Warragul and Drouin will collide in a massive Anzac weekend clash after the official release of the Gippsland League fixtures for the 2022 season.
Warragul and Drouin will play a standalone game in round three on Sunday 24 April, the third of 18 home and away rounds set to kick off on Saturday 2 April.
The finals series will begin in the final weekend of August with the Grand Final scheduled for 17 September.
Season 2022 will see all clubs be fixtured to play each other within the first nine rounds of competition which was a key focus from the clubs after this year’s Covid-affected season.
Easter weekend (April 16) will see a League-wide bye with the Queens Birthday Long weekend also a bye for eight of the competing clubs.
There will be a return of the split round late in the season at Round 16 that will allow
the clubs another break throughout the playing schedule while also giving the League flexibility should there be any interruptions.
The first round of competition will see three matchups that the clubs missed out on playing in 2021.
Wonthaggi Power host Sale with both sides fancied to feature in September action in the senior football. Morwell will make the trip to Bairnsdale while Drouin and Maffra will do battle for the first time since 2019.
Traralgon will make the trip to Leongatha first up in a fixture the clubs are hoping
to make into an annual round one clash. Rounding out the first match day will be Moe and Warragul at Moe.
Anzac weekend will be a feature with round three showcasing a plethora of rivalry clashes.
Traralgon and Morwell will playoff under lights on the Saturday night at Traralgon Showgrounds. Bairnsdale will host Sale for bragging rights in East Gippsland, Moe will welcome Maffra to Ted Summerton Reserve while Wonthaggi and Leongatha renew their rivalry in Saturday afternoon action.
They will be precursors to the Sunday showdown – the Western Derby – when Warragul and Drouin joust it out for early season honours.
