 0 | - | Moved toNorth Gippsland FNL following 1988 season | |
| Wonthaggi | Blues | Wonthaggi Recreation Reserve,Wonthaggi | BVWDFL | 1950 | 1995–2004 | 0 | - | Merged withWonthaggi Rovers to formWonthaggi Power inAlberton FL following 2005 season | |
| Yallourn | Blues | Yallourn Recreation Reserve,Yallourn | CGFL | 1921 | 1954–1976 | 2 | 1932, 1933 | Merged withYallourn North to formYallourn-Yallourn North following 1976 season | |
| Yallourn Yallourn North | Bombers | Yallourn Recreation Reserve,Yallourn | – | 1977 | 1977–1983 | 0 | - | Moved toMid Gippsland FNL following 1983 season | |
| Yarragon | Magpies | Dowton Park Reserve,Yarragon | CGFL | 1895 | 1954–1960 | 0 | - | Moved toWest Gippsland FL following 1960 season | |
The Western Division began when the West Gippsland Football League merged with the Gippsland-La Trobe Football League following the 2001 season. It ran separately from the Premier Division, with no promotion or relegation between the two competitions. The division was wound up following the 2004 season, with Garfield, Drouin and Warragul joining the Premier Division and the other clubs moving to various local leagues.
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in GL | GL Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Cora Lynn | Cobras | Cora Lynn Recreation Reserve,Cora Lynn | WGFL | 1913 | 2002–2004 | 0 | - | Moved toEllinbank & District FNL following 2004 season | |
| Drouin | Hawks | Drouin Recreation Reserve,Drouin | WGFL | 1890 | 2002–2004 | 0 | - | Moved toGippsland League following 2004 season | |
| Garfield | Stars | Garfield Recreation Reserve,Garfield | WGFL | 1935 | 2002–2004 | 1 | 2004 | Moved toGippsland League following 2004 season | |
| Kilcunda-Bass | Panthers | Bass Recreation Reserve,Bass | WGFL | 1957 | 2002–2004 | 0 | - | Moved toAlberton FNL following 2004 season | |
| Nar Nar Goon | Goons | Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve,Nar Nar Goon | WGFL | c.1900 | 2002–2004 | 0 | - | Moved toEllinbank & District FNL following 2004 season | |
| Phillip Island | Bulldogs | Cowes Recreation Reserve,Cowes | WGFL | 1932 | 2002–2004 | 0 | - | Moved toAlberton FNL following 2004 season | |
| Rythdale-Officer-Cardinia (ROC) | Kangaroos | Gordon St Recreation Reserve,Heyfield | GFL | 1882 | 2002–2004 | 1 | 2002 | Moved toMornington Peninsula Nepean FL following 2004 season | |
| Warragul | Gulls | Western Park Reserve,Warragul | WGFL | 1879 | 2002–2004 | 1 | 2003 | Moved toGippsland League following 2004 season | |
| Tooradin-Dalmore | Seagulls | Tooradin Recreation Reserve,Tooradin | WGFL | 1922 | 2002–2004 | 0 | - | Moved toMornington Peninsula Nepean FL following 2004 season | |
| Club | Jumper | Nickname | Home Ground | Former League | Est. | Years in GL | GL Premierships | Fate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total | Years | ||||||||
| Cerberus | Dogs | McAuliffe Oval,HMAS Cerberus | – | 2003 | 2003 | 0 | - | Moved toSouthern FNL following 2003 season | |
The following is a list of all the Gippsland FL premiership winning teams from 1921 to 1953 and of the La Trobe FL from 1954 to present day.[11]
The Reserves competition commenced in 1954, the Thirds competition in 1957 and the Fourths in 2000.
