THE FOOTY MAG — Football and Netball 2026

THE FOOTY MAG

20 26

FOOTBALL & NETBALL

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A new dawn is breaking

We’re switching things up in 2026.

With a revamped format and overhauled structure, The Footy Mag is a new take on a cherished classic as McPherson Media Group’s guide to all things football and netball gets a facelift ahead of the new season.

All the boxes are checked — teams’ aspirations, player movements and more — but this time around, this local sporting almanac has a fresh feel.

More teams. Different angles. Same passion.

Contributors: Liam Nash, Marcus Beeck, Alexander Dabb, Matthew Kappos, Josh Huntly, Callum Farquhar, Christian Marchetti, Rowan Frazer

Over the next fortnight, the Goulburn Valley, Murray, Kyabram District, Picola District and Heathcote District Football Netball Leagues will begin their 2026 campaigns with an air of excited unknown hovering over each and every one.

So before the first bounces and centre passes hit hands around the region, get clued up on all things there is to know in the region’s footy and netball scene.

Photographers: Megan Fisher, Rechelle Zammit, Bruce Povey, Aidan Briggs, Steve Huntley, Karl Phillipson, Holly Daniel, Tyler Maher, Wayne Herring, Jamie Lowe, Jordan Townrow, AAP. Advertising

Leonie Limosani, 5820 3157

Across our community, everyone plays a part - and we’re proud to be right in the thick of it.

Being local means cheering from the sidelines at the footy, helping out in the canteen, firing up the BBQ, and backing the clubs and organisations that bring people together and keep the region moving.

This isn’t just where we work - it’s where we live, raise our families, and feel connected.

From saying g’day at the supermarket, or at school drop off or grabbing a coffee at the local cafe, we understand you, because we’re locals too.

These are the moments that shape life across the Goulburn Valley, and they shape the way we do what we do.

Want to make sure you’re getting a great deal on your home loan? Book an appointment with your local lender today.

AFL EXPORTS

2026 SEASON

Jordon Butts – Adelaide (Shepparton)

Josh Rachele – Adelaide (Shepparton Swans)

Oscar Ryan – Adelaide (Shepparton United)

Brodie Kemp – Carlton (Echuca)

Jamie Elliott – Collingwood (Euroa)

Steele Sidebottom – Collingwood (Tallygaroopna)

Lachie Schultz – Collingwood (Moama)

Will Brodie – Port Adelaide (Shepparton)

Josh Treacy – Fremantle (Cohuna)

Nick Holman – Gold Coast (Kyabram)

Lachie Ash – GWS (Invergordon)

Harry Morrison – Hawthorn (Benalla)

Jarman Impey – Hawthorn (Shepparton/Shepparton Swans)

Clayton Oliver – GWS (Mooroopna)

Keeley Skepper – Carlton (Shepparton United)

Bonnie Toogood – Essendon (Mansfield)

Holly Egan – Fremantle (Shepparton United/Swans)

Annabel Johnson – West Coast (Echuca)

Becky Webster – Geelong (Benalla)

Jy Simpkin – North Melbourne (Mooroopna)

Brayden George  –  North Melbourne (Girgarre)

Matt Whitlock – North Melbourne (Shepparton)

Tom Brown – Richmond (Mooroopna)

Joe Berry – Port Adelaide

Ollie Wines – Port Adelaide

Jack Whitlock – Port Adelaide

Esava Ratugolea – Port Adelaide

Todd Marshall – Port Adelaide

Tom Cole – West Coast (Seymour)

Harley Reid – West Coast

Jobe Shanahan – West Coast

Laitham Vandermeer – Western

Bulldogs (Mooroopna)

Noah Long – West Coast

Alexis Gregor –Geelong (Moama)

Julia Crockett-Grills – Geelong (Kyabram)

Georgia Gall – Melbourne

Grace Egan – Adelaide (Shepparton)

2026 Murray Bushrangers squads

UNDER-18 BOYS — GV REPRESENTATIVES

Ryan Ash — Shepparton

Maelan Allan — Shepparton

Tanner Armstrong — Shepparton United

Jamaron Atkinson — Rumbalara

Lincoln Brand — Shepparton

Connor Breheny — Benalla

Mac Calleja — Mooroopna

River Freeman — Nathalia

Hunter Howells — Shepparton

Archer Hueston — Shepparton

Rory Kennedy — Seymour

Patrick McCarthy — Tatura

Jack Mellington — Shepparton

Rhys Osborne — Mooroopna

Josh Porter — Seymour

Spencer Sharp — Shepparton

Dash Smith — Shepparton Swans

Blake Sofra — Shepparton United

Alex Whitlock — Shepparton

Angus Williams — Shepparton

UNDER-18 GIRLS — GV REPRESENTATIVES

Erin Calleja — Shepparton Swans

Lana Carroll — Shepparton United

Eve Cook — Shepparton Swans

Leila Creevey — Shepparton United

Nakiyah Fraser — Moama

Stella Freeman — Shepparton United Tabatha Ingham — Shepparton United

Mereani Lecanadau — Cobram

Olivia Thompson — Cobram

Ashanti Walker — Shepparton United

MORRISON MEDALLISTS

2025: Callum Brown (Mansfield)

2024: Ashley Holland (Shepparton)

2023: Jack O’Sullivan (Seymour)

2022: Ben Rigoni (Seymour)

2021: Jack O’Sullivan (Seymour)

2019: Mick Mattingly (Kyabram)

2018: Nik Rokahr (Shepparton) and Sam Martin (Benalla)

2017: Simon Buckley (Echuca)

2016: Simon Buckley (Echuca)

2015: Ash Watson (Rochester)

WELLMAN FAMILY MEDALLISTS

PREMIER 2025

Ramping up for a high-octane GVL season

The Goulburn Valley League is raising the bar in 2026.

Echuca’s reign on the football field was brought to an end last year while Shepparton notched its maiden A-grade netball premiership, bringing winds of change to the storied competition.

And given the influx of talent to the league over the off-season, this year is set to match the spellbinding storylines of 2025.

2025: Kimberley Borger (Shepparton)

2024: Kimberley Borger (Shepparton)

2023: Sarah Sczcykulski (Seymour)

2022: Jessie Barnes (Shepparton United)

2021: Jessie Barnes (Shepparton United)

2019: Jessie Barnes (Shepparton United)

2018: Emma Ryan (Tatura)

2017: Steph Vick (Kyabram)

2016: Steph Vick (Kyabram)

2015: Elle McDonald (Seymour)

LADDER PREDICTIONS:

FOOTBALL

1: Rochester 2: Kyabram

3: Mansfield

4: Shepparton 5: Echuca

6: Shepparton Swans

7: Shepparton United

1: Shepparton

Tatura

PAST PREMIERS:

FOOTBALL

Seymour 3: Tatura 4: Mooroopna 5: Euroa 6: Shepparton United 7: Echuca 8: Shepparton Swans 9: Rochester 10: Mansfield 11: Kyabram 12: Benalla

NETBALL

On the netball courts, a Kim Borger-led Shepparton defied all odds to claim the

Ex-AFL stars such as Marty Hore and Michael Barlow have committed to GVL clubs, and as teams have strengthened across the board, there’s only one direction for the standard to go: up.

crown last year, but the Bears will have a target on their back this time around as the likes of Tatura, Euroa, Seymour and more seek vengeance.

Right now, there’s no telling who’ll come out on top in September.

But let’s enjoy the ride — because it’s going to be a good one.

2025: Kyabram

2024: Echuca

2023: Echuca

2022: Echuca

2019: Kyabram

2025: Shepparton

2024: Euroa

2023: Echuca

2022: Seymour

2019: Seymour

We’ve got the buy in, so you’ll see 22 blokes every week, across all three grades, playing for each other and really playing with passion for our jumper.

Benalla

NICKNAME: SAINTS HOME GROUND: BENALLA SHOWGROUNDS

2025 FINISH: NINTH (4–14)

COACHES CORNER / NICK PEARSON

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The biggest focus has just been shifting our competitiveness... our shift has been our mental focus, making sure that our mindset is right and making sure that we think, no matter what, when we wake up on a Saturday morning, we think we’re going to be in with a chance of winning.

What will supporters notice about this team?

One thing that our supporters can look forward to is the fact that we’re going to show up every week, and we’re going to show up and put up a good fight.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Resilience. We’ve got a lot of guys that have been around

Benalla the last three or four years when we’ve really been struggling... I reckon our resilience is one thing that will be a big strength for us.

What still needs the most work?

We’ve just got to continue to adapt and work on our game style and what our systems are, and it absolutely won’t happen overnight.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

A big win for us is we rock up round one and we’re competitive. That is our first hurdle, and then we want to do that week two, three, four, five, six, and so on. But I think for us, our internal growth will be our biggest success, if we can continue to grow on what we already have.

ONE TO WATCH – RYLEY ELY

Ely returned to play senior football at Benalla in 2025 after a stint at Wangaratta Rovers in the under-18 Ovens and Murray competition, and the midfielder made sure his impact was felt immediately.

Averaging 21 disposals, 4.5 tackles and just shy of five clearances per game, Ely only got better as the season wore on, culminating in being named as a Goulburn Valley League Rising Star finalist, having played in all 18 senior games and being named in the best seven times in his first full year at the level.

A tough, uncompromising player, expect him to only get better in 2026, now armed with a full year of experience, plus another big preseason, under his belt.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Dublin Anderson (Euroa), Kevin Maroney, Michael Mummery (Rumbalara), Travis Young (Rockhampton), Mitchell Vasterink (Morningside), Toby Triffett (Williamstown VFL), Connor Breheny (Wangaratta Rovers)

OUTS: Nathan Wright (Essendon VFL), Will O’Donoghue (Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock)

Annabelle CLEELAND

COACHES CORNER / COLLEEN BALFOUR

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

To build team atmosphere and to improve on previous seasons.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Enthusiasm. I think with the new coach coming on board, there’s been an increase in enthusiasm, and the presence at training

is really positive, so that will hopefully roll into the season and help us with some results.

Where can this team improve the most?

I think decision making. If we can improve our decision making, it will build confidence, and that will hopefully roll into a few more wins than previous seasons.

Echuca

NICKNAME: MURRAY BOMBERS

HOME GROUND: VICTORIA PARK

2025 FINISH: FOURTH (15–5)

COACHES CORNER / SIMON MADDOX

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Probably the development of our youngsters. We’ve won five of the last six premierships in the under 18s and made a preliminary final last year. We’ve retained the majority of those kids over that journey, so just developing those kids.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’re not going to change the defensive side of our game, but in terms of our ball use it will be quite quick and exciting.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I think we’ve got a pretty stacked forward line that’s pretty potent when you’ve

got the two Byrne brothers, Liam Tenace, Malik Gordon, young Darby Jones. They’re all six-foot-four key position players.

What still needs the most work?

Probably like every other side in the GVL, we need a good run with injuries, a good bill of health, and we need those kids to develop and come forward 10, 15, 20 per cent.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We’re playing to win all three premierships; seniors, reserves and under 18s. We want to be really competitive across all three grades.

We think we’ve got enough talent. We weren’t far away last year and we didn’t get dealt very good cards.

ONE TO WATCH – HUDSON KELLETT

A silver lining from a challenging 2025 for the Murray Bombers was its younger products gaining much experience at senior level. Hudson Kellett showed promise last season, being named best player in round 14 and hitting the scoreboard in the semi-final loss to Rochester. A proper inside mid, Kellett could dominate at stoppages with his clean ball use and hard nose for the footy.

St Joseph’s College Echuca. Football & Netball — Growing the Game Together

St Joseph’s College is proud to continue our strong partnership with the Echuca Football Netball Club, with senior and junior football teams training on our Kildare Campus oval in 2026 and junior matches played on site.

Football has a unique ability to bring people together. By sharing our new oval with the wider Echuca Moama community, we are helping create opportunities for young athletes to develop their skills, build confidence and aspire to the next level.

Our region has a proud history of producing AFL and AFLW talent and we are committed to supporting the next generation through our high-quality facilities,

expert coaching programs and strong community partnerships.

