2026 VFL season

2026 VFL season
Date20 March – 20 September 2026
Teams22

The 2026 VFL season is the 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 commenced on 20 March and will conclude on 20 September.[2]

Background

Broadcast rights

The Seven Network, which had broadcast VFL matches since 2015, did not renew its deal, stating that the practice was no longer commercially viable.[3] During the 2025 season, one match per round had been shown in Victoria on its secondary channel, 7mate.[4] On 12 February 2026, Crikey reported that the ABC had secured the VFL television and radio rights for the 2026 season.[5] The full broadcast deal was announced on 12 March 2026.[6]

The ABC will broadcast one match per round, generally commencing at 12:05pm on Saturdays, which would be available on ABC Television in Victoria, ABC iview nationally, and simulcast on ABC Radio and ABC Listen.[6][7]

Kayo Sports, which previously broadcast VFL matches in 2021, will stream at least one home-and-away match per round (which is also shown on Fox Footy).[6] The Seven Network will broadcast all ten of the Tasmania Football Club's home matches on Seven Tasmania and 7plus nationally.[8] The Sports Entertainment Network (SEN) will broadcast all of Tasmania's home-and-away matches on radio.[8]

During the finals series, Kayo will broadcast the majority of matches, while the ABC will broadcast one match in each of the first three weeks.[6] The preliminary finals and grand final will be broadcast by the ABC.[6]

All matches will continue to be broadcast online through the AFL's website and app.[6]

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.[9] It is the first time that clubs from four different states will be represented in the same season.[9]

Preston

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.[10] The club had last competed as Preston in 1999 (when it was nicknamed the "Knights").[11]

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.[12] 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.[13]

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.[14]

Initially, Preston club officials expressed optimism about regaining a VFL licence in 2027 or 2028.[15] However, faced with no viable path to readmission, the club entered voluntary liquidation after a meeting of members on 15 December 2025.[16][17]

St Kilda

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.[18]

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.[19] 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).[20]

On 30 June 2025, St Kilda announced it would end its affiliation with Sandringham following the 2025 season.[21][22] The AFL granted a VFL licence to St Kilda the same day, while Sandringham will continue in the competition as a standalone team.[23][24]

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.[25][26] 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.[27][28]

Tasmania played its first official practice match against Werribee at RMIT Oval on 7 March 2026, losing 14.8 (92) to 10.12 (72).[29] Its played its first home-and-away season match against Coburg at North Hobart Oval in round 1, winning 14.12 (96) to 11.13 (79).[30][31]

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.[32]

Clubs

Club State Home venue(s) Capacity AFL affiliation
Box Hill VIC Box Hill City Oval 10,000 Hawthorn
Kennedy Community Centre
Brisbane QLD Brighton Homes Arena 8,000 Brisbane
Carlton VIC Ikon Park 13,000 Carlton
Casey VIC Casey Fields 9,000 Melbourne
Coburg VIC Barry Plant Park 15,000 N/a
Collingwood VIC Victoria Park 10,000 Collingwood
Essendon VIC NEC Hangar 3,500 Essendon
Windy Hill 10,000
Footscray VIC Mission Whitten Oval 10,000 Western Bulldogs
Frankston VIC Kinetic Stadium 5,000 N/a
Geelong VIC GMHBA Stadium 40,000 Geelong
Gold Coast QLD People First Stadium 25,000 Gold Coast
Greater Western Sydney NSW Tom Wills Oval 1,000 Greater Western Sydney
ENGIE Stadium 23,500
North Melbourne VIC Arden Street Oval 4,000 North Melbourne
Port Melbourne VIC ETU Stadium 6,000 N/a
Richmond VIC Holm Park 7,000 Richmond
Kinetic Stadium 5,000
ETU Stadium 6,000
Sandringham VIC WS Trevor Barker Beach Oval 6,000 N/a
Southport QLD Fankhauser Reserve 8,000 N/a
St Kilda VIC RSEA Park 8,000 St Kilda
Sydney NSW Tramway Oval 1,000 Sydney
Sydney Cricket Ground 48,000
Tasmania TAS Ninja Stadium 20,000 N/a
North Hobart Oval 11,135
UTAS Stadium 17,000
Werribee VIC Avalon Airport Oval 8,000 N/a
Williamstown VIC DSV Stadium 6,000 N/a

