2026 VFL season: Difference between revisions

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==Notable events==

==Notable events==

The [[Seven Network]], which had broadcast VFL matches since 2022, did not renew its deal, stating the practice was no longer commercially viable. This meant there were no longer broadcasts of VFL matches on free-to-air television, with broadcasts now available only in streaming form on the AFL’s website and mobile app.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2026/01/seven-drops-not-commercially-viable-vfl.html|title=Seven drops “not commercially viable” VFL|work=TV Tonight|date=28 January 2026|author=David Knox}}</ref>

The [[Seven Network]], which had broadcast VFL matches since , did not renew its deal, stating the practice was no longer commercially viable. This meant there were no longer broadcasts of VFL matches on free-to-air television, with broadcasts now available only in streaming form on the AFL’s website and mobile app.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2026/01/seven-drops-not-commercially-viable-vfl.html|title=Seven drops “not commercially viable” VFL|work=TV Tonight|date=28 January 2026|author=David Knox}}</ref>

==See also==

==See also==

144th season of the Victorian Football League

Victorian football season

2026 VFL season
Date 20 March – 20 September 2026
Teams 22

The 2026 VFL season is the upcoming 144th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), a second-tier Australian rules football competition played in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.[1] The season is scheduled to begin on 20 March and conclude on 20 September.[2]

League membership

In 2026, 22 teams will compete in the VFL, the equal-most (with 2021) to contest a VFA/VFL premiership in a single division. It is the first time that clubs from four different states will be represented in the same season.

Preston

Torn-down advertising signage next to a Preston Football Club banner at Preston City Oval in November 2025

The Northern Bullants faced several challenges throughout the 2025 season. A new president and board took over in May 2025, reverting the club to its traditional “Preston Football Club” name on 20 August 2025, immediately after the conclusion of the home-and-away season.[3] The club had last competed as Preston in 1999 (when it was nicknamed the “Knights”).[4]

At the same time, it was reported that the club could be in danger of folding because of debt, with the club asking the Australian Football League (AFL) to financially assist.[5] On 6 October 2025, after years of uncompetitive performances, having struggled to pay its players and staff in 2025, and with questions over its long-term viability without the annual subsidies that clubs had received from the league prior to the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season, the VFL revoked the club’s licence.[6]

It was the not the first time Preston’s history that it had faced similar circumstances – in 1912 it amalgamated with Northcote, in 1997 its licence was withdrawn but was restored after one month, and in 2020 it almost folded after Carlton ended their affiliation.[7]

Initially, Preston club officials expressed optimism about regaining a VFL licence in 2027 or 2028.[8] However, faced with no viable path to readmission, the club entered voluntary liquidation after a meeting of members on 15 December 2025.[9][10]

St Kilda

Promotional signage inside Trevor Barker Beach Oval for Sandringham‘s return as a standalone team

St Kilda competed in the VFL with its own reserves team during the 2000 season, before entering into an affiliation with Springvale (later renamed Casey) in 2001. The agreement ended after the 2008 season and St Kilda affiliated with Sandringham in 2009.[11]

In April 2025, Sandringham rejected a proposal from St Kilda to be renamed to the “Sandringham Saints” and move all home matches from Trevor Barker Beach Oval to Moorabbin Oval.[12] The proposal also would have resulted in Sandringham permanently using St Kilda’s colours of red, black and white (which it had already worn as an away jumper beginning in 2019).[13]

On 30 June 2025, St Kilda announced it would end its affiliation with Sandringham following the 2025 season.[14][15] The AFL granted a VFL licence to St Kilda the same day, while Sandringham will continue in the competition as a standalone team.[16][17]

Tasmania

On 5 September 2025, the Tasmania Football Club was granted a licence to compete in the VFL from 2026, ahead of its planned entry into the AFL from the 2028 season.[18][19] Jeromey Webberley was appointed as the club’s inaugural VFL coach, while former Essendon player Jye Menzie became the club’s first player when he was signed on 30 September 2025.[20][21]

Tasmania will play its first official practice match against Werribee at RMIT Oval on 7 March 2026.[22] Its first home-and-away season match will be played against Coburg at North Hobart Oval in round 1.[23]

It will be the first time a club from Tasmania has competed in the VFL since the original Tasmania Football Club, which competed from 2001 until the end of 2008.[24]

Clubs

Coach appointments

Club leadership

Home-and-away season

  • Round 1 fixture released (see here), remaining fixture to be released at a later date.

Round 1

Round 1
Friday, 20 March (12:35pm) Box Hill v Sydney Kennedy Community Centre
Friday, 20 March (7:05pm) Geelong v Essendon GMHBA Stadium
Friday, 20 March (7:35pm) Frankston v Williamstown Kinetic Stadium
Satuday, 21 March (11:05am) Greater Western Sydney v St Kilda Tom Wills Oval
Saturday, 21 March (12:05pm) Richmond v Southport Kinetic Stadium
Saturday, 21 March (1:05pm) Tasmania v Coburg North Hobart Oval
Saturday, 21 March (2:05pm) Footscray v Casey Mission Whitten Oval
Sunday, 22 March (11:05am) Gold Coast v Werribee People First Stadium
Sunday, 22 March (2:05pm) Sandringham v Port Melbourne Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Bye
Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, North Melbourne