Our Netball program is built on a simple philosophy: fun, development and inclusivity alongside the pursuit of excellence.

From foundation-level participation to advanced development opportunities, every student is supported to grow in confidence, fitness and game understanding.

Because at St Joseph’s, we’re not just developing athletes we’re developing resilient young leaders who contribute positively to their teams and their community.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Angus Byrne (Noosa), Brad Hutchison (North Albury), Jesse Johnstone (Tongala/ Bendigo Pioneers), Jesse Tuohey (Mount Pleasant), Hudson Moyle (East Keilor), Jack Tenace, Jordan Watkins

OUTS: Taigh O’Brien (Northcote Park), Joe Guiney, Riley Smith (Tongala), Ben Reid (retired)

COACHES CORNER / BRONWYN SLATER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

The goal is to try to get a little bit of success. I’d like to see us be able to push through to finals and just see how far we get.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got a really nice mix of youth and experience. To watch some of these experienced

girls get on the court with the younger girls, it’s just amazing.

Where can this team improve the most?

I think probably we will need to work on gelling. There’s some people that will have played together and there’s some that are going to be very new to playing with each other.

Euroa

NICKNAME: MAGPIES

EIGHTH (5–13)

COACHES CORNER / BRAD GLEESON

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We’ve got a young group so it’s obviously about education. Everyone was aware (last season) that the footy club had a bit of a player exodus and a lot of these young blokes had the opportunity to play senior footy.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Euroa played 21 or 22 (player) points last year, which is nearly unheard of in country footy anywhere. Just having a completely local group, the camaraderie will definitely shine through.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Having that local group who are more experienced than where they were at this time last year.

What still needs the most work?

Height — structure wise, we’ve brought a bit of height into the group, I think now we’re at four players who are all 195 cm plus.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We’re realistic that we’re a very inexperienced group, and if we don’t play finals our goal is to be better than last year.

Like

everyone’s got to, you have to go into the season with a goal to play finals.

ONE TO WATCH – LACHIE HILL

The Pies’ best-and-fairest winner continues to elevate himself into the competition’s elite, and there’s no sign he’ll relinquish that billing in 2026. Branded a “competitive beast” by his new coach and enjoying a strong pre-season, Hill led the GVL for contested possessions, averaging 18 per game as well as 29 disposals and eight clearances.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Hugh Bailey (Blackburn), Adam Zimmerman (Nhill), Lachlan Curran (Avondale Heights)

OUTS: Thomas Burke (relocated)

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COACHES CORNER / ELLIE WARNOCK

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

The main goal for us in 2026 is to once again put ourselves back in a position to compete well in finals and hopefully walk away with a different end result.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Our biggest strength will be motivation. We don’t want a rebuilding year, we want a reloading year.

Where can this team improve the most?

We want to improve on our resilience within games. If we start a bit flat, sometimes we let that dictate the rest of the match. We want to be able to reset quickly, absorb pressure and fight our way back into contests when the momentum swings.

Kyabram

COACHES CORNER / COREY CARVER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Maintenance. We’re looking for a continuation of things we did well, following the systems and structures that worked last year.

What will supporters notice about this team?

It will be overall similar, we’ve lost a couple young guys but when VFL opportunities and things like that come up you can’t begrudge them, but the people coming back are Ky people anyway so locals will recognise them.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We think our midfield again, we had a talented and wellstructured midfield we hope will continue to be strong with the stoppage work. Our forwards

were able to get on the end of that last year and we had about three guys kick over 50 goals from it.

What still needs the most work? Nothing specifically, we’re rehashing a bit of everything really and fast tracking the new guys to our system. The main thing is that we look to keep improving and keep that hunger.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Team-wise, we’d love to play off (in a grand final) again, but the other part is the continual development of our young guys. We want to play those under-18s, first year out of thirds guys, and reward our local young ones like we were able to last year.

Once you’ve won, you don’t want to fall away and lose that drive. We’re still hungry for success.

ONE TO WATCH – CHARLIE BARNETT

Turning 21 late in the 2025 season, Barnett had a breakout year to remember, kicking 53 goals for the Bombers as well as claiming a premiership medal — but the young gun has the potential to explode again.

Three Bombers kicked 50 goals or more in its flag campaign, but with Tom Holman departing, Barnett could be targeted more inside 50 this season and potentially make a leap in his output to challenge for the league’s leading goalkicker crown.

Matt Barden | Director,

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Aaron Hayes (Natte Bealiba), Rhys Clark (Southport/South Cairns), Jack Sinclair (Tongala), Reuben Rode (Werribee/Greenvale)

OUTS: Archie Watt (West Coast WAFL), Liam Ogden (Pascoe Vale), Eamonn Ogden (Pascoe Vale), Tom Holman (Tongala), Nicholas Jephson (Newton and Chillwell)

COACHES CORNER / EMMA QUINN

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We’re in a bit of a rebuilding phase, so with new coaches across the board we’re excited to bring some cultural change and up the professionalism standards.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Striving to work hard. Two of our returning players at the club Lara Cunningham and Jaz

Clark, who have had success at other clubs, are setting the tone this preseason — I think senior players bringing a strong standard will only be beneficial for our growth in the long run.

Where can this team improve the most?

The emphasis has been upping the professionalism. Doing hard work in the quiet moments will be the key to seeing overall improvement on court.

Mansfield

NICKNAME: EAGLES

HOME GROUND: MANSFIELD RECREATION RESERVE

2025 FINISH: THIRD (14–3–1)

COACHES CORNER / MITCH WAREHAM

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Just improvement, we made the prelim last year and it’s given us lots of confidence. We’re trying to get one step further.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ve got a lot of young guys hitting their 50 to 100 game mark this season. So especially for the locals, they’ll see those guys be more consistent and be more standout players for us.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We’ve got a lot of young fit blokes, so fitness will be our strength. We want speed on

the ball to be a key area we excel at.

What still needs the most work?

Playing out full quarters. Last year against top sides we had patches where we were heavily scored against, and it would be that five minute period across a quarter that cost us in those big games.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

To go deep in finals. Obviously there’s a few changes either way in and out, but we have the standard set for what we can achieve. It won’t be unlike what most other clubs are setting out for.

We set the benchmark for ourselves last year, now the standard is set. We want to go far again.

ONE TO WATCH – CALLUM BROWN

The 2025 Morrison Medallist is returning into the gold wings of Mansfield in 2026, and undoubtedly is a presence to watch on the field this GVL season. The former AFL footballer averaged 33.3 disposals, 6.1 inside 50s and 8.3 clearances for the preliminary finalists, highlighting the class he oozes in and around the contest.

Provide

Please come along to one of our Open Days and see our beautiful school. Open Days: Wednesday 29th April 9:30am-11:00am • Thursday 30th April 9:30am-11:00am

Wishing everyone all the best on and around the sporting field in 2026.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Campbell Smedley (Bonnie Doon), Will Kelly (Collingwood)

OUTS: Jack Hutchins (Edithvale Aspendale)

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Connect all three open teams. We are really excited about the development of our juniors, so giving opportunities to these players to move up too.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We have been training hard

throughout [preseason]… and their willingness to step into positions that may not be the norm demonstrates their commitment.

Where can this team improve the most?

We want to be able to play right through to the final whistle and control the controllables.

Mooroopna

NICKNAME: CATS

HOME GROUND: MOOROOPNA RECREATION RESERVE

2025 FINISH: 11TH (3–15)

COACHES CORNER / JOHN LAMONT

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

To improve. One of the things we want to improve on is growing our numbers across our senior team and just build on last year.

What will supporters notice about this team?

You want to hope they’ll see the improvement in our younger brigade. And with the addition of some older heads, we’ll hope that’s what’ll be noticeable.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I think we’ll have speed. We’re not a tall side, but I think we’ll

run the footy quite well and have a good game plan that’ll back that.

What still needs the most work?

Given we have a young group, it’s about how quick you can get that young group to be playing consistent footy. The sooner that happens, you’re partway there.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

If we build consistency and we get the young group to improve and our newbies fire, we want to be knocking on the door if we could.

We’d aim to try and make finals if we could.

ONE TO WATCH – DAN TUDDENHAM

Mooroopna is in need of a threat in the forward 50, and Tuddenham might just be it. An on-ball forward who provides good leg drive and height, the Old Xaverians recruit will hope to latch onto service from the Cats’ premier mids and make a real difference inside the arc. The departure of Logan Campbell — who kicked 38 goals in 2025 — leaves room for a new target, and Mooroopna will hope Tuddenham is a bullseye.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Dan Tuddenham, Harrison Bell (Old Xaverians), Jordan Anderson (Heidelberg), Ryan Grace (Tooleybuc Manangatang), Ty Demaj (Undera), Brendan Redding, Christian Vaitohi, Liam Adams (Tatura), Ash Hockey, Dan Collyer (Violet Town)

OUTS: Ethan Hunt (Aberfeldie), Logan Campbell (Nathalia), Jordan Formica (West Preston Lakeside), Nathan Drummond (retired)

COACHES CORNER / DI HANSLOW

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Our major focus this season will be staying on task and maintaining consistency across all four quarters. We’ll be working hard to eliminate momentum dips and ensure we support and trust one another — not just within A-grade, but across all teams in the program.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Our greatest strength is balance across all positions. We’re not

relying solely on individual talent; instead, we’re building a squad capable of making changes without impacting the tempo or structure of our game.

Where can this team improve the most?

At this time of year, it’s all about fine-tuning. Our focus is on building combinations and strengthening connections so they run seamlessly heading into round one.

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• DFI – Drives for Industry • Gagliardi Scott Real Estate • GMCU – multiple sites

• Paul Wickham Pharmacy • Goulburn Motor Group • Moira Shire

• Kevin Hicks Real Estate • Shepparton RSL

COACHES CORNER / ASH WATSON

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Getting back to playing the way we were last year. A few focus areas around the way we move the ball, but overall, get back to how we attacked it last year.

What will supporters notice about this team?

The way we move the footy and our skill execution on that and I hope we will have a bit more fire power up forward through our recruitment. That can all result in higher scores for our supporters.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our back six is really, really strong and we defended ball

movement really well last year. Pressure was high and it was probably the best part of our game.

What still needs the most work?

We have identified a few areas that we can improve on in 2026 that we have gone to work on over the pre-season. So far ball movement is one of them.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Ticking the boxes to get to finals is our first aim and then finishing as high as we can after.

Making a grand final last year, we wouldn’t settle for anything less this year.

ONE TO WATCH – MARTY HORE

The former Melbourne Demon will be a welcome inclusion to Watson’s flag hungry side. Playing across half-back and through the midfield Hore will add class and guile to Rochester’s roster. The combination of Hore and star on-baller Mitch Trewhella could prove to be the best one-two punch in the league this season. Tigers supporters won’t see the former AFL footballer feature in yellow and black until the second half of the season due to a knee injury.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Marty Hore, Tom Sparks (Noosa Tigers), Ryley Ferguson (Woodend), Fletcher White, Coby Dunlop (Mount Pleasant), Darby Wileman, Jude Palmer (Cohuna), Felix Fogaty (Lake Wendouree)

OUTS: Sean Williams, Dillon Williams (Heathcote), Drew Lloyd (Strath Storm)

COACHES CORNER / KRISTY ROULSTON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We are hoping that we might be able to push for finals this year. That’s probably our goal as we haven’t made finals for a long time.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We haven’t lost many players, so keeping our core group together is gonna be a big

strength of ours. And our junior talent that is coming up as well.

Where can this team improve the most?

We are not big compared to some of the (other clubs), we haven’t got any big players or any big VNL players. For us, it is going to have to be that everyone plays their role and does it well.

Seymour

NICKNAME: LIONS

HOME GROUND: KINGS PARK

2025 FINISH: SEVENTH (10–8)

COACHES CORNER / BEN DAVEY AND CO-COACH JACK MURPHY

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The biggest focus for us is getting the most out of ourselves and our group.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Supporters will notice a more mature group.

What’s your side’s greatest strength? Self belief.

What still needs the most work?

The thing that needs the most work is probably proof. We want proof that we’re good enough.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We always aim for finals… we definitely want to probably be even one step more, we want to be top four.