Coach appointments

New coach Club Date of appointment Previous coach Ref
Daniel Ward Sandringham 4 September 2025 Brendon Goddard [33]
Jeromey Webberley Tasmania 8 September 2025 N/A [34]
Adam Marcon North Melbourne 15 September 2025 Tom Lynch
Jack Madgen Richmond 24 September 2025 Jake Batchelor [35]
Nick Malceski Sydney 7 October 2025 Jarrad McVeigh [36]
Rhett McLennan Casey 10 October 2025 Taylor Whitford [37]
David Mirra Box Hill 12 October 2025 Zane Littlejohn [38]
Damian Truslove Carlton 27 October 2025 Luke Power [39]
Alex Johnson Footscray 27 October 2025 Stewart Edge [40]
Matthew Lokan Collingwood 31 October 2025 Andy Otten [41]
Brendon Goddard St Kilda 16 November 2025 N/A [42]
Dan Lowther Werribee 10 December 2025 James Allan [43]
Robbie Chancellor Greater Western Sydney 4 March 2026 Wayne Cripps [44]
Scott Borlace Brisbane TBD Ben Hudson

Club leadership

Club Coach Leadership group Ref
Captain(s) Vice-captain(s) Other leader(s)
Box Hill David Mirra Stu Horner
Brisbane Scott Borlace
Carlton Damian Truslove
Casey Rhett McLennan
Coburg Jamie Cassidy-McNamara
Collingwood Matthew Lokan Brady Grey, Ben De Bolfo Will Phillips, Josh Browne, Max Mahoney
Essendon Cameron Joyce
Footscray Alex Johnson Dan Orgill Billy Crofts, Cooper Craig-Peters
Frankston Jackson Kornberg
Geelong Mark Corrigan
Gold Coast Tate Kaeslar Alex Sexton [45]
Greater Western Sydney Robbie Chancellor Ryan Hebron
North Melbourne Adam Marcon
Port Melbourne Brendan McCartney Tom Hird Kaine Baldwin Tom Highmore, Josh Green, Tom Graham [46]
Richmond Jack Madgen
Sandringham Daniel Ward Blake Watson Ben Stephenson, Mitch Ryan, Ethan Williams Josh Hutchings, Kynan Brown, Brodie Findlay, Billy Johnson [47]
Southport Matthew Primus Brayden Crossley, Jacob Dawson Zac Foot Jesse Joyce, Michael Manteit, Max Spencer
St Kilda Brendon Goddard
Sydney Nick Malceski
Tasmania Jeromey Webberley Robbie Fox Jye Menzie Brad-Cox Goodyer, Hugh Dixon, Caleb Mitchell [48]
Werribee Dan Lowther Jesse Clark Dom Brew (vc), Louis Pinnuck (dvc) Jay Dahlhaus, Charlie Lazzaro [49]
Williamstown Justin Plapp

Pre-season

Practice matches

VFL practice matches began on 13 February 2026.[50]

