2026 VFL season
| 2026 VFL season | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21/22 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 the weekend of 21–22 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
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history that it had faced similar circumstances – in 1912 it amalgamated with Northcote, in 1997 its licence was withdrawn but was restored after one month, and in 2020 it almost folded after Carlton ended their affiliation.[7]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 stated the would regain a VFL licence in 2027 or 2028,[8] however by later in the year the club was faced with no viable pathway to continued operation, and so at a meeting of members on 15 December 2025, the club went into voluntary administration.[9]
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.[10]
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 Moorabin Oval.[11] 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).[12]
On 30 June 2025, St Kilda announced it would end its affiliation with Sandringham following the 2025 season.[13][14] The AFL granted a VFL licence to St Kilda the same day, while Sandringham will continue in the competition as a standalone team.[15]
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.[16][17] 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.[18][19]
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 2008 VFL season.[20]
Clubs
Coach appointments
| New coach | Club | Date of appointment | Previous coach | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daniel Ward | Sandringham | 4 September 2025 | Brendon Goddard | [21] |
| Rhett McLennan | Casey | 10 October 2025 | Taylor Whitford | [22] |
| David Mirra | Box Hill | 12 October 2025 | Zane Littlejohn | [23] |
| Alex Johnson | Footscray | 27 October 2025 | Stewart Edge | [24] |
| Matthew Lokan | Collingwood | 31 October 2025 | Andy Otten | [25] |
| Brendon Goddard | St Kilda | 16 November 2025 | N/A | [26] |
| Dan Lowther | Werribee | 10 December 2025 | James Allan | [27] |
See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2026 VFL and VFLW season dates". AFL.com.au. 27 November 2025. Archived from the original on 27 November 2025. Retrieved 27 November 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Preston Football Club". Darebin Libraries. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "'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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Club statement". prestonfc.com.au. 17 December 2025. Archived from the original on 19 December 2025.
- ^ "Saints, Demons in VFL affiliate swap". AFL.com.au. 5 June 2008. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Sandringham releases clash guernsey for 2019". Sandringham Football Club. 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 April 2025. Retrieved 19 August 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "St Kilda approved VFL licence". AFL.com.au. 30 June 2025. Archived from the original on 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Devils Sign First VFL Athlete". Tasmania Football Club. 30 September 2025. Archived from the original on 30 September 2025. Retrieved 30 September 2025.
- ^ Newlinds, Peter (2 September 2003). "Tasmania gripped by footy fever". ABC News. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Dees appoint McLennan". Melbourne Football Club. 10 October 2025. Archived from the original on 10 October 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Saints lock in VFL coaches". St Kilda Football Club. 16 November 2025. Archived from the original on 16 November 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
- ^ "Werribee Announces 2026 Senior Coach". Werribee Football Club. 10 December 2025. Archived from the original on 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.