| Year | Seniors | Reserves | Under 18's | Under 16's |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gippsland FL | - | |||
| 1921 | Maffra*[12] | - | ||
| 1922 | Rosedale[13] | - | ||
| 1923 | Traralgon[14][15] | - | ||
| 1924 | Sale[16] | - | ||
| 1925 | Traralgon[17] | - | ||
| 1926 | Maffra[18] | - | ||
| 1927 | Sale[19] | - | ||
| 1928 | Bairnsdale[20] | - | ||
| 1929 | Bairnsdale[21] | - | ||
| 1930 | Bairnsdale[22] | - | ||
| 1931 | Sale[23] | - | ||
| 1932 | Yallourn[24] | - | ||
| 1933 | Yallourn[25] | - | ||
| 1934 | Sale[26] | - | ||
| 1935 | Maffra[27] | - | ||
| 1936 | Yarram[28] | - | ||
| 1937 | Sale[29] | - | ||
| 1938 | Maffra[30] | - | ||
| 1939 | Yarram[31][32] | - | ||
| 1940 | GFL in recess.WWII | |||
| 1941 | GFL in recess.WWII | - | ||
| 1942 | GFL in recess.WWII | - | ||
| 1943 | GFL in recess.WWII | - | ||
| 1944 | GFL in recess.WWII | - | ||
| 1945 | GFL in recess.WWII | - | ||
| 1946 | Maffra Blacks[33] | - | ||
| 1947 | Bairnsdale[34] | - | ||
| 1948 | Maffra[35] | - | ||
| 1949 | Sale[36] | - | ||
| 1950 | Sale[37] | - | ||
| 1951 | Bairnsdale[38] | - | ||
| 1952 | Bairnsdale[39] | - | ||
| 1953 | Sale[40] | - | ||
| La Trobe Valley FL | - | |||
| 1954 | Sale | Traralgon | - | |
| 1955 | Sale | Warragul | - | |
| 1956 | Moe | Sale | - | |
| 1957 | Sale | Sale | Traralgon & | |
| Sale (Co-Premiers) | ||||
| 1958 | Trafalgar | Sale | Morwell | |
| 1959 | Sale | Moe | Moe | |
| 1960 | Traralgon | Morwell | St Pat's | |
| 1961 | Morwell | Morwell | St Pat's A | |
| 1962 | Trafalgar | Traralgon | St Pat's A | |
| 1963 | Traralgon | Traralgon | St Pat's A | |
| 1964 | Traralgon | Traralgon | St Pat's A | |
| 1965 | Traralgon | Traralgon | St Pat's A | |
| 1966 | Morwell | Bairnsdale | Sale | |
| 1967 | Moe | Moe | St Pat's A | |
| 1968 | Traralgon | Moe | Sale | |
| 1969 | Traralgon | Sale | St Pat's A | |
| 1970 | Leongatha | Sale | St Pat's A | |
| 1971 | Sale | Sale | St Pat's A | |
| 1972 | Traralgon | Sale | St Pat's A | |
| 1973 | Sale | Morwell | Traralgon | |
| 1974 | Warragul | Warragul | St Pat's A | |
| 1975 | Sale | Traralgon | St Pat's A | |
| 1976 | Warragul | Traralgon | Sale | |
| 1977 | Leongatha | Traralgon | Sale | |
| 1978 | Traralgon | Traralgon | Leongatha | |
| 1979 | Leongatha | Leongatha | Warragul | |
| 1980 | Traralgon | Traralgon | Traralgon | |
| 1981 | Bairnsdale | Traralgon | Warragul | |
| 1982 | Leongatha | Traralgon | Warragul | |
| 1983 | Morwell | Bairnsdale | Maffra | |
| 1984 | Warragul | Warragul | Sale | |
| 1985 | Morwell | Traralgon | Warragul | |
| 1986 | Sale | Traralgon | Bairnsdale | |
| 1987 | Traralgon | Traralgon | Bairnsdale | |
| 1988 | Morwell | Traralgon | Traralgon | |
| 1989 | Leongatha | Traralgon | Traralgon | |
| 1990 | Traralgon | Maffra | Sale | |
| 1991 | Traralgon | Maffra | Moe | |
| 1992 | Traralgon | Traralgon | Traralgon | |
| 1993 | Morwell | Traralgon | Sale | |
| 1994 | Traralgon | Morwell | Sale | |