It sounds really simple, but if you don’t play finals, you haven’t had a successful year, I don’t think.

ONE TO WATCH – BEN MCCARTHY

There are plenty of young Lions coming through the ranks to get excited about, but McCarthy is set to impact at senior level in 2026.

Having claimed Seymour’s under-18 best and fairest last year from only 11 games, McCarthy finished the season by making his senior debut, playing the final two games of 2025 in the top flight and didn’t once look out of place.

A silky smooth mover with a brilliant footy IQ, McCarthy’s decision making stands out, and should see him excel in 2026.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Xavier Dimasi, Jaron Murphy (Whittlesea), Tom Stapleton (Parkside)

OUTS: Jack Glen, Fraser Rutherford (Avenel)

COACHES CORNER / ELLE MCDONALD

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Our goal is to just keep building on the netball that we have been playing recently at the club and getting success on the court. Obviously winning games (is the goal), but also just developing all of our players, especially the younger girls.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’re still in the early days of pre-season, but I’m loving that whoever’s out on court, they’re having a red hot crack and the connections are forming really

nicely. I’m loving that we’re letting the ball go and playing with some real confidence.

Where can this team improve the most?

I suppose like a lot of teams, it’s building that consistency, that would be a big area to work on for us that we’d really want to take into the season, being able to string together some consistent performances week in and week out. At the moment we’re just trying to get those habits formed at training, so that come game day, we know what that looks like.

SheppARTON

NICKNAME: BEARS

HOME GROUND: DEAKIN RESERVE

2025 FINISH: SIXTH (11–8)

COACHES CORNER / XAVIER STEVENSON

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Like anyone, it is about continual development and improvement. We made finals last year with a young group and we feel like there is going to be some real nice natural growth within our football club.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We have started to develop a trademark in which we play in that we are quite a quick and fast football team that is able to move the football well and transition across the game. Hopefully (supporters) will notice an improvement in our contest and inner circle work.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our ability to cover the ground and use our leg speed. We have numerous individuals who cover the ground really, really well, so it is definitely a strength.

What still needs the most work?

Areas of growth would be potentially our contest work and these things which we are continuing to go to school on to bridge that gap between where we finished last year and those top couple of teams.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

There is no ceiling. Over the last two years we have been in and around the mark.

ONE TO WATCH – TANNER MADIGAN

After an exciting start to 2025, Madigan was struck down with a ruptured PCL and missed the remainder of the season. However, Stevenson said the young Bear cub has come to pre-season “fitter, bigger and stronger” and has been a leading light over the summer. The young gun will be pivotal in Shepparton’s push to return to grand final day and whether he be placed across half-back or in the guts, expect Madigan to stamp his mark on the league in 2026.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Kade O’Dwyer (Numurkah), Lachy Ludeman (Dookie United)

OUTS: Ethan Baxter (Katandra), Oscar Lambourn (Numurkah)

COACHES CORNER / KIM BORGER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

To keep building and retaining what we have as a club. It is great to have a successful A-grade, but we would like to have our other grades to be just as successful.

We got the 17s a flag last year as well which shows great promise for us as a club.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We have retained a lot of our

squad. There has been some ins and outs but we have retained and gained some of our juniors who have come up too. Really excited to see what they can do.

Where can this team improve the most?

Just trying to have that consistency across all four quarters. There were a couple of times when we were slow to start.

Shepp Swans

COACHES CORNER / LINC SULLIVAN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Keeping the same game style as 2025. Adjusting it in bits, and I’m hoping in the year coming there will be natural improvement from the younger players.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Our last game against Ky proved that we are a fleet footed side, we have good ball users and good speed across the board from the back half right through to the forward half.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Speed is definitely one of our strengths. I think we

have a good number of ball users across the ground as well.

What still needs the most work?

Getting the ball in the right user’s hands to help us capitalise when in attack.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Last year was a massive year for the group to get into finals. I feel we got a good taste of what it was like so I am hoping we can get to the same spot and perhaps snag a few finals wins along the way.

ONE TO WATCH – MAX CLOHESY

Clohesy has been labelled by his new coach as one to watch for GVL onlookers this season as the star midfielder continues to rack up the ball. With VFL experience on his side, Clohesy has become a key Swan at Princess Park and will look to continue his fine work in 2026. After a first round finals exit last year, Clohesy and his charges will be looking to return to September again this season.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Ethan Warburton (Norwood)

OUTS: Nathan Hrovat, Mark Kovacevic (Riddell Bombers), Mason Pedretti, Mason Reeves (Numurkah)

COACHES CORNER / KATE BETSON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Our goal last year was to play finals, we hadn’t played finals since 2019. We only snuck in though, so this year we are hoping to qualify more convincingly.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Harriet Gall, who has been out with a knee injury, is returning and will bring her incredible athleticism, speed and skill

which will be a huge boost to our mid-court. We are hoping to have Jana Riordan back as well which will bring some composure and experience to our mid-court.

Where can this team improve the most?

What we were lacking last year was on-court leadership. We had amazing players, but we just couldn’t gel from defensive end to our goal circle.

Shepp United

NICKNAME: DEMONS

HOME GROUND: DEAKIN RESERVE 2025 FINISH: 10TH (3–15)

COACHES CORNER / TRENT FREER

What’s the biggest focus for the group in 2026?

Obviously, our focus this year is to be super competitive and really learn how to win games of football.

What will supporters notice about this group?

We’ve got some bigger body players now; we’re not going to be that young side where we’re getting into positions where we can compete in games but get outworked or out-strengthened.

What will be the side’s biggest strength?

We’ve really focused on leadership in our recruiting; we have the likes of Brodie Newman, Matt Casey, Hicksy

(Gus Hicks) and Jordan Haynes, who have all come with leadership credentials.

What still needs the most work?

We do have a young group still. We don’t show away from that, but we don’t look at it like a weakness any more. We just want to focus on it and use youth in our favour.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We’ve come with a real open attitude of ‘we’ll go as far as we’re willing to push’. We definitely want to win more than we lose, and I’d love to finish in the finals bracket for sure.

We’re not afraid of the challenge any more — We’re really embracing it and want to grab it and run with it.

ONE TO WATCH – BRODIE NEWMAN

In a stacked field, Brodie Newman has stood out during pre-season. The ex-Calder Cannon, Glenelg premiership player, and last year’s Essendon District Football League Team of the Year full back has earned high praise from his coaches for his on and off-field leadership, and as a key defender who can get plenty of the footy, he’ll be a popular one to watch for the Dees faithful.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Angus Hicks (Werribee), Brodie Newman (Aberfeldie), Jordan Haynes (Heathmont), Matt Casey (Yarrawonga), Tim Looby (Strathmerton), Michael Barlow (North Warrnambool), Leigh Wellington, Kallyun Sanders, Brodie Sanders, Nathan Turner (Murchison-Toolamba), Connor Hayes (Dookie), Stuart Horner (Box Hill VFL), Zavier Maher (SANFL)

OUTS: Kade Chalcraft (Swan Districts), Blake Fothergill (Nagambie), Corey Reardon, Tom McInneny (Tallygaroopna), Josh Winkler (Fitzroy FC)

COACHES CORNER / SHINEA SALI

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Last year we finished with seven players which was probably the difference between us getting in finals and not. Now that we have depth and rotation, the goal is definitely finals for sure.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got a new player in each third. It’s going to be exciting

the fact that we can rotate, and there’s a lot of strength there with these new players.

Where can this team improve the most?

We’ve kept seven solid players, and we’ve just built on that. I knew we needed depth and versatility; I was really picky on who I went for, very lucky that they all said yes.

Tatura

NICKNAME: BULLDOGS

HOME GROUND: TATURA RECREATION RESERVE

2025 FINISH: 12TH (0–18)

COACHES CORNER / ANDREW CIAVARELLA

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Development, trying to raise the bar a little bit. We’ve had a pretty grim couple of seasons, so it’s getting ourselves back to a level where we can be competitive again.

What will supporters notice about this team?

There’s a real big buzz around the club, so hopefully that’ll translate onto the field and it’ll feel like the boys are having a bit more of a crack.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I’m hoping it’ll be much harder running, but the big thing

for us is a more consistent effort across all lines of the field for longer throughout the game.

What still needs the most work?

If our consistency can improve and when the ball’s in dispute we can have a bit more luck hunting it down, we’ll put ourselves in some more positions to win some games of footy.

What does success look like for this group in 2026? That first win’s going to feel real good when it does come, but we’re not going to count any notches in the belt just yet.

Hopefully we can land a blow early in the season, and we’ll go from there.

ONE TO WATCH – FINN RADLEY

He’s yet to throw on Tatura threads, but the Bulldogs’ new man looks like a keeper. A six foot four key defender out of Warrnambool who was named in the Hampden League’s team of the year last season, Radley provides stability within the backline — precisely what Tatura requires. A big man in defence will help the Bulldogs nullify some of the GVL’s premier tall forwards, and at just 21, Radley still has room to improve.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Finn Radley (Warrnambool), Harry Murdoch (Howlong), Kieren Andrew (Heidelberg), Oscar Willis, Sean Johns (Tungamah), James Bennett (North Cairns), Darcy Collins (Merrigum), Ryan Butler (Girgarre), Kade Gall (Dookie), Tom Durward, Tom Sullivan, Cam King, Ciaran Hubble (returning)

OUTS: Adam Enever (Leopold)

COACHES CORNER / STACEY THOMPSON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Defensive wise, they’ve been outstanding for a number of years so just adding some tweaks in that attack end to try and make that score a little bit higher to value all that work those defenders have done for a long time.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

They’re all quite local or have been here for a long

time — they’re so connected as a group which is amazing and have welcomed me with open arms.

Where can this team improve the most?

Making the most of all those opportunities the defenders give us. In some games they’ll get 40 plus turnovers, so just making sure as we score off as many of those as possible.

Official Fixture Season 2026

ROUND 1

April 3

Kyabram v Rochester

Shepparton v Shepp United (N)

April 4

Seymour v Benalla

Mansfield v Euroa

Echuca v Tatura

Mooroopna v Shepp Swans (N)

ROUND 2

April 11

Tatura v Mooroopna (N)

Shepp Swans v Kyabram

Rochester v Mansfield

Shepparton v Seymour

Euroa v Shepp United

Benalla v Echuca

ROUND 3

April 18

Mooroopna v Shepparton

Benalla v Euroa

Mansfield v Seymour (N)

Shepp United v Shepp Swans (N)

Rochester v Echuca (N)

Tatura v Kyabram (N)

ROUND 4

April 25 (Anzac Round)

Shepparton v Shepp Swans

Seymour v Euroa

Mansfield v Benalla (N)

Rochester v Tatura (N)

Kyabram v Echuca (N)

Mooroopna v Shepp United (N)

ROUND 5

May 2

Shepp United v Mansfield

Seymour v Tatura

Benalla v Shepp Swans

Rochester v Shepparton

Kyabram v Euroa

Mooroopna v Echuca

ROUND 6

May 9

Tatura v Benalla

Shepparton v Kyabram

Mansfield v Mooroopna

Echuca v Shepp United

Euroa v Rochester

Shepp Swans v Seymour

FINALS

ROUND 7

May 16

Shepp United v Tatura

Benalla v Shepparton

Euroa v Mooroopna

Rochester v Shepp Swans

Seymour v Echuca

Kyabram v Mansfield

GENERAL BYE

May 23

ROUND 8

May 30

Shepp Swans v Mansfield

Shepparton v Echuca

Kyabram v Shepp United

Euroa v Tatura

Mooroopna v Seymour

Benalla v Rochester

ROUND 9

June 6 (King’s Birthday)