2026 VFL practice matches
Friday, 13 February (6:30pm) Coburg 6.12 (48) def. by Richmond 7.10 (52) La Trobe Sports Park Report
Wednesday, 18 February (7:05pm) Carlton 7.14 (56) def. Coburg 7.8 (50) Ikon Park Report
Thursday, 19 February (5:00pm) Footscray 13.9 (87) def. Sandringham 8.11 (59) Mission Whitten Oval Report
Friday, 20 February (1:05pm) Essendon 18.13 (121) def. Richmond 8.7 (55) NEC Hangar Report
Friday, 20 February (2:30pm) Casey 12.5 (77) def. by North Melbourne 11.12 (78) Casey Fields Scores
Friday, 20 February (5:30pm) St Kilda 6.7 (43) def. by Port Melbourne 19.10 (124) RSEA Park Scores
Saturday, 21 February (12:30pm) Williamstown 17.11 (113) def. Frankston 6.5 (41) La Trobe Sports Park Scores
Wednesday, 25 February (2:00pm) Carlton 13.4 (82) def. Geelong 13.3 (81) Ikon Park Report
Thursday, 26 February (10:30am) Brisbane 12.6 (78) def. Gold Coast 11.8 (74) Brighton Homes Arena Scores
Thursday, 26 February (abandoned) Sydney v Greater Western Sydney Henson Park
Friday, 27 February (4:10pm) Footscray 10.11 (71) def. by Box Hill 11.7 (73) Mission Whitten Oval Report
Friday, 27 February (5:30pm) North Melbourne 7.9 (51) def. by Coburg 9.20 (74) Arden Street Oval Scores
Saturday, 28 February (10:00am) Coburg 12.12 (84) def. Sandringham 6.8 (44) Highgate Recreation Reserve Report
Saturday, 28 February (11:00am) Casey 5.4 (34) def. by Richmond 12.12 (84) Casey Fields Report
Saturday, 28 February (12:45pm) Werribee 17.10 (112) def. Frankston 6.9 (45) Highgate Recreation Reserve Scores
Saturday, 28 February (3:30pm) Williamstown 14.6 (90) def. Port Melbourne 10.7 (67) Highgate Recreation Reserve Scores
Sunday, 1 March (10:00am) North Melbourne 11.8 (74) def. by Collingwood 15.14 (104) Arden Street Oval Report
Sunday, 1 March (11:00am) Essendon 10.6 (66) def. by St Kilda 16.11 (107) NEC Hangar Scores
Friday, 6 March (3:00pm) Gold Coast 13.8 (86) def. Southport 7.3 (45) Austworld Centre Oval Scores
Friday, 6 March (5:00pm) Carlton 6.22 (58) def. by Footscray 12.7 (79) Ikon Park Scores
Friday, 6 March (5:00pm) Sydney 15.6 (106) def. North Shore 1.3 (9) Tramway Oval Scores
Saturday, 7 March (10:00am) Brisbane 27.14 (176) def. Aspley 3.3 (21) Graham Road Oval Scores
Saturday, 7 March (10:30am) St Kilda 11.10 (76) def. by Williamstown 11.14 (80) RSEA Park Scores
Saturday, 7 March (11:00am) Casey 13.12 (90) def. by Box Hill 14.14 (98) Casey Fields Report
Saturday, 7 March (12:00pm) Frankston 13.9 (87) def. by Sandringham 13.11 (89) Belvedere Reserve Scores
Saturday, 7 March (12:00pm) North Melbourne 13.9 (87) def. by Geelong 14.11 (95) Arden Street Oval Scores
Saturday, 7 March (3:00pm) Werribee 14.8 (92) def. Tasmania 10.12 (72) RMIT Oval Scores
Saturday, 7 March (3:00pm) Glenelg 9.10 (64) def. by Coburg 11.9 (75) West Gambier Football Oval Scores
Thursday, 12 March (1:00pm) Carlton 10.17 (77) def. Richmond 10.10 (70) Ikon Park Scores
Friday, 13 March (4:30pm) Box Hill 12.13 (85) def. Port Melbourne 12.10 (82) Kennedy Community Centre Scores
Saturday, 14 March (10:00am) Footscray 17.14 (116) def. Werribee 10.10 (70) Mission Whitten Oval Scores
Saturday, 14 March (cancelled) Brisbane v Southport Brighton Homes Arena
Saturday, 14 March (9:30am) Greater Western Sydney 14.4 (88) def. by Sydney 14.14 (98) Tom Wills Oval
Saturday, 14 March (11:00am) Geelong 22.4 (138) def. Collingwood 13.9 (87) Deakin University Elite Sports Precinct Scores
Saturday, 14 March (2:00pm) North Melbourne 14.11 (95) def. Essendon 11.15 (81) Arden Street Oval Report
Sunday, 15 March (10:00am) St Kilda 10.6 (66) def. by Casey 24.22 (166) RSEA Park Report
Sunday, 15 March (1:30pm) Gold Coast 17.9 (111) def. Palm Beach Currumbin 5.3 (33) People First Stadium Report

Home-and-away season

Round 1

Round 1
Friday, 20 March (12:35pm) Box Hill 16.11 (107) def. Sydney 10.11 (71) Kennedy Community Centre Report
Friday, 20 March (7:05pm) Geelong 24.19 (163) def. Essendon 12.6 (78) GMHBA Stadium Report
Friday, 20 March (7:35pm) Frankston 14.11 (95) def. by Williamstown 14.13 (97) Kinetic Stadium Report
Satuday, 21 March (11:05am) Greater Western Sydney 17.16 (118) def. St Kilda 10.14 (74) Tom Wills Oval Report
Saturday, 21 March (10:00am) Richmond 14.16 (100) def. Southport 7.18 (60) Kinetic Stadium Report
Saturday, 21 March (12:05pm) Tasmania 14.12 (96) def. Coburg 11.13 (79) North Hobart Oval (crowd: 10,634[53]) Report
Saturday, 21 March (12:05pm) Footscray 19.21 (135) def. Casey 14.8 (92) Mission Whitten Oval Report
Sunday, 22 March (11:00am) Gold Coast 8.10 (58) def. by Werribee 9.19 (73) People First Stadium Report
Sunday, 22 March (2:05pm) Sandringham 12.15 (87) def. by Port Melbourne 14.17 (101) Trevor Barker Beach Oval (crowd: 2,000[54]) Report
Bye
Brisbane, Carlton, Collingwood, North Melbourne

