Football across the region is set for a massive boost this September as AFL Victoria officially announces the return of the V/Line Cup to Gippsland for the first time since 2018.
Latrobe City Council will welcome more than 600 players, officials and their families for the 77th edition of the historic three-day representative carnival, running from September 21-23.
To spearhead the home-ground campaign, AFL Gippsland has locked in a powerful, talent-heavy coaching panel tasked with leading and developing the region’s top under-15 boys and girls.
Heading up the division one boys program is Shaun Mooney, supported by a strong line-up of line coaches including Ben Cunningham, Mel George and Dean Blake.
The division two boys will be led by Dale Paterson alongside Damian Blackford, Luke Short and Chris Steur.
On the girls’ side, Emily Gibson takes the reins as the division one girls head coach, joined by line coaches Tamika McQueen, Lydia Gudgin, and Jayda Tannahill to guide the squad through the elite talent pathway.
Crucially, the program places a premium on holistic development, bringing in highly respected Gippsland Power boys head hoach Kris Pendelbury and girls head coach Michael Farmer as dedicated mentors, alongside runners Allan Chandler and Tess Binney to bridge the gap between coaching strategy and on-field execution.
The entire campaign will be overseen by talent program lead Scott McDougall and region manager Tim Cotter.
The return of the V/Line Cup is expected to deliver a major economic windfall for the local community.
When Gippsland last hosted the carnival between 2015 and 2018, it generated a substantial economic boost exceeding $9 million.
Matches will be played across three premier local venues that have undergone significant recent redevelopments and refurbishments, priming them for an elevated player and spectator experience: Traralgon Recreation Reserve, Morwell Recreation Reserve and Ted Summerton Reserve (Moe).
The 2026 carnival features a streamlined structure, reducing the field to align directly with the six representative AFL Talent League regions (such as Gippsland Power).
This format will see teams play two matches each, with a total of 18 high-stakes games across the three days.
Head of AFL Victoria, Greg Madigan, expressed his excitement for the return: “The V/Line Cup is a highlight of the AFL Victoria calendar. I’m thrilled to see it return to Gippsland, with recently upgraded facilities and a dedicated local community who will ensure it is a fantastic experience. We have seen tremendous talent come through AFL Gippsland in recent years, and I thank Latrobe City Council and V/Line for their ongoing, long-standing support,” Madigan said.
Players selected from All Stars will receive an invitation to the V/Line Cup Come and Try Day to be hosted in Morwell in early July over the coming weeks, with clubs asked to provide additional nominations beyond those selected from the All Stars program over the next two weeks through correspondence at a Region/League level.