Echuca v Euroa

Mansfield v Shepparton

Seymour v Rochester

Kyabram v Mooroopna

Shepp United v Benalla

Tatura v Shepp Swans

ROUND 10

June 13

Rochester v Mooroopna

Shepp United v Seymour

Euroa v Shepparton

Benalla v Kyabram

Tatura v Mansfield

Echuca v Shepp Swans

GAME TIMES

ROUND 11

June 20

Mansfield v Echuca

Mooroopna v Benalla

Shepparton v Tatura

ROUND 15

July 25

Euroa v Seymour

Shepp United v Mooroopna

Shepp Swans v Shepparton

Elimination & Qualifying Finals: August 29 & 30

1st & 2nd Semi Final: September 5 & 6

Preliminary Final: Sunday, September 13

Grand Final: Sunday, September 20

Rochester v Shepp United

Shepp Swans v Euroa

Seymour v Kyabram

ROUND 12

June 27

Mooroopna v Tatura

Kyabram v Shepp Swans

Mansfield v Rochester

Seymour v Shepparton

Shepp United v Euroa

Echuca v Benalla

ROUND 13

July 4

Shepp United v Shepparton

Tatura v Echuca

Benalla v Seymour

Rochester v Kyabram

Shepp Swans v Mooroopna

Euroa v Mansfield

INTERLEAGUE

July 11

VAFA v GVL (Elsternwick Park)

ROUND 14

July 18

Kyabram v Tatura

Shepp Swans v Shepp United

Shepparton v Mooroopna

Echuca v Rochester

Euroa v Benalla

Seymour v Mansfield

9.15 am: 15 & Under

10.00 am: Under-18

10.30 am: 17 & Under

11.45 am: B-reserve

12.00 pm: Reserves

1.00 pm: B-grade

2.00pm: Seniors

6.00pm: Night games

2.15pm: A-grade

6.45pm: Night games

Benalla v Mansfield

Tatura v Rochester

Echuca v Kyabram

ROUND 16 (SPLIT ROUND)

August 1

Echuca v Seymour

Tatura v Shepp United Shepparton v Benalla

August 8

Shepp Swans v Rochester

Mansfield v Kyabram

Mooroopna v Euroa

ROUND 17

August 15

Benalla v Tatura

Kyabram v Shepparton

Mooroopna v Mansfield

Shepp United v Echuca

Rochester v Euroa

Seymour v Shepp Swans

ROUND 18

August 22

Mansfield v Shepp United Tatura v Seymour

Echuca v Mooroopna

Shepp Swans v Benalla

Shepparton v Rochester

Euroa v Kyabram

(N) = Night Game

SPECIAL ROUNDS

Round 1: Easter Round

Round 4: Anzac Round

Round 8: Say NO to Violence

Round 9: King’s Birthday

Round 13: Indigenous Round

Round 16: Split Round

Interleague: 11 July

It’s time to raise the bar on the

women’s football front

Last year’s Goulburn Murray Women’s League season proved anything is possible.

Shepparton United ended Echuca’s reign in a heartstopping grand final where fine margins proved the difference between glory and agony, relinquishing the crushing one-point loss from the year prior.

But rest assured, the Demons will have no easy feat in defending their title.

A reshuffle has Barooga out and crosstown club Cobram in for its maiden GMWL appearance, while marked improvers Rumbalara and Mansfield will be itching to go one step further.

Competition staples Tatura and Nathalia have the experience to get things done when it matters.

2026 SEASON NCWL SENIOR

And of course, Echuca is an ever-present, green machine.

So who wins it all in 2026? Only time will tell.

Women’s football has been an ever shifting landscape in the wider Goulburn Murray region since it began under the Northern Country Women’s League banner in 2017, and nearly a decade in, there’s still room for improvement.

Goulburn Murray Women and Girls co-ordinator Sam Heron said the women’s game will only elevate from the current groundwork being laid at grassroots level.

“I think we’ve done it a little bit backwards in going from women’s all the way down, but our hope is that in 2027 we not only have under-14s but we also have under-12s because we’re seeing a lot of girls come through the junior competition,” Heron said.

“We’re definitely seeing a huge rise in that younger girls area, which will only benefit the youth girls and women’s in the next four to five years.”

Shepparton United

Echuca

Nathalia

Mansfield

Girls’ game alive and kicking heading into new campaign

The field has been blown wide open in this year’s Goulburn Murray Youth Girls League campaign.

For now, the pack has been reduced to five teams as 2024 premiership side Echuca United has departed to join the neighbouring AFL Central Victoria competition.

But that doesn’t mean the quality has diminished one bit.

Akin to the Women’s League, Cobram has replaced Barooga to challenge the pack while 2025 champion Moama returns alongside Shepparton United, Echuca, Nathalia and Shepparton Swans.

And following last year’s success, it’s clear the appetite for girls’ footy is increasing.

Goulburn Murray Women and Girls co-ordinator Sammy Heron said the association has drummed up some new strategies to add to its existing blueprint to help grow the game locally.

“We’re more aligning with the junior fixture this year, so we’ll push back a week or two to try and align some of the youth girls games with the junior mixed games,” she said.

“We’ve also got under-14s happening again which is exciting.

“That will be a localised competition in Shepparton and Moama and we’re hoping to have about six teams in that.”

Will Moama go back to back, can Shepparton United avenge its grand final loss or will a new challenger arise?

All will start to unfold once things kick off on April 17.

MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

PAST PREMIERS

MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

2025: Cobram

2024: Congupna

PREMIER 2025

Lock in for a ripper Murray League campaign

The Murray Football Netball League is set for a shake up.

Major news beaming out of the summer break saw Barooga depart for a neighbouring comp, the Picola District Football Netball League, reducing the number of teams from 12 to 11.

However, that doesn’t mean the quality has lessened.

Reigning premier Cobram has a big ask of going back to back after last year’s from-theclouds grand final victory, while Rumbalara’s A-grade three-peat will be threatened by supercharged rival sides.

One thing’s for sure, this year will bring the fireworks.

MURRAY NETBALL LEAGUE

2025: Rumbalara

2024: Rumbalara

2023: Tongala

: Nathalia

: Nathalia

2023: Mulwala 2022: Mulwala

: Deniliquin

: Echuca United

: Moama

PAST O’DWYER MEDALLISTS

2025: Jackson Trengove (Cobram)

2024: Jack Russell (Moama) and Sam Beasley (Cobram)

2023: Jackson Gash (Mulwala)

2022: Brodie Ross (Nathalia) and Nicholas Jamieson (Tongala)

2021: Coby McCarthy (Tongala)

2019: Jackson Gash (Mulwala)

2018: Brodie A’Vard (Barooga)

2017: Rhys Archard (Moama)

2016: Ned Morrison (Finley)

2015: Rhys Archard (Moama)

A-GRADE BEST-AND-FAIRESTS

2025: Jessie Barnes-Hill (Rumbalara)

2024: Jessie Barnes-Hill (Rumbalara)

2023: Rhiannon Maxwell (Deniliquin)

2022: Tegan Sutton (Nathalia)

2021: Emily Taverna (Moama)

2019: Elenoa Naimalua (Rumbalara)

2018: Tessa Bruni (Cobram)

2017: Amelia Wyatt (Deniliquin)

2016: Jessie Barnes-Hill (Rumbalara)

2015: Alicia White (Tongala)

LADDER PREDICTIONS:

FOOTBALL

1: Cobram 2: Congupna

3: Moama 4: Mulwala

5: Numurkah

6: Nathalia

7: Rumbalara 8: Finley

9: Deniliquin Rams 10: Echuca United 11: Tongala

NETBALL

1: Nathalia 2: Tongala

3: Rumbalara

4: Moama

5: Mulwala

6: Numurkah

7: Echuca United 8: Deniliquin Rams

9: Congupna 10: Finley 11: Cobram

Cobram

NICKNAME: TIGERS

HOME GROUND: SCOTT OVAL

2025 FINISH: PREMIER (16–6)

NETBALL 2025 FINISH: 10TH (3–15)

COACHES CORNER / MARK MEYLAND

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The first one was to retain the list and we have done that pretty well. Some of the Melbourne boys won’t be returning, but we have retained our players and recruited pretty well.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Hopefully we can continue to build from where we left off and continue from there with continual development.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

The way that the boys cover the field, there is a lot of speed out there for us.

What still needs the most work?

Our skills are something that we have to continually hone in on and get right. We still had critical errors at times during the year and we are looking to eliminate that out of our game as best we can.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Success is the ultimate again, but we don’t want to think that far ahead.

I still don’t think we hit the peak at the end of last year, I think there is a way to go.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Corey Pearse (Burrum), Ryan Calogero (Katandra), Bowen Calogero (Myrtleford), Jack Murray, Luke Collyer (Strathmerton), Sean Thompson (Shepparton United), Mackenzie Foster OUTS: Fergus Pinnuck, Seb Conheady (Katamatite)

NETBALL

COACHES CORNER / SASHA PARISH (VICE PRESIDENT)

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? We have struggled over probably the last five years, so we want to have a crack this season.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? We have been able to bring in an influx of talent and experience over the summer. Having people like Aimee (Power) has attracted people to want to come and play. She is a great personality, a solid leader and she’s an absolute freak and she is whipping the girls into shape.

Where can this team improve the most? We know Rome wasn’t built in a day and we have had struggles over the years with our senior netball. We have had a good streak with our juniors, every level has been making it to finals.

Congupna

NICKNAME: THE ROAD

HOME GROUND: CONGUPNA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: PREMIER (18–0) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: NINTH (6–11–1)

COACHES CORNER / BEN BINGHAM

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

After the disappointment of last year, we want to be starting the season off strong to get us in a good position to go deep again.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Personnel has really stayed the same, our retention has been a strong point over the last few years. Probably what we’ll do as coaching staff is positional changes

internally to freshen guys up and give us a bit of flexibility and different looks with a similar group.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our maturity is one now, we have a lot of guys that are in their peak age of their careers, and we’ve got a lot of finals experience under our belt. We’re pretty versatile and we play an exciting brand with our speed and ball movement.

PLAYER CHANGES

What still needs the most work?

Just to make sure we pay attention to small things within our game. We turned a blind eye to that stuff when things were going well last year and bad habits creeped in. We’re looking to be a lot more accountable.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Top two in the Murray League is always a fair

advantage, so that’s about our pass mark with the group that we’ve got.

We want to go as deep as we can in September, but we understand we have to climb that mountain again.

INS: Dion Gleeson (Chilton), Sam Ferguson (Tungamah), Curtley Allen (Maroochydore)

OUTS: Elijah Kilmartin (Katandra)

NETBALL

COACHES

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? To build a competitive, connected and confident team with a strong team identity and culture.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Fresh hunger and excitement, players eager to prove themselves. Our juniors bring speedm fearlessness and coachability, they aren’t stuck in old habits.

Where can this team improve the most? For a developing A-grade side with new combinations and juniors stepping up, the biggest area for improvement is building connection and developing consistency under pressure.

DENILIQUIN RAMS

NICKNAME: RAMS HOME GROUND: HARDINGE ST OVAL

2025 FINISH: NINTH (6–12)

NETBALL 2025 FINISH: SIXTH (10–9)

COACHES CORNER / JOHN FITZPATRICK

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The development of our juniors. We have a very young squad and some good juniors coming through — our oldest blokes are 26.

What will supporters notice about this team?

How young we are going to be. Hopefully, with a bit more run and a change in how we play.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

The connection with each other. They have played

juniors together and all come through the ranks together.

What still needs the most work?

Our skill level is one thing. We want to be ‘a work the ball’ type of side, but we want to get our skill level up. Hitting targets and doing all those basic things right.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We are hoping we can meet with where we (finished) last year, we would be happy there.

Like

everyone we want to be better than that, but we have lost three or four of our experienced blokes so we just have to start fresh.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Matt McDonald, Logan Leaper, Duncan Hughes

OUTS: Todd Gallagher, John Anstee, Angus Durnan

NETBALL

COACHES CORNER / CORINNE MITSCH

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? To push into finals again. We are going to be a young team again with a couple of experienced A-graders around us. Alongside that is to blood these young players to gain experience out on the A-grade court.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Our defence end will be strong again. We have built really nice connections over the last couple of seasons with our young ones and they will be going into their third season together in A-grade. I’m expecting some really big things from them.

Where can this team improve the most? Our goaling end I am excited about this year, we have recruited Makayla Finn who is a local girl but has spent the last four seasons at Shepp Bears. She is going to bring some stability to our goaling end.