Round 2

Round 2
Friday, 27 March (3:10pm) Collingwood v Greater Western Sydney Victoria Park
Friday, 27 March (7:05pm) Geelong v Box Hill GMHBA Stadium
Friday, 27 March (7:35pm) Frankston v St Kilda Kinetic Stadium
Satuday, 28 March (11:05am) Richmond v Coburg Holm Park Recreation Reserve
Saturday, 28 March (12:05pm) Brisbane v Southport Brighton Homes Arena
Saturday, 28 March (12:05pm) Tasmania v Port Melbourne UTAS Stadium
Saturday, 28 March (12:35pm) Essendon v North Melbourne NEC Hangar
Saturday, 28 March (12:05pm) Sandringham v Werribee Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Sunday, 29 March (11:05am) Carlton v Williamstown Ikon Park
Bye
Casey, Footscray, Gold Coast, Sydney
  • The Tasmania v Port Melbourne match, which was scheduled to be played on 29 March, was moved to 28 March with the same starting time of 12:05pm because no flights were scheduled to leave Launceston on the evening of 29 March.[56][57]

Round 3

Round 3
Friday, 3 April (11:05am) Brisbane v Sandringham Brighton Homes Arena
Friday, 3 April (11:30am) North Melbourne v Carlton Arden Street Oval
Friday, 3 April (1:05pm) Coburg v Collingwood Barry Plant Park
Friday, 3 April (2:05pm) Frankston v Tasmania Kinetic Stadium
Saturday, 4 April (12:05pm) Southport v Gold Coast Fankhauser Reserve
Saturday, 4 April (12:05pm) Werribee v Geelong Avalon Airport Oval
Saturday, 4 April (1:00pm) Port Melbourne v Sydney ETU Stadium
Sunday, 5 April (11:05am) Casey v Box Hill Casey Fields
Sunday, 5 April (1:05pm) St Kilda v Richmond RSEA Park
Sunday, 5 April (3:05pm) Footscray v Essendon Mission Whitten Oval
Bye
Greater Western Sydney, Williamstown

Round 4

Round 4
Friday, 17 April (3:00pm) Geelong v Footscray GMHBA Stadium
Friday, 17 April (3:35pm) Sydney v Greater Western Sydney Sydney Cricket Ground
Friday, 17 April (7:05pm) Carlton v Collingwood Ikon Park
Saturday, 18 April (9:00am) Gold Coast v Essendon People First Stadium
Saturday, 18 April (12:05pm) Williamstown v Southport DSV Stadium
Saturday, 18 April (1:05pm) Coburg v St Kilda Barry Plant Park
Saturday, 18 April (2:05pm) Sandringham v North Melbourne Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Saturday, 18 April (2:05pm) Port Melbourne v Box Hill ETU Stadium
Saturday, 18 April (2:05pm) Werribee v Frankston Avalon Airport Oval
Sunday, 19 April (11:05am) Casey v Brisbane Casey Fields
Bye
Richmond, Tasmania

Round 5

Round 5
Friday, 24 April (11:05am) Footscray v Sydney Mission Whitten Oval
Friday, 24 April (7:35pm) Frankston v Coburg Kinetic Stadium
Saturday, 25 April (12:10pm) Collingwood v Essendon Victoria Park
Saturday, 25 April (1:05pm) Casey v Richmond Casey Fields
Saturday, 25 April (7:05pm) Williamstown v Werribee DSV Stadium
Saturday, 25 April (7:05pm) Tasmania v Carlton Ninja Stadium
Sunday, 26 April (9:30am) Greater Western Sydney v North Melbourne Tom Wills Oval
Sunday, 26 April (11:05am) Brisbane v Port Melbourne Brighton Homes Arena
Sunday, 26 April (2:05pm) Sandringham v Box Hill Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Sunday, 26 April (2:05pm) St Kilda v Gold Coast RSEA Park
Bye
Southport, Geelong