| 1995 | Leongatha | Traralgon | Bairnsdale | |
| 1996 | Morwell | Warragul | Traralgon | |
| 1997 | Leongatha | Leongatha | Sale | |
| 1998 | Traralgon | Sale | Sale | |
| 1999 | Traralgon | Traralgon | Sale | |
| 2000 | Traralgon | Leongatha | Traralgon | Leongatha |
| 2001 | Leongatha | Maffra | Sale | Traralgon |
| 2002 | Maffra | Maffra | Leongatha | Traralgon |
| 2003 | Maffra | Maffra | Traralgon | Sale |
| 2004 | Maffra | Maffra | Maffra | Sale |
| 2005 | Traralgon | Traralgon | Sale | Sale |
| 2006 | Maffra | Sale | Traralgon | Warragul |
| 2007 | Maffra | Traralgon | Trarlagon | Maffra |
| 2008 | Sale | Traralgon | Traralgon | Traralgon |
| 2009 | Maffra | Moe | Maffra | Traralgon |
| 2010 | Maffra | Traralgon | Leongatha | Traralgon |
| 2011 | Traralgon | Maffra | Traralgon | Sale |
| 2012 | Sale | Leongatha | Bairnsdale | Traralgon |
| 2013 | Morwell | Wonthaggi | Bairnsdale | Sale |
| 2014 | Morwell | Traralgon | Traralgon | Moe |
| 2015 | Traralgon | Maffra | Traralgon | Traralgon |
| 2016 | Maffra | Traralgon | Bairnsdale | Moe |
| 2017 | Leongatha | Morwell | Traralgon | Moe |
| 2018 | Leongatha | Leongatha | Traralgon | Bairnsdale |
| 2019 | Maffra | Maffra | Leongatha | Traralgon |
| 2022 | Leongatha | Leongatha | Warragul | Maffra |
| 2023 | Leongatha | Leongatha | Maffra | Maffra |
| 2024 | Traralgon | Leongatha | Warragul | Traralgon |
| 2025 | Leongatha | Leongatha | Maffra | Maffra |
A number of players from the Gippsland league have gone on to play and have success at the AFL level.
| Year | Senior Premier | Senior B&F Winner | Season Summary (Ladder & Finals) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Leongatha | Benjamin Harding (Leongatha) | 2025 season |
| 2024 | Traralgon | Riley Baldi (Moe) | 2024 season |
| 2023 | Leongatha | Shannen Lange (Sale) | 2023 Season |
| 2022 | Leongatha | Tom Marriott (Leongatha) | 2022 Season |
| 2019 | Maffra | Jack Lipman (Sale) | 2019 Season |
| 2018 | Leongatha | Tom Marriott (Leongatha) | 2018 Season |
| 2017 | Leongatha | James Blaser (Moe), Kane Martin (Sale) & Jack Blair (Wonthaggi Power) | 2017 Season |
| 2016 | Maffra | Brad Scalzo (Warragul) | 2016 Season |
| 2015 | Traralgon | Bob McCallum (Drouin) | 2015 Season |
| 2014 | Morwell | Adam Bailey (Morwell) | 2014 Season |
| 2013 | Morwell | Kelvin Porter (Maffra) | 2013 Season |
| 2012 | Sale | Luke Collins (Sale) | 2012 Season |
| 2011 | Traralgon | Andrew Soumilas (Drouin) | 2011 Season |
| 2010 | Maffra[41] | Gary Jones (Maffra) | 2010 Season |
| 2009 | Maffra[42] | Adrian Cox (Sale) & Michael Geary (Traralgon) | 2009 Season |
| 2008 | Sale | Nick Hider (Maffra) | 2008 Season |
| 2007 | Maffra | Nick Hider (Maffra) | 2007 Season |
| 2006 | Maffra | Desi Barr (Warragul) | 2006 Season |
| 2005 | Traralgon | Andrew Soumilas (Garfield) | 2005 Season |
Finishing positions of current clubs since 1954[43]