Echuca United NETBALL

COACHES CORNER / FRANCIS LIAS

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Just continuing to develop as a group. I think we’re probably definitely moving in the right direction in terms of wins and losses, but more just focusing on the process of improving as a group.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ve worked a lot on our structures, so we want to get consistency with our game plan. We’ve been working on that since we commenced training back in November.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Probably youth, and we hope to be able to exploit our speed.

What still needs the most work?

It’s a balance at the moment of we’re really working hard on our fitness, but we’re trying to manage players as well.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Understanding and implementing our game plan and having a bit of confidence in what we’re trying to achieve.

I think we’ve improved in the last couple of seasons and we want to continue that trajectory.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Cody Haub (Picola United), Jack Reiter, Elijah Bruns (Lockington-Bamawm United), Russ Eden (Whorouly), Troy Mansbridge (Lancaster), Kia Coatsworth, Zac Coatsworth (Mitiamo), Jacob Russell (Merrigum), Corey Garner OUTS: Oliver Poole, Ryan Stobaus (Banyule)

COACHES CORNER / LEESA HOOPPELL

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Obviously we all want to be competitive, all the grades, so what we aim for is to be competitive and get up in the finals and all that jazz.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’re going to be a very very young side this year, even younger than last year. So I think probably our biggest strength’s going to be our junior development.

Where can this team improve the most? The attack was so young last year. But they’ve had that year experience now, so I’m hoping the biggest improvement will come hopefully from the attacking end.

MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Finley

NICKNAME: CATS HOME GROUND: FINLEY RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: 11TH (3–15) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: 11TH (2–16)

COACHES CORNER / JACK SEXTON

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We’ve had great buy in from our local boys and added a couple of recruits — we’re just looking for a bit of forward momentum.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ve only brought in three outsiders, everyone else has a connection or is a dead set local. Hopefully we look like a young, enthusiastic side.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I want youth to play as young people. I want them to play with their

flair; we’re not going to be one-way, we’re going to play all different ways.

What still needs the most work?

We want to nurture our young kids. We need to get them to become better players as quick as possible, so we’ve brought in a bit of experience around them.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Making sure we keep our retention at the end of the year as we did last year and then keep on trying to get better and better.

We’ve had huge buy in, good numbers on the track so we can’t ask for anything more.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Will Sexton, Jack Sexton (Southport), Jess Koopman, Mark McQualter, Luke Congram (Yarrawonga), Jack Yelland (Wodonga), Lenny Dattoli (Albury), Kris Bextream (Barooga), Callum Robertson (Billabong), Sam Barnett, Vincent Adduci (St Kevins), Ben Nisbet (Deniliquin Rams), Matt Whelan (Berrigan), Will Garner (Blackburn), Liam Rafferty, Luke Moore (injury)

OUTS: Jordan Daniel (Hinterland Blues)

NETBALL

COACHES CORNER / RENEE HULLS

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Last year we struggled with numbers in pretty much all senior teams, but this year we’ve got great numbers and we’ve also got people returning to the club. That’s been a big emphasis for us over the off-season.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? I’m not going to count my chickens early, but I’d hope we’ll be pushing well into finals with the B-grade team. And then A-grade will still be a young development team but we’ll be up higher than we were.

Where can this team improve the most? It’ll just be consistency for us and just having the same players available every week which will make a big difference.

Moama

NICKNAME: MOWERS/MAGPIES HOME GROUND: MOAMA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: THIRD (15–5) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: FOURTH (10–8–1)

COACHES CORNER / SHANNON KEAM

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

To have connection in the team and across the club.

What will supporters notice about this team?

I think we are really looking to invest in our young local group, and supporters will see guys play different roles and taking more senior responsibility on.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Biggest strength I’m thinking is our running and hopefully having the ability to run hard all day.

What still needs the most work?

I still feel we have a long way to go with leadership and some of the younger players just having belief in their game.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

The aim is to play finals and take it from there. Success is measured on so many levels and there are things we need to improve and change to have success in those different areas.

PLAYER CHANGES

We’re focusing on playing a consistent brand of footy.

NETBALL

COACHES CORNER / CARRI CARTER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? We’ve really picked people in our A/B squad that can help our junior development growth. We want to see them be able to filter and grow into our senior netballers.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Everyone’s training twice a week, so it’s not like we’re having people from Melbourne or Bendigo that don’t train and be part of the group. We’re making sure that we’re really close to build that culture.

INS: Jake Carlisle (Wallan), Dean Galea (Riddell), Blake Azzopardi (Picola United), Ryan Farmer (Murrumbeena), Archie Teasdale (Echuca), Liam Edge (Cohuna)

OUTS: Mitch Lake (East Burwood), Liam Barrett (Golden Square), Jett Lia (Blighty), Blake Evans, Jack Harland, James Whitehead

Where can this team improve the most? We are going to be up against some quite experienced teams, so we’re looking at matching them in a different aspect in our game. We’ve got to try and have that different x-factor for us.

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Mulwala

COACHES CORNER / MATT GORMAN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Last year, we had a season we couldn’t predict with the amount of injuries we had to quality players. If we can keep ourselves healthy and our list available that will go a long way in supporting us this season.

What will supporters notice about this team?

I think the biggest one is our depth. We want supporters to know we have 44 really good guys to pick from most weeks.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We have multiple ways to win a game of footy. I would say our structure and system keeps us in most games against most sides.

What still needs the most work?

For us it is getting to that start line healthy, fit and available and then we will work out the rest from there. Sometimes you can overcomplicate things in January.

What does success look like for this group in

We want to be the best side in the comp and the best side when it matters.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Will Cookson (Hurstbridge), Mitch Kunigiskis (Hoppers Crossing)

OUTS: Max Hemphill, Josh Ednie, Charley McKenna (Yarrawonga)

COACHES CORNER / LAURA GORMAN

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? I would assume any A-grade side’s main goal would be to win a flag, but we do have a couple new people coming into the team, so it will be working out how we play together and finding our feet together.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Our experience. We have some new faces coming in with top level experience, which is exciting.

Where can this team improve the most? We had injuries here, there and everywhere and we still managed to finish third on the ladder and go far into finals. If we can get a consistent run, I feel we will be pretty dangerous.

Nathalia NETBALL

COACHES CORNER / NED NIHILL

What’s the biggest focus for the group in 2026?

Obviously the goal is to go a bit deeper into finals, but it’s more helping this big crew of young guys that we have, helping them improve with their footy.

What will supporters notice about this team?

I think just the fact that we continue to have lots of locals, low player turnover, and a strong connection between the club itself and the wider community.

What’s your side’s biggest strength?

Versatility — we’re looking to be able to win multiple ways and have guys play multiple positions.

What still needs the most work?

We ran into some depth issues; we had some injuries (last year) and probably didn’t have a deeper list to be able to mix it when those injuries do come along.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

I think results will speak for themselves, but you can’t always control that. I think we’ll probably judge our pass mark on a few more

We’re looking to be able to win multiple ways.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Logan Campbell (Mooroopna), Ned Frostick (Shepparton), Jack Duggan (Woodend-Heskett), Baz McDonald (Yarrawonga)

OUTS: Max Frostick (Watsonia)

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Our main goal would be to get back to a grand final and obviously go that one step further. We do have a bit of a new group, so our other goal is to connect as well as we can and get that standard back to where we were.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? I think it’s versatility; we’ve got girls that can play in a variety of positions. We’ve got girls that can play in goals, some goalers that could swing defensively, and defenders that could play mid.

Where can this team improve the most? We’ve been focusing hard on our consistency in attack. We had a very strong defensive end last year and I think it’s more us being more consistent in attack, not just our attackers, but across the board.

Numurkah

NICKNAME: BLUES

HOME GROUND: NUMURKAH SHOWGROUNDS

2025 FINISH: SIXTH (10–9)

NETBALL 2025 FINISH: SEVENTH (9–1–8)

COACHES CORNER / JORDAN O’DWYER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

To win finals. We have played finals the last three years and have been bundled out in the first final, so I think anything short of winning a final will be a bit of a failure.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We had four or five games against top six sides that we were winning in the last quarter and we lost. So hopefully, (supporters will notice) our ability to close out those tight games against the best in the league.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We have tidied up a few things about our group, but we will look to play a similar style to last year. Across the board we have brought in (some players) with better foot skills and class.

What still needs the most work?

We want to be a lot fitter.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We have a great mix of exciting youth and seasoned players that we believe can lead us deep into finals and that last game of the year.

We want to be the Cobram of the 2026 season.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Mitch Price, Oscar Lambourn (Shepparton), Mason Pedretti, Mason Reeves (Shepparton Swans), Xavier Thorp (Katunga), Toby Griffiths (Narre Warren), Tom Levy (Benalla All Blacks), Connor Michel (Dookie United), Max Hooper (Shepparton United)

OUTS: Kade O’Dwyer (Shepparton), James Kam (Katamatite), Jamason Daniels

COACHES CORNER / LAURA RYAN

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Our main goal as a team and as a whole netball club is to keep building on the progress we made in 2025. I think it was a real breakthrough year in a way.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We are harnessing the local talent that we have and I think that means we get awesome buy-in. These are people that are passionate about the club and playing for our club and that can be such a weapon.

Where can this team improve the most?

Refining and executing on our game plan more is our work in progress.

Rumbalara

NICKNAME: RUMBA HOME GROUND: RUMBALARA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: SEVENTH (8–10) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: PREMIER (20–0)

COACHES CORNER / KANE ATKINSON

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The development of our young guys who are still in the age bracket of 18–21 and are still learning the game and senior footy.

What will supporters notice about this team? We are hoping to continue to grow the culture around the club.

It helps winning some games, to keep supporters coming back and in the rooms post game.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our leg speed. We have based our game plan around that. Using our leg speed and trying to expose sides that way.

What still needs the most work?

Our skill level wasn’t where we wanted it to be so it’s about getting back to those fundamentals.

We

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We are definitely hoping to push for finals. Anything less than (finals), we won’t be happy with.

Atkinson

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Anthony Walker, Jacob Bamblett (Fitzroy Stars), Byron Dryden (Girgarre) OUTS: Kevin Maroney, Michael Mummery (Benalla), Joe Lindrea, Ashtyn Atkinson, Jamie Atkinson

COACHES CORNER / JESS BAMBLETT

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? It’s just a rebuild focus at the moment. It’s a really nice and exciting time for us after going back-toback that will be focused on junior development. It will be good to try and stay around the middle of the ladder.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? The determination of the young girls.

Where can this team improve the most? We just want to be competitive and that will be our biggest room for improvement in not falling off. The only (player) we got back from the premiership was our best-on-court Tiarna (Steel).

Tongala NETBALL

NICKNAME: BLUES HOME GROUND: TONGALA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: 10TH (5–13) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: FIFTH (12–9)

COACHES CORNER / JORDAN SOUTER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026? We want to improve results-wise on last year. We just want to be a bit more competitive as a team, as a club, and just have good connection between us.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Hopefully you can see that we’re a connected playing group and we’re all on the same page.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

It’s probably our leadership, on-field leadership. It has definitely improved this pre-season.

What still needs the most work?

We knew last year our depth wasn’t real good, so that’s where we went out and recruited as many people as possible to get the depth around our footy club again.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We’ll have that same goal of playing finals as everyone else, but we’re not going to really gauge success off win/loss, it’s more how we go about it.

A successful season for us is being competitive in games for longer.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Joe Guiney, Riley Smith (Echuca), Tom Holman (Kyabram), Jack Monigatti (Tiwi Bombers), Brayden O’Hanlon (Winchelsea), Beau Joyce, Darcy Laffy, Zac Laffy, Corey Nexhip

COACHES CORNER / ABBY PETTIFER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Produce high level netball. The girls are really looking forward to working really hard at getting all of their skills down pat.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Being really strong in all three thirds of the netball court. We’re not really lacking in any way, shape or form, which is so exciting.

OUTS: Sam Cipriani (West Coast Eagles WAFL), Jack Sinclair (Kyabram), Matt Daniel

Where can this team improve the most? Transitioning from one end of the court to the other. Being able to really control the pace of the game, control the ball, and make sure that all of our transitions are on point.