Round 6

Round 6
Friday, 1 May (7:35pm) Richmond v Frankston Kinetic Stadium
Saturday, 2 May (11:05am) Carlton v St Kilda Ikon Park
Saturday, 2 May (12:05pm) Southport v Footscray Fankhauser Reserve
Saturday, 2 May (12:30pm) Geelong v North Melbourne GMHBA Stadium
Saturday, 2 May (1:05pm) Coburg v Brisbane Barry Plant Park
Saturday, 2 May (2:05pm) Box Hill v Collingwood Box Hill City Oval
Saturday, 2 May (2:05pm) Essendon v Williamstown Windy Hill
Sunday, 3 May (11:05am) Sydney v Casey Tramway Oval
Sunday, 3 May (12:05pm) Tasmania v Sandringham UTAS Stadium
Sunday, 3 May (2:05pm) Port Melbourne v Werribee ETU Stadium
Sunday, 3 May (2:35pm) Gold Coast v Greater Western Sydney People First Stadium

Round 7

Round 7
Saturday, 9 May (12:05pm) Southport v Coburg Fankhauser Reserve
Saturday, 9 May (1:05pm) Casey v Carlton Casey Fields
Saturday, 9 May (1:05pm) Werribee v Tasmania Avalon Airport Oval
Saturday, 9 May (1:35pm) North Melbourne v Sydney Arden Street Oval
Saturday, 9 May (2:05pm) Collingwood v Geelong Victoria Park
Saturday, 9 May (3:05pm) Williamstown v Richmond DSV Stadium
Sunday, 10 May (11:05am) Greater Western Sydney v Essendon Tom Wills Oval
Sunday, 10 May (2:05pm) Sandringham v St Kilda Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Bye
Box Hill, Frankston, Port Melbourne, Footscray, Gold Coast, Brisbane

Round 8

Round 8
Friday, 15 May (12:05pm) Brisbane v Geelong Brighton Homes Arena
Friday, 15 May (2:05pm) Sydney v Collingwood Tramway Oval
Saturday, 16 May (10:05am) Box Hill v Richmond Box Hill City Oval
Saturday, 16 May (11:05am) Gold Coast v Frankston People First Stadium
Saturday, 16 May (12:05pm) Carlton v Footscray Ikon Park
Saturday, 16 May (2:05pm) St Kilda v Casey RSEA Park
Saturday, 16 May (2:05pm) Port Melbourne v North Melbourne ETU Stadium
Saturday, 16 May (2:35pm) Tasmania v Southport North Hobart Oval
Sunday, 17 May (1:05pm) Sandringham v Greater Western Sydney Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Bye
Coburg, Werribee, Williamstown, Essendon

Round 9

Round 9
Friday, 22 May (7:05pm) Williamstown v Box Hill DSV Stadium
Friday, 22 May (7:35pm) Frankston v Sandringham Kinetic Stadium
Saturday, 23 May (12:05pm) Geelong v Sydney GMHBA Stadium
Saturday, 23 May (12:05pm) Southport v Port Melbourne Fankhauser Reserve
Saturday, 23 May (1:05pm) Werribee v Collingwood Avalon Airport Oval
Saturday, 23 May (2:05pm) Richmond v Essendon ETU Stadium
Saturday, 23 May (2:05pm) North Melbourne v Gold Coast Arden Street Oval
Sunday, 24 May (11:05am) Casey v Footscray Casey Fields
Sunday, 24 May (1:05pm) Coburg v Carlton Barry Plant Park
Sunday, 24 May (4:00pm) Greater Western Sydney v Brisbane ENGIE Stadium
Bye
St Kilda, Tasmania
  • Rounds 10-21 under construction