| Club | Premierships | Runners Up | 3rd | 4th | 5th |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Traralgon | 21 | 18 | 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Leongatha | 13 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 3 |
| Sale | 10 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
| Maffra | 9 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 2 |
| Morwell | 9 | 8 | 10 | 3 | 7 |
| Warragul | 3 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 3 |
| Moe | 2 | 8 | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Bairnsdale | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Wonthaggi | 0 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| Drouin | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
Recent finishing positions[43]
| Club | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bairnsdale | 8th | 7th | 7th | 9th | 8th | 7th | 9th | 10th | 8th | 5th | 6th | 8th | 8th |
| Drouin | 10th | 9th | 10th | 10th | 5th | 8th | 10th | 4th | 7th | 10th | 9th | 7th | 2nd |
| Leongatha | 1st | 1st | 3rd | 1st | 2nd | 1st | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 7th | 7th | 3rd | 8th |
| Maffra | 7th | 10th | 8th | 6th | 1st | 2nd | 2nd | 1st | 3rd | 4th | 3rd | 2nd | 3rd |
| Moe | 3rd | 3rd | 2nd | 7th | 3rd | 5th | 4th | 8th | 9th | 8th | 10th | 10th | 7th |
| Morwell | 4th | 6th | 6th | 5th | 9th | 9th | 5th | 9th | 6th | 1st | 1st | 5th | 9th |
| Sale | 9th | 5th | 5th | 3rd | 4th | 4th | 6th | 6th | 5th | 3rd | 2nd | 1st | 4th |
| Traralgon | 2nd | 2nd | 4th | 4th | 7th | 3rd | 3rd | 3rd | 1st | 6th | 5th | 4th | 1st |
| Warragul | 5th | 8th | 9th | 8th | 10th | 6th | 7th | 5th | 10th | 9th | 8th | 9th | 10th |
| Wonthaggi | 6th | 4th | 1st | 2nd | 6th | 10th | 8th | 7th | 4th | 2nd | 4th | 6th | 6th |
Significant records
| Record | Detail |
|---|---|
| Highest score: | 45.22 (292) Traralgon vs. Churchill |
| Lowest score: | 0.2 (2) Stratford vs. Traralgon; Bairnsdale vs. Traralgon |
| Most goals in a match: | (19) Adrian Campbell (Leongatha vs. Moe) |
| Most goals in a season: | 136Shane Loveless (Sale) |
| Record quarter score | |
| 1st quarter | 13.4 (82)Maffra vs. Newborough Warragul vs. Newborough Maffra vs. Churchill |
| 2nd quarter | 14.3 (87)Leongatha vs. Heyfield |
| 3rd quarter | 15.5 (95)Traralgon vs. Newborough |
| 4th quarter | 16.7 (103)Leongatha vs. Moe |
| Gippsland | Wins | Losses | Draws | For | Against | % | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wonthaggi | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1818 | 802 | 226.68% | 64 |
| Moe | 16 | 2 | 0 | 1606 | 892 | 180.04% | 64 |
| Leongatha | 15 | 3 | 0 | 1911 | 832 | 229.69% | 60 |
| Traralgon | 11 | 7 | 0 | 1511 | 1285 | 117.59% | 44 |
| Sale | 10 | 8 | 0 | 1338 | 1202 | 111.31% | 40 |
| Morwell | 7 | 11 | 0 | 1154 | 1334 | 86.51% | 28 |
| Bairnsdale | 5 | 12 | 1 | 1142 | 1731 | 65.87% | 22 |
| Maffra | 4 | 13 | 1 | 997 | 1634 | 61.02% | 18 |
| Warragul | 3 | 15 | 0 | 816 | 1935 | 42.17% | 12 |
| Drouin | 2 | 16 | 0 | 1232 | 1878 | 65.6% | 8 |
Finals