Official Fixture Season 2026

OPENING ROUND

March 28

Echuca United v Deniliquin

ROUND 1 (GOOD

FRIDAY)

April 3

Mulwala v Congupna

Tongala v Nathalia

Moama v Echuca United

Deniliquin v Finley (N)

April 4 (Easter Saturday)

Cobram v Numurkah

Rumbalara bye

ROUND 2

April 11

Congupna v Moama

Nathalia v Deniliquin

Finley v Cobram

Numurkah v Tongala

Rumbalara v Mulwala

Echuca United bye

ROUND 3

April 18

Tongala v Echuca United Cobram v Congupna

Deniliquin v Rumbalara

Mulwala v Numurkah

Nathalia v Finley

Moama bye

ROUND 4 (ANZAC DAY)

April 25

Finley v Mulwala (N)

April 26

Moama v Tongala

Rumbalara v Cobram

Numurkah v Nathalia

Congupna bye

ROUND 5

May 2

Cobram v Mulwala

Deniliquin v Numurkah

Nathalia v Moama

Echuca United v

Rumbalara

Congupna v Finley

Tongala bye

ROUND 6

May 9

Mulwala v Nathalia

Numurkah v Ech United

Moama v Cobram

Rumbalara v Congupna

Tongala v Deniliquin

Finley bye

ROUND 7

May 16

Finley v Rumbalara

Echuca United v Mulwala

Cobram v Tongala

Congupna v Numurkah

Deniliquin v Moama

Nathalia bye

ROUND 8

May 23

Mulwala v Deniliquin

Nathalia v Echuca United

Tongala v Congupna

Moama v Rumbalara

Numurkah v Finley

Cobram bye

ROUND 9

May 30

Echuca United v Cobram

Congupna v Nathalia

Rumbalara v Tongala

Finley v Moama

Mulwala, Numurkah, Deniliquin bye

ROUND 10

(KING’S BIRTHDAY)

June 6

Congupna v Mulwala

Nathalia v Tongala

Echuca United v Moama

Finley v Deniliquin

Numurkah v Cobram

Rumbalara bye

ROUND 11

June 13

Mulwala v Rumbalara

Tongala v Finley

Moama v Numurkah

Deniliquin v Congupna

Cobram v Nathalia

Echuca United bye

ROUND 12

June 20

Rumbalara v Numurkah

Finley v Nathalia

Cobram v Deniliquin

Congupna v Ech United

Mulwala v Tongala

Moama bye

FINALS

ROUND 13

June 27

Numurkah v Mulwala

Nathalia v Rumbalara

Moama v Deniliquin

Echuca United v Finley

Tongala v Cobram

Congupna bye

GENERAL BYE

July 4

ROUND 14

July 11

Mulwala v Moama

Rumbalara v Ech United

Deniliquin v Nathalia

Finley v Congupna

Tongala v Numurkah

Cobram bye

ROUND 15

July 18

Moama v Congupna

Echuca United v Tongala

Nathalia v Mulwala

Cobram v Rumbalara

Numurkah v Deniliquin

Finley bye

ROUND 16

July 25

Congupna v Cobram

Tongala v Moama

Deniliquin v Echuca United

Rumbalara v Finley

Nathalia v Numurkah

Mulwala bye

1st Elimination Final: August 29

2nd Elimination Final: August 30

2nd Semi Final: September 5

ROUND 17

August 1

Congupna v Rumbalara

Mulwala v Cobram

Moama v Finley

Deniliquin v Tongala

Ech United v Numurkah

Nathalia bye

ROUND 18

August 8

Tongala v Mulwala

Numurkah v Congupna

Cobram v Moama

Rumbalara v Nathalia

Finley v Echuca United Deniliquin bye

ROUND 19

August 15

Cobram v Finley

Moama v Nathalia

Deniliquin v Mulwala

Ech United v Congupna

Numurkah v Rumbalara

Tongala bye

ROUND 20

August 22

Mulwala v Echuca United Finley v Tongala

Rumbalara v Moama

Congupna v Deniliquin

Nathalia v Cobram

Numurkah bye

(N) = Night Game

1st Semi Final: September 6

Preliminary Final: September 12

Grand Final: September 19

PREMIER 2025

KDL kings ready to return to the stage

Another year, another grand slam season of Kyabram District League action waiting in the wings.

There were a stack of gem storylines uncovered in 2025, from Rushworth’s resurgence on both fronts to a heartstopping senior football grand final that went right down to the wire.

Murchison-Toolamba went back to back.

Shepparton East reclaimed its throne. But in 2026, new narratives must be formed.

Violet Town and Lancaster shape as threats to the Hoppers’ crown, while the Eagles’ netball rivalry with Girgarre and fellow challengers is set to provide the spark.

The KDL is back — make sure you’re there to see it all unfold.

MCNAMARA MEDALLISTS

2025: Liam Francis (Rushworth)

2024: Rielly Old, Blake Fothergill (Nagambie) and James Milne (Murchison-Toolamba)

2023: Braydon Avola

2022: Jack Exell (Violet Town)

2021: Tom Davies (Lancaster)

2019: Kaine Herbert (Undera)

2018: Kaine Herbert (Undera)

2017: Sam Poole (Violet Town)

2016: Kasey Duncan (Avenel)

2015: Don Stirling (Avenel)

WARREN MEDALLISTS

2025: Allana Adams (Girgarre) and Lauren James (Shepparton East)

2024: Sharni Lloyd (Nagambie)

2023: Gemma O’Sullivan (Dookie United)

2022: Bree Giles (Tallygaroopna)

2021: Holly Butler (Girgarre)

2019: Chicky Barr (Stanhope)

2018: Chicky Barr (Stanhope)

2017: Sharni Lloyd (Nagambie)

2016: Kathryn Hard (Avenel)

2015: Renee Lea (Merrigum)

LADDER PREDICTIONS:

FOOTBALL

1: Lancaster

2: Murchison-Toolamba

3: Shepparton East

4: Violet Town

5: Nagambie

6: Longwood

7: Rushworth

8: Avenel

9: Girgarre

10: Stanhope

11: Tallygaroopna

12: Undera

13: Merrigum

PAST PREMIERS:

NETBALL

1: Girgarre

2: Shepparton East

3: Nagambie

4: Tallygaroopna

5: Rushworth

6: Avenel

7: Stanhope

8: Merrigum

9: Murchison-Toolamba

10: Lancaster

11: Violet Town

12: Merrigum 13: Undera

2025: Murchison-Toolamba (football) and Shepparton East (netball)

2024: Murchison-Toolamba and Girgarre

2023: Lancaster and Shepparton East

2022: Lancaster and Tallygaroopna

2019: Nagambie and Stanhope

AVENEL

COACHES CORNER / GEORGIA VELT

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Making finals again is definitely something we are striving for, but overall, just coming together as a team. We want a great club culture and to win some games.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got Ash Hansen and Adi Thornberry back in again this year, they’re really strong pillars at each end of the court for us and have been for the last couple of years, so, it’s great to have those really stable positions.

Where can this team improve the most?

I think what we had last year was two really great ends of the court, but that mid court connection was always a little bit difficult. I think just finding those flows and getting back to structure again is what we’re after.

GIRGARRE

COACHES CORNER / KIM HANRATTY

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

At Girgarre there’s been quite a bit of movement in regards to players — we’ve had a few that’ve come back and a few new faces so it’s going to be an exciting season.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got strength in all areas of the court. Where we’ve had the movement I’ve been able to find some players and bring some young ones up.

Where can this team improve the most?

Probably the defence end… but I believe we’ll be finals contenders again. Every club’s had changes from what I’ve heard, so you just never know.

COACHES CORNER / JOSHUA DELANEY

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Our biggest focus is making sure everyone is on the same page with our game plan and the direction that we want to go.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We will definitely be a lot quicker and sharper, especially around the contest where our midfielders do the bulk of the work. We have had a high focus on our fitness, and we are definitely going to be running out games and challenging a lot of good teams.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Everyone has bought into each other and everyone’s getting on the same page, so our culture is building. Everyone is playing for each other, rather than playing as an individual. That’s what our message is, culture based on and off the field.

COACHES CORNER / TYLER MCNAMARA

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Playing a good simple brand of footy that everyone can adapt to and start to build some success at the club.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Completely different look with exciting and quick footy. We will make mistakes, but hopefully a quick and exciting brand of footy filled with young talent.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our run and carry with our midfield depth will have definitely improved since the last few years. Also our contested ability should also really increase as well.

What still needs the most work? Our competitive edge. We have Lancaster round one who, over the last few years, have been one of the teams to beat and in previous years we have been going in expecting to lose, but

What still needs the most work?

We feel we are pretty strong in most aspects, but one area we can definitely improve in is our self belief.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

I’m really bullish on our group, I’ve got so much belief in what we can and will achieve. Making finals is not just a pass mark, we

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Braydon Avola, Corey Avola (Whittlesea), Nick Jolly (Thomastown), Benjamin Gillett (South Yarra), Luke Furci (Mernda), Zac Graham (Oak Park), Tarkin Kunelius (Epping), Jacob Nicholls (Craigieburn), Jack Glen, Fraser Rutherford (Seymour)

OUTS: Tyson McCoomb (Lockington-Bamawm United)

want to actually win a final or two, because we believe we are a pretty good team and we believe we can go deep into finals.

NICKNAME: KANGAROOS HOME GROUND: GIRGARRE RECREATION

this year, we will definitely have a mindset of winning.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We want to play finals. It would be a great success and achievement.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Riley McNamara, Reardon McIvor, Connor Moore, Jack McKenzie, Josh Wheeler, Josh Hayes, Ricky Glass, Tyler McNamara (Mount Pleasant), Lachie Werner (Kyabram), Fraser Cole (Maroochydore) OUTS: Byron Dryden (Rumbalara), Ryan Butler

LANCASTER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Our main goal is to be completely competitive in every game, and our versatility will keep us in good stead.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Versatility. Our ability to have attacks roll through the centre or centres roll through defence, that helps us with positioning and being dynamic in games.

Where can this team improve the most? Connection. We’ve got a mixture of recruits, myself and Jemma are new, and we’ve got returning faces too… to gel early will keep us competitive.

LONGWOOD

COACHES CORNER / SARAH BROCK

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Probably getting our structures down pat and getting everybody to play as a team.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve only just picked teams, but our midcourt is pretty strong, defence is strong, goalers are strong. I feel like we are pretty strong all across the court.

Where can this team improve the most?

It’s a different side this year to what we had last year. But for me personally, as a coach, it’s probably more to do with the fact that I’m not concentrating on B-grade and A-grade, it’s more just putting all that focus into A-grade this year.

COACHES CORNER / NICK RYAN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We want to continue and sustain the success we’ve had.

What will supporters notice about this team?

There’s been a few changes, but there’s always guys who decide they’re going to go elsewhere. We’ve had an influx of players come back to the club though, creating a real local feel about the playing group.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our depth. We had quite a few injuries last year but were able to blood some guys sooner than they would’ve originally, so now we have a big squad with senior experience, and we’ll figure out our other strengths once we get the make up of the best 22 right. What still needs the most work? I think the biggest thing is for everyone to buy in to the systems and the structures.

COACHES CORNER / ASSISTANT COACH

SCOTT

STEFANOS

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Our main focus for the pre-season has basically been to keep the core group of players, keep the same group, add a few and really drive to take the next step of winning our first final, and hopefully go further than that.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ll have a lot more speed. We’ve brought in some really fast players, so, a lot more speed and run on the outside which we maybe lacked a bit last year, and a lot more height as well.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I think our midfield is a real strength of ours. We’ve got a lot of really good players that run through the midfield, and it all starts in the engine room there,

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

First and foremost it needs to be enjoyable, that’s what local footy is all about, but we’ll be disappointed if we don’t play finals. We’re chasing that cup of course, so we hope to make the pointy end of finals again.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Sam Vick (Kyabram), Zac Cerrone (Kyabram), James Lovison, Nic Ross, Luke Davies (Shepp Swans), Malcolm Hedges (Tongala), Jamie Scapin, Sam Jackson (Shepparton United), Billy McLay (Kyabram)

OUTS: Cam Simpson (Maroochydore), Nick Kellow, Nick McAuliffe, Idi Besim, Riley Williams

NICKNAME: REDLEGS

GROUND: LONGWOOD RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: FIFTH (11–5) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: 13TH (0–16)

so that’s where we’ll try and kick start everything from.