Ladder

Pos Team Pld W L D PF PA PP Pts Qualification
1 Geelong (R) 1 1 0 0 163 78 209.0 4 Finals series
2 Richmond (R) 1 1 0 0 100 60 166.7 4
3 Greater Western Sydney (R) 1 1 0 0 118 74 159.5 4
4 Box Hill 1 1 0 0 107 71 150.7 4
5 Footscray (R) 1 1 0 0 135 92 146.7 4
6 Werribee 1 1 0 0 73 58 125.9 4
7 Tasmania 1 1 0 0 96 79 121.5 4
8 Port Melbourne 1 1 0 0 101 87 116.1 4
9 Williamstown 1 1 0 0 97 95 102.1 4
10 Frankston 1 0 1 0 95 97 97.9 0
11 Sandringham 1 0 1 0 87 101 86.1 0
12 Coburg 1 0 1 0 79 96 82.3 0
13 Gold Coast (R) 1 0 1 0 58 73 79.5 0
14 Casey 1 0 1 0 92 135 68.1 0
15 Sydney (R) 1 0 1 0 71 107 66.4 0
16 St Kilda (R) 1 0 1 0 74 118 62.7 0
17 Southport 1 0 1 0 60 100 60.0 0
18 Essendon (R) 1 0 1 0 78 163 47.9 0
19 Brisbane (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
20 Carlton (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
21 Collingwood (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
22 North Melbourne (R) 0 0 0 0 0 0 — 0
Updated to match(es) played on 22 March 2026. Source: AFL.com.au
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for
(R) Club is the reserves team of a senior club of the Australian Football League

Progression by round

  Numbers highlighted in green indicate that the team finished the round inside the top 10.
  Numbers highlighted in blue indicates the team finished first on the ladder in that round.
  Numbers highlighted in red indicates the team finished in last place on the ladder in that round.
  Underlined numbers indicate that the team had a bye during that round.
Source:

Finals series

Wildcard finals

Wildcard finals
22/23 August (TBC) 7th v 10th TBC
22/23 August (TBC) 8th v 9th TBC

Qualifying finals and elimination finals

Qualifying finals
29/30 August (TBC) 1st v 4th TBC
29/30 August (TBC) 2nd v 3rd TBC
Elimination finals
29/30 August (TBC) 5th v Lowest-ranked WC winner TBC
29/30 August (TBC) 6th v Highest-ranked WC winner TBC

Semi-finals

Semi-finals
5/6 September (TBC) Loser QF1 v Winner EF1 TBC
5/6 September (TBC) Loser QF2 v Winner EF2 TBC

Preliminary finals

Preliminary finals
12/13 September (TBC) Winner PF1 v Winner SF2 TBC
12/13 September (TBC) Winner PF2 v Winner SF1 TBC

Grand Final

2026 VFL Grand Final
19/20 September (Time TBC) Winner PF1 v Winner PF2 Ikon Park



Q1
Q2
Q3
Final


Norm Goss Memorial Medal:
Television broadcast: ABC

Win–loss table

Home matches are indicated in bold.

+ Win Eliminated
− Loss X Bye
Draw
Team Home-and-away season Finals series
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 FW1 FW2 FW3 FW4 GF
Box Hill SYD
+36 		GEE
Brisbane X SOU
Carlton X WIL
Casey FOO
-43 		X
Coburg TAS
-17 		RIC
Collingwood X GWS
Essendon GEE
-85 		NM
Footscray CAS
+43 		X
Frankston WIL
-2 		STK
Geelong ESS
+85 		BOX
Gold Coast WER
-15 		X
Greater Western Sydney STK
+44 		COL
North Melbourne X ESS
Port Melbourne SAN
+14 		TAS
Richmond SOU
+40 		COB
Sandringham PM
-14 		WER
Southport RIC
-40 		BRI
St Kilda GWS
-44 		FRA
Sydney BOX
-36 		X
Tasmania COB
+17 		PM
Werribee GCS
+15 		SAN
Williamstown FRA
+2 		CAR

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.[61]

Scoreboard

2026 State Game
Saturday, 11 April (2:30pm ACST) SANFL v VFL Stratarama Stadium



Q1
Q2
Q3
Final


Television broadcast: Seven Network

See also

References

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  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.
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  5. ^ Saeed, Daanyal (12 February 2026). "ABC secures television and radio rights for the VFL". Crikey. Archived from the original on 15 February 2026. Retrieved 15 February 2026.
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  10. ^ "'Time for action': Bullants need your support as club returns to Preston name". Preston Football Club. 20 August 2025. Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Preston Football Club". Darebin Libraries. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  12. ^ Amy, Paul; Michell, Tim (19 August 2025). "Northern Bullants on brink of collapse after plea to AFL for debt bailout". Herald Sun. Retrieved 30 August 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  13. ^ "Historic VFL club stripped of licence after 143 years of history as AFL makes call on debt crisis". Fox Sports. 6 October 2025. Archived from the original on 11 December 2025. Retrieved 13 March 2026.
  14. ^ "'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.
  15. ^ "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.
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