Representative match

An interstate representative match against the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) will again be played during the AFL Gather Round, marking the third successive season the fixture has been scheduled. The match will be played at Stratarama Stadium, the home ground of Glenelg, and will be part of a double-header alongside a women’s match.[34]

Scoreboard

Notable events

The Seven Network, which had broadcast VFL matches since 2014, did not renew its deal, stating the practice was no longer commercially viable. This meant there were no longer broadcasts of VFL matches on free-to-air television, with broadcasts now available only in streaming form on the AFL’s website and mobile app.[35]

See also

References

  1. ^ Ralphsmith, Jonty (27 November 2025). “VFL 2026 season dates locked in as VFLW campaign moved”. ZeroHanger. Archived from the original on 30 November 2025. Retrieved 30 November 2025.
  2. ^ “2026 VFL and VFLW season dates”. AFL.com.au. 27 November 2025. Archived from the original on 27 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
  3. ^ Amy, Paul (20 May 2025). “New Bullants president says club will go back to being called Preston”. CODE Sports. Archived from the original on 20 May 2025. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  4. ^ “Preston Football Club”. Darebin Libraries. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  5. ^ Amy, Paul; Michell, Tim (19 August 2025). “Northern Bullants on brink of collapse after plea to AFL for debt bailout”. Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 19 August 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
  6. ^ Amy, Paul (6 October 2025). “Game over: Historic Victorian club Preston Bullants kicked out of the VFL”. CODE Sports. Archived from the original on 6 October 2025. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  7. ^ “‘Time for action’: Bullants need your support as club returns to Preston name”. Preston Football Club. 20 August 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  8. ^ “Proud to be Preston: Three Clubs. United. One Jumper”. Preston Football Club. 22 October 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  9. ^ “Club statement”. Preston Football Club. 17 December 2025. Archived from the original on 31 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  10. ^ Simpkins, Sarah (18 December 2025). “Historic Preston Football Club liquidated after 143-year run”. Herald Sun. Archived from the original on 18 December 2025. Retrieved 31 December 2025.
  11. ^ “Saints, Demons in VFL affiliate swap”. AFL.com.au. 5 June 2008. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  12. ^ Wu, Andrew; Spits, Scott (24 April 2025). “Why the Saints could split from their VFL team; Sam Darcy avoids knee surgery”. Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  13. ^ “Sandringham releases clash guernsey for 2019”. Sandringham Football Club. 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
  14. ^ “St Kilda to field standalone VFL team in 2026”. St Kilda Football Club. 30 June 2025. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  15. ^ Keating, Mitch (30 June 2025). “St Kilda make call on VFL team for 2026”. ZeroHanger. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  16. ^ “St Kilda approved VFL licence”. AFL.com.au. 30 June 2025. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  17. ^ Alvaro, Michael (22 January 2026). “Recruitment drive: Standalone Sandringham’s signing spree”. Rookie Me Central. Archived from the original on 26 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
  18. ^ “Tasmania to enter VFL and VFLW in 2026”. AFL.com.au. 5 September 2025. Archived from the original on 5 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  19. ^ “Tasmania Football Club to Enter VFL and VFLW in 2026”. Tasmania Football Club. 5 September 2025. Archived from the original on 5 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  20. ^ Hann, Ben (8 September 2025). “Tasmania Devils reveal inaugural coach after reaching massive milestone”. The Examiner. Archived from the original on 8 September 2025. Retrieved 8 September 2025.
  21. ^ “Devils Sign First VFL Athlete”. Tasmania Football Club. 30 September 2025. Archived from the original on 30 September 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
  22. ^ May, Brayden (27 January 2026). “Tasmania to play practice match against Werribee”. The Mercury. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  23. ^ “Devils Lock In Historic Season Opener”. Tasmania Football Club. 28 January 2026. Archived from the original on 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
  24. ^ Newlinds, Peter (2 September 2003). “Tasmania gripped by footy fever”. ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  25. ^ “Daniel Ward appointed Sandringham FC VFL Senior Coach for 2026”. Sandringham Football Club. 4 September 2025. Archived from the original on 4 September 2025. Retrieved 4 September 2025.
  26. ^ “Tasmania Football Club Appoints First Coach”. Tasmania Football Club. 8 September 2025. Archived from the original on 30 September 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
  27. ^ “Dees appoint McLennan”. Melbourne Football Club. 10 October 2025. Archived from the original on 10 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  28. ^ “Mirra returns to the brown and gold as VFL Senior Coach”. Hawthorn Football Club. 13 October 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  29. ^ Gabelich, Josh (27 October 2025). “Dogs promote flag Swan to coach VFL team in 2026”. AFL.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  30. ^ “Former Pie returns as VFL Senior Coach”. Collingwood Football Club. 31 October 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  31. ^ “Saints lock in VFL coaches”. St Kilda Football Club. 16 November 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  32. ^ “Werribee Announces 2026 Senior Coach”. Werribee Football Club. 10 December 2025. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  33. ^ Box Hill Hawks [@BoxHillHawks] (29 January 2026). “A piece of the furniture and an important part of who we are. Stu Horner will lead the Stangs in 2026” (Tweet). Archived from the original on 29 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026 – via Twitter.
  34. ^ “VFL and SANFL double-header to heat up Gather Round”. afl.com.au. 10 December 2025.
  35. ^ David Knox (28 January 2026). “Seven drops “not commercially viable” VFL”. TV Tonight.

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