The stage is set for a massive five-week carnival of community sport after the naming of host venues for this year’s Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League (MPNFL) finals series.

Frankston Park will once again become the field of dreams for footballers across the Peninsula, hosting grand finals in division one and two, while the netball deciders will be played at Rosebud (Division One) and Somerville (Division Two).

Netball’s ‘top-five finals model’ was introduced to mirror the football structure and will closely align football and netball during this year’s finals series. Football and netball finals – up to and including preliminary finals – will be played at the same club venue across both divisions

The announcement of finals venues brings to an end a lengthy process, which began with the MPNFL Finance Audit Committee presenting to clubs its 2019 MPNFL Finals Proposal document.

This document highlighted the MPNFL Finals Series as being the most significant promotional vehicle for showcasing the quality of football and netball in the region.

The key objectives of the MPNFL Finance Audit Committee is to maximise operational efficiencies and profitability of the finals series and to provide more opportunities for community clubs to host finals, and build on the momentum of the successful 2018 finals series.

An additional part to this year’s selection process involved MPNFL clubs providing feedback on the structure of the division one grand final weekend via the 2019 MPNFL Grand Final Survey. The survey results failed to conclusively determine clear majority support to move the division one grand final to a Saturday, with the traditional Sunday timeslot to remain in 2019.

AFL South East Chief Operating Officer Shaun Connell said there were many factors to consider when deciding on host venues for finals. He thanked clubs for putting forward their expressions of interest to host finals this year, with the MPNFL spoilt for choice in this regard.

“Obviously it’s the biggest and best time of the year and we wanted to capture the atmosphere and excitement that football and netball can bring, providing players with the best conditions, but also capitalising on the financial elements as well,” Connell said.

“The schedule takes advantage of the great facilities we have across the length and breadth of the Peninsula and I think we’re set for one of the most exciting and memorable finals series on record.”

The structure of the MPNFL Division One finals series has been altered for the first two weeks of finals compared to 2018, with the higher-ranked qualifying and second semi-finals now to be played on Saturday.

The South Eastern Women’s Football (SEWF) finals will be held at standalone venues this year at Beaconsfield, Casey Fields and Shepley Oval.

Beaconsfield will host division two and three semi-finals on Saturday, August 24 with Casey Fields to host division one semi-finals on Sunday, August 25. Preliminary finals will be played at Shepley Oval, Dandenong, on Sunday, September 1, with the SEWF grand finals to be held at the same venue on Sunday, September 8.

2019 CHISHOLM MPNFL FINALS DATES AND VENUES

MPNFL DIVISION ONE

Week 1

Saturday August 24                        Qualifying Final                                Rosebud

Sunday August 25                           Elimination Final                             Rye

Week 2

Saturday August 31                        Second Semi-Final                           Rye

Sunday September 1                      First Semi-Final                                Chelsea

Week 3

Sunday September 8                      Preliminary Final                             Rosebud

Week 4

Saturday September 14                Grand Final – Netball                      Rosebud

Sunday September 15                   Grand Final – Football                    Frankston Park

 

MPNFL DIVISION TWO

Week 1

Saturday August 17                        Qualifying Final                                Somerville

Sunday August 18                           Elimination Final                             Mornington

Week 2

Saturday August 24                        Second Semi-Final                           Chelsea

Sunday August 25                           First Semi-Final                                Mornington

Week 3

Saturday August 31                        Preliminary Final                             Somerville

Week 4

Saturday September 7                   Grand Final – Football                    Frankston Park

Saturday September 7                   Grand Final – Netball                     Somerville

 

SOUTH EASTERN WOMEN’S FOOTBALL (SEWF)

Week 1

Saturday August 24                        Division 2 and 3 Semi-Finals         Beaconsfield

Sunday August 25                           Division 1 Semi-Finals                     Casey Fields

Week 2

Sunday September 1                      Preliminary Final                             Shepley Oval

Week 3

Sunday September 8                      Grand Final                                       Shepley Oval