What still needs the most work?

Probably defence, our defensive structures and that sort of stuff. We often could leak a few goals in a hurry last year, which is something that we’ll look to rectify.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Definitely finals, we are wanting to make finals again. We don’t want to take a step backwards

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Hassan Nasra, Kevin Nasra, Sam Nasra, Zac Oraha, Raafat Rachrache (Sunshine), Rabih Rachrache (Melton Centrals), Luke Mcgennisken (Wahgunyah), Josh Kotvas (Benalla All Blacks), Jason Kozma

OUTS: Brodie Muir (East Keilor), Beau Ogden (Mathoura), Rhys Cason, Shane Harvey

and miss finals, so that’s basically our target. I think we need to play finals, and we’ll be aiming to win a final this year, which will be us taking that next step.

MERRIGUM

COACHES CORNER / BLYNDA

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Our goal this season is to make finals. Last year, we just missed out, so it will be nice if we can get ourselves into a good position early on and have a red hot go at making finals this year.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

They are a young bunch of girls and their strength will come from their commitment and connection to each other. Hopefully, what they lack in experience, they will make up for in athleticism and optimism.

Where can this team improve the most?

We have a couple of new girls this season, so I think our biggest improvement this season will come from our connection within those combinations.

MURCH-TOOL

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

The biggest focus for our group in 2026 will be growth, development, and team building. We’re committed to improving individually and collectively, while strengthening our culture and connection as a unit.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Our greatest strength is our mindset. Players are prepared to work hard and continue to develop both individually and collectively.

Where can this team improve the most?

While progress is evident, building a cohesive playing combination remains a key focus area as the season approaches.

COACHES CORNER / JASON VERHOEVEN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The biggest focus this season is to get numbers on the track. (We) had a few double up (playing reserves and seniors) last year, so we will be focusing on producing good numbers across both grades.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Firstly, we are hoping they come along and see there is a different brand of football Merrigum will bring to the table. Hopefully, we convince them that the tables are turning. As coaches we are pretty open with listening to what (supporters) have to say.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

It’s gonna be our fitness. We are not going to be a very tall side, so we will be focused on fitness as our main weapon and hopefully that will put us in good stead.

What still needs the most work? We are just working on being competitive. If we are getting

COACHES CORNER / BRETT FOLEY

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Early on it’s not going to be the same team as the last couple of years, so it’ll be more getting that mix right and finding out where our best is going to be.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We won’t be as tall… we’ll be a bit quicker across the ground and we’ve got more midfield depth. We’ve gone and got some boys that can run.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

It’s not going to be the same blokes for the last few years — a couple of boys who’ve come up through the thirds will get a go. We’re looking forward to seeing the next crop of MurchToolamba this year.

What still needs the most work? I’m not sure we’re as fit as we’ve been. We know if we’re as fit as last year, we’ll be hard to beat

better every week that is the most important thing from our perspective as coaches.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We haven’t set any bar. A couple wins are always good to get

the club up and about and for the people that come to watch. Realistically, if we have four or five wins for the year that will be a big bonus.

NICKNAME: GRASSHOPPERS HOME GROUND: MURCHISON RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: PREMIER (17–1) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: 10TH (5–1–10)

so we’ve just got to get back to where we were in that space.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Murch, apart from the last two years and 2013, haven’t really had too much success. I push the club and boys to win as much as we can for as long as we can while we’re here but also look to the future.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Tyrin Atkinson (Palmerston), Andre Briggs (Rumbalara), Max Hendy (Katunga), Jack McColl (Congupna), Jack Stevenson (Milawa), Tirian Hillman (La Trobe Uni)

OUTS: Brodie Sanders, Nathan Turner, Kallyun Sanders, Leigh Wellington (Shepparton United), Lachie Devine (Spotswood), Jedd Johnston (Shepparton East), Denver Poliness (Tallygaroopna), Luke Jones (Cairns), Ryan Devine (retired)

NAGAMBIE

Sharni Lloyd

COACHES CORNER / ASHLEY

CHAPMAN

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

My focus has been really re-establishing the dominance that they’ve already had, but to also put my creativity on top of that to make sure that we put something out that is an exciting brand of netball, but also is under the Nagambie brand.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

They’re an incredible bunch of women who are incredibly resilient and incredibly tenacious. They never give up, everything is about fighting to the end… that’s something that I’ve been really impressed with, it would take me years to build that, and that’s already there, so that’s exciting.

Where can this team improve the most?

I think we’re only as good as our last performance, and that’s something that I always say to the girls. We’re only as good as our last performance, whether that’s a training session or whether that’s a game. We have to make sure every time we step out, we’re better, or every time we step out, we improve on something to meet our standards.

RUSHWORTH

COACHES CORNER / SHEREE STARLING

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

It’s more building on last year. A-grade made the finals, so now we want to push for some of our other senior teams to make finals.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got some really great workers that are just super keen to do whatever needs to be done to keep going.

Where can this team improve the most?

We were pretty unlucky not to make the grand final last year. I think with the team we’ve got, if we can play well and shoot well, we’re certainly in the mix to win a flag.

COACHES CORNER / ANTHONY HAYSOM

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Going a long way into finals and getting to that last day. It’s a young group so we’ve brought in some experience, and hopefully that can develop these young blokes and help fast track them a bit.

What will supporters notice about this team?

That we’re more experienced than the previous season or two. Hopefully they see a very competitive side every week… whether we are playing the top of the table or the bottom side.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I feel like we’ve got really good depth at the moment. We’re hoping our reserves will be strong as well, and we can have 30 to 35 guys go through the senior side this year, and a couple of thirds players as well.

COACHES CORNER / MARK WHEATLEY

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We want to keep improving so it’s sustainable way into the future and not just a flash in the pan over the last couple of years.

What will supporters notice about this team?

A contest-based team, and then closely followed by our defensive mechanisms because you’ve got to be able to win the ball back when you haven’t got it.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We train and play our contest method. It’s a strength of ours and our players thrive on that element of the game as well.

What still needs the most work? We’re always trying to fiddle around with our ball movement side of things.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

I think if you ask any coach,

What still needs the most work?

We probably need a bit of synergy and for the boys to gel a bit. We’ve got a lot of new blokes coming to the club this year that obviously haven’t played together, so in terms of our game plan and system, it might just take a little while to gel.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Jono Moore (Shepparton Swans), Blake Fothergill (Shepparton United), Luke Duffy, Luke Poustie, Lucas Hall, Tom Preece, Jack Threlfall OUTS: N/A

Probably winning the premiership. Hopefully by the end of the year we’ve got ourselves in a good spot and we are in contention. There’s obviously a lot of goals we can hope to achieve along the way, but success for me will be whether we lift it at the end of the year or not.

NICKNAME: TIGERS

HOME GROUND: IRONBARK STADIUM

2025 FINISH: SIXTH (11–8)

Ryan Beale

this time of year we’ve all got aspirations of playing in finals and winning finals and playing in grand finals and winning them.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Matt Ludbrook, Brad Canny, Shane Baker, Danny Brock (Stanhope), Kieran Malone (Eltham), Jeremy Lambden (North Bendigo), Josh Francis (Kyabram), Mitchell Lee (North Ringwood), Tim Northausen, Billie Gahan (Girgarre)

OUTS: Liam Francis (Pascoe Vale Panthers), Luke Oakley, Paul Vavlitis (Panton Hill), Riley Edwards (Broadford)

SHEPP EAST

COACHES CORNER / KATE DURLING

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

I think this season we’re going to concentrate a little bit on youth. We’re quite an older side, so our main goal this year is starting to bring in the young ones.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? We have got a good mixture of experience and new blood coming through, so I think that’s going to be our strength.

Where can this team improve the most? By all means, we want to walk away with the premiership, but we’ve got to be staying grounded and set new goals to make sure that we remain competitive.

STANHOPE

COACHES CORNER / HOLLY MCPHEE

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Our main goal is to merge our current experience with the energy and talent of our next-generation players. We have some loyal, talented players transitioning into the senior ranks, and we want to be able to give them the opportunity they deserve.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Our strength lies with our players loyalty and passion to succeed for their club. We are focused on our on-court connections to allow for smoother play as we work on settling new and exciting combinations.

Where can this team improve the most?

Consistency and open and clear communication on and off the court. We want to be able to on finish off those close games.

COACHES CORNER / DWAIN VIDLER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Consistent improvement. There’s still a young core with a sprinkling of senior players, so we want to make sure we continue to improve.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Just competitiveness, which is something we pride ourselves on regardless of who we’re playing. We want to make it a hard-fought game.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We have a core group of blokes who have been there the past five years as well as the younger blokes who can hopefully grow into their roles.

What still needs the most work?

Just working on our ball movement. Like all teams in the KDFL it can be hit or miss, so we’re just making sure the gap between our best and worst closes up.

NICKNAME: LIONS

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Every team I think at this time of year goes for making finals. A lot of it comes down to if you get there, how fit you can be.

HOME GROUND: STANHOPE RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: SEVENTH (7–9) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: EIGHTH (6–10)

COACHES CORNER / MATT BUTLER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

I would say our main focus is building a really positive and respectful culture.

What will supporters notice about this team?

I think the closeness (of the squad), and the energy and the excitement that they’ll bring to their football.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I think coming together and just playing as a team. We’re a very close group, the boys are just mates with everyone.

What still needs the most work?

It’s all culture for us. We know that we have a really good culture where people want to come in, and once people are happy they play their best football and self-motivation comes into it.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Tom Campbell (Tocumwal), Zack Betson, Aubrey

OUTS: Liam Sorraghan (Dookie United)

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We have not even spoken about that and (have) no willingness to, because the sky is the absolute limit and who knows what will happen this year.

TALLYGAROOPNA

COACHES CORNER / BREE GILES AND TAMARA SKINNER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Develop the youth that has joined our side this season. Combining with some experienced players should put us in good stead for an improved 2026.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Combined youth and experience and gaining some speed to the team.

Where can this team improve the most?

We are keen to work on our connections both on and off the court this season, with the focus of mentoring.

UNDERA

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Success for us will mean having measurable development, having strong team chemistry and ensuring a standard of excellence that shows how we practice, compete and carry ourselves with the club.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

The benefit is having a young team, we can focus individual development to come together as a team. Once you’ve got that unity, everything else just falls into place.

Where can this team improve the most?

I want to be able to look back at the end of the year and know we improved, competed, had high integrity and left the program stronger than the way we found it.

COACHES CORNER / JASON TRAIANIDIS

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Improvement, we only won a couple games last year, so we’re trying to get this up and running better than 2025.

What will supporters notice about this team?

There’s a fair few new young guys, we’ve had seven or eight come join us which is promising for the future. They’re fellas who are keen to get better.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Although we’ll be a pretty new side with a lot of boys 19 to 21 years old, having that age demographic means they’re all going to be pretty fit. I’d say we’ll be a running side, and an honest side.

What still needs the most work? Our skills let us down a little bit and our overall work ethic too last year. We’ve done a lot of footy oriented training sessions this preseason, as we’re starting from scratch a little bit (structure-wise)

with a lot of new faces in the team.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

The bottom line is we want to improve. Everyone hopes to make finals and we’re running a bit far behind, but we won three games last year so we want to make that five or six (in 2026). We want to be competitive each week, and see lots of little improvements across the board.

NICKNAME: LIONS HOME GROUND: UNDERA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: 11TH (3–1–12) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: 12TH (4–12)

COACHES

CORNER / GLENN HART

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Just continual development of a lot of the young guys. Hopefully we can hit the ground running and get off to some good early performances.

What will supporters notice about this team?

I’d like to think this year we can really compete against those better sides and hopefully surprise a couple of them with a bit of luck.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We’ve improved our on-ball brigade but we do have some good options forward too so I think we can kick some decent scores and put pressure on the opposition that way.

What still needs the most work? Ball use; we just need to make sure we retain the footy as much as we can and then put pressure on the opposition when they’ve got it.

