SCRAP PLANS FOR NIGHT SEMI-FINAL

It is not too late to jettison plans to play the Gippsland League second semi-final at Traralgon at night.

Since the decision was officially announced about a fortnight ago most of the feedback I’ve heard has been negative, especially from supporters and many club volunteers.

Night games are something of a rarity in the league and have not seen huge crowds swarming through the gates.

Most spectators complain that under lights it is almost impossible to distinguish players when they are 70 or 80 metres away.

The second semi-final will be between two of Maffra, Sale or Leongatha, not teams from the central Latrobe Valley area around Traralgon.

And it is not a game that is likely to have people tearing away after the Mid Gippsland league grand final on the same day, September 8, to see the game at Traralgon.

Especially not if you are a keen supporter or involved with one of the clubs that have played in grand finals on the day and have their own post grand final functions that night.

Nor is a night final likely to have people flocking in after they’ve been to finals games in other district leagues in the region or ripping themselves from the lounge room heater and the TV that will have live coverage of an AFL final.

The only real support I’ve heard for the night game has come from Traralgon.

“Unofficially” it seems the main reason is to justify to Latrobe City Council and the State government the amount of money they put into the new lighting at the oval.

Reverting to playing the football at the normal day times wouldn’t be any big deal and won’t disrupt the finals’ program.

That is “up in the air” as it is due to the aim of not giving teams involved in the senior finals a “home ground advantage”.

Because of that venues for three of the finals won’t be finalised until the week before they are due to be played.

Depending on what senior teams are involved the qualifying final might be at Warragul or it might be at Traralgon, the elimination final might be at Morwell or it might be at Warragul and the first semi-final might be at Maffra or, if not, Sale.

West Gippsland league initially went for a Sunday grand final this year to avoid clashes with Saturday grand finals in some adjoining leagues but has since backed off that decision after listening to feedback it got.

Gippsland League could also do well by taking in some feedback about the proposed night second semi-final.