INS: Broady Dow (Mooroopna), Nate Earl (Katandra), Corey Reardon (Shepparton United), Ryan Hallum (Mooroopna), Mason Lawford (Katandra), Brayden Sciuto (Shepparton United), Tarkyn Huffer (Shepparton), Tom McKinneny OUTS: Dean Galea (Wyndham Suns)

What does success look like for this group in 2026? For us, it’s got to be an improvement on last year. We can’t afford to go backwards — whether that’s just one or two more wins, that’s still a step forward.

VIOLET TOWN

COACHES CORNER / KOLBY WILD AND CO-COACH JAYDE BURDEN

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We want to build a more competitive and consistent team, and to position ourselves strongly to play finals netball. We obviously didn’t get there last year, so, we’d really like to get back into that atmosphere.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got depth and flexibility across the court with a lot of different players that can confidently play multiple positions, with a good mix of experienced leaders and emerging young talent.

Where can this team improve the most?

Probably our consistency and execution under pressure, which is something we’ve definitely lacked in the past.

COACHES CORNER / SEAN HORSBURGH

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

To continue on from the work that Brad Gleeson did last year… just want to continue climbing up the ladder and help with the younger boys’ development, and hopefully string a few more wins together.

What will supporters notice about this team?

You’re going to have a side that’s competitive each week. Supporters can come expecting a good game and think that we’re a chance of winning most weeks.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I reckon our greatest strength this year would probably be our flexibility with players being able to play multiple positions where, in the past, we probably haven’t had that luxury.

What still needs the most work?

I think we need to be a lot fitter than we were last year, and

take care of the football a lot better than we have, so they’re probably our two main focusses at the moment.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Like all clubs at this time of year we want to contend and play in the finals, but I think the marker for us will be just to continue climbing up the

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Will Hayes (Carlton VFL/ Warragul), Lachie Smith (North Heidelberg), Adam Pummeroy (Numurkah), Matt Ivill (Euroa), Ty Foster, John Ikupu, Riley Dowell, Brandon Ebert OUTS: Brad Gleeson

ladder. I think we won six or seven games last year, so we would be expect to be winning more than that.

I’m making it my mission to train with all 44 football and netball clubs in Nicholls.

Training with your club means I get to hear what matters to you. Sporting clubs are more than just a game, they are community hubs that deserve to be supported and I’ll continue to call on governments to fund facility upgrades so everyone can play.

sam.birrell.mp@aph.gov.au

Official Fixture Season 2026

ROUND

1

Saturday, April 11

Nagambie v Violet Town

Longwood v Undera

Merrigum v Murch-Toolamba

Shepp East v Tallygaroopna

Sunday, April 12

Girgarre v Lancaster

Stanhope v Rushworth

Bye: Avenel

ROUND 2

Saturday, April 18

Tallygaroopna v Merrigum

Lancaster v Shepp East

Violet Town v Girgarre

Rushworth v Nagambie

Undera v Avenel

Murch-Toolamba v Longwood

Bye: Stanhope

ROUND 3

Sunday, April 26

Nagambie v Stanhope

Avenel v Murch-Toolamba

Bye: All other clubs

ROUND 4

Saturday, May 2

Tallygaroopna v Avenel

Lancaster v Longwood

Violet Town v Merrigum

Rushworth v Shepp East

Stanhope v Girgarre

Murch-Tool v Undera

Bye: Nagambie

ROUND 5

Saturday, May 9

Undera v Tallygaroopna

Avenel v Lancaster

Longwood v Violet Town

Merrigum v Rushworth

Shepp East v Stanhope

Girgarre v Nagambie

Bye: Murch-Toolamba

ROUND 6

Saturday, May 16

Lancaster v Murch-Tool

Violet Town v Undera

Rushworth v Avenel

Stanhope v Longwood

Nagambie v Merrigum

Girgarre v Shepp East

Bye: Tallygaroopna

ROUND 7

Saturday, May 23

Merrigum v Girgarre

Longwood v Nagambie

Avenel v Stanhope

Undera v Rushworth

Murch-Toolamba v Violet Town

Tallygaroopna v Lancaster

Bye: Shepp East

ROUND 8

Saturday, May 30

Violet Town v Tallygaroopna

Rushworth v Murch-Toolamba

Stanhope v Undera

Nagambie v Avenel

Girgarre v Longwood

Shepp East v Merrigum

Bye: Lancaster

GENERAL BYE

June 6 King’s Birthday

ROUND 9

Saturday, June 13

Longwood v Shepp East

Avenel v Girgarre

Undera v Nagambie

Murch-Toolamba v Stanhope

Tallygaroopna v Rushworth

Lancaster v Violet Town

Bye: Merrigum

ROUND 10

Saturday, June 20

Rushworth v Lancaster

Stanhope v Tallygaroopna

Nagambie v Murch-Toolamba

Girgarre v Undera

Shepp East v Avenel

Merrigum v Longwood

Bye: Violet Town

ROUND 11

Saturday, June 27

Avenel v Merrigum

Murch-Toolamba v Girgarre

Tallygaroopna v Nagambie

Lancaster v Stanhope

Violet Town v Rushworth

Undera v Shepp East

Bye: Longwood

ROUND 12

Saturday, July 4

Stanhope v Violet Town

Nagambie v Lancaster

Girgarre v Tallygaroopna

Shepp East v Murch-Toolamba

Merrigum v Undera

Sunday, July 5

Longwood v Avenel

Bye: Rushworth

ROUND 13

Saturday, July 11

Undera v Longwood

Tallygaroopna v Shepp East

Lancaster v Girgarre

Rushworth v Stanhope

Sunday, July 12

Murch-Toolamba v Merrigum

Violet Town v Nagambie

Bye: Avenel

ROUND 14

Saturday, July 18

Nagambie v Rushworth

Girgarre v Violet Town

Shepp East v Lancaster

Merrigum v Tallygaroopna

Longwood v Murch-Toolamba

Avenel v Undera

Bye: Stanhope

ROUND 15

Saturday, July 25

Murch-Toolamba v Avenel

Tallygaroopna v Longwood

Lancaster v Merrigum

Violet Town v Shepp East

Stanhope v Nagambie

Sunday, July 26

Rushworth v Girgarre

Bye: Undera

ROUND

16

Saturday, August 1

Girgarre v Stanhope

Shepp East v Rushworth

Merrigum v Violet Town

Longwood v Lancaster

Avenel v Tallygaroopna

Undera v Murch-Toolamba

Bye: Nagambie

ROUND 17

Saturday, August 8

Lancaster v Avenel

Rushworth v Merrigum

Stanhope v Shepp East

Nagambie v Girgarre

Sunday, August 9

Tallygaroopna v Undera

Violet Town v Longwood

Bye: Murch-Toolamba

ROUND 18

Saturday, August 15

Shepp East v Nagambie

Merrigum v Stanhope

Longwood v Rushworth

Avenel v Violet Town

Undera v Lancaster

Murch-Toolamba v Tallygaroopna

Bye: Girgarre

FINALS

Elimination Finals: August 22–23

Semi Finals: August 29–30

Preliminary Final: September 5

Grand Final: September 12

KEY DATES

Say No to Violence Round: Round 6 — May 16

General Bye: June 6

(King’s Birthday Weekend)

Indigenous Round: Round 13 — July 11

PEARCE MEDALLISTS

2025: Lachie Conboy (Berrigan)

2024: Sam Ferguson (Tungamah)

2023: Jake Ellery (Strathmerton)

2022: Ash Holland (Waaia)

2021: Chris Marshall (Jerildeire)

2019: John Woodcock (Katamatite)

2018: Ash Thompson (Waaia) and Mark Ryan (Picola United)

LADDER PREDICTIONS:

FOOTBALL

1: Waaia

2: Katandra

3: Katamatite

4: Dookie United

5: Tungamah

6: Berrigan

7: Deniliquin Rovers

8: Katunga

9: Picola United

Jerilderie

11: Strathmerton

Tocumwal

Barooga

Rennie

Blighty

Mathoura

Will the Picola District Football Netball League be able to match the fervour of last season?

We sure hope so.

Budding dynasties were snapped and droughts were broken as Katamatite and Katandra ended Waaia and Deniliquin Rovers’ respective football and netball runs, and that emotion has carried right through to 2026.

Barooga has also entered the fold this year, with old rivalries reigniting and fresh talent arriving in a newly-minted 16-team competition.

All signs point one way; there’s every reason to pay attention to the PDFNL right now.

1: Deniliquin Rovers 2: Katandra 3: Katamatite

4: Katunga

5: Tocumwal

6: Dookie United

7: Tungamah

8: Strathmerton

9: Waaia

10: Rennie

11: Picola United

12: Jerilderie

13: Barooga 14: Blighty

15: Mathoura

16: Berrigan

PAST PREMIERS

2025: Football: Katamatite

Netball: Katandra

2024: Football: Waaia

Netball: Deniliquin Rovers

2023: Football: Waaia

Netball: Deniliquin Rovers

2022: Football: Waaia

Netball: Tungamah

2019: Football: Strathmerton

Netball: Strathmerton

2018: Football: Rennie

Netball: Deniliquin

2017 NW: Picola United and Tocumwal

2017 SE: Rennie and Katunga

BAROOGA

COACHES CORNER / JACQUI DOUGLAS

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Our focus is on finding our feet in a new league, and building and developing as a group.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Our greatest strength is our player retention from 2025, in A grade, despite the transition to a new league, which has helped maintain key connections and combinations.

Where can this team improve the most?

We’re continuing to work on our consistency and building trust and confidence in each other.

COACHES CORNER / JEREMY O’BRIEN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Just to win some games of footy. Although it probably wasn’t a plan 12 months ago to be in the PD, I think it’s probably the right move for the club and I think we’re seeing the benefits of it.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ve certainly been training pretty hard, so we hope we’re fitter than what we were last year. Our ball movement will be a little bit better than what it was last year as well with some of the guys that we’ve recruited.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We have a fair bit of flexibility in the team. We have got guys that can play a multitude of positions, so I think we’ll be able to change the magnets around a fair bit.

What still needs the most work? What we wanted to move towards this year was just getting more

players back to the club, which we feel like we’ve been able to do.

What does success look like for this group in 2026? I don’t exactly know where other clubs are at, but we’ll certainly want to push towards finals — we’re certainly not going to shy away from that fact, but we still know there’s a lot of work to do.

SPORTIES BAROOGA

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Riley Gow (Trinity Beach), Riley Welsh (Geelong West), Alex Krause, Harvey Sneddon (Cobram), Josh Soloman (EDFL), AJ Bourke, Zac McLeod (Beaufort)

OUTS: Sonny Rowe, Ned Higgins, James Hooper, Seb Fotia (Strathmerton), Kris Bextream (Finley)

Sport and Entertainment SPORTIES BAROOGA

BERRIGAN

Layla Towler

COACHES CORNER / LEAH BARTLETT

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Continue to develop strategy and further mentor our junior players who are now entering permanently into senior netball.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

The knowledge and experience that our leadership players have, to instil and assist in implementing these learnings and habits with our new members.

Where can this team improve the most?

Being more intentional and consistent each week. It is a young but eager senior netball side. They will find their momentum quickly and should move from strength to strength.

BLIGHTY

COACHES CORNER / ELLIE

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Being a team first, supporting one another and celebrating the small wins.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? Our resilience. There’s a real hunger to improve and prove to ourselves what we’re capable of.

Where can this team improve the most?

We haven’t had the results go our way the past couple of seasons, so this year is about rebuilding from the ground up trusting each other, communicating better and genuinely enjoying playing together. If we can build strong connections across the court and compete for each other every week, the results will come.

COACHES CORNER / NICK MANLEY

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Tightening our contest work and turning it into quicker, cleaner ball movement, and conversion reflected on the scoreboard in our favour. We want to be the most relentless pressure driven side in the PDFNL without the footy, and the most damaging with it.

What will supporters notice about this team?

A fitter, younger, more disciplined and diverse group supported well by the club stalwarts and intention driven.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

The depth we’re building across every line, we’re no longer relying on just a handful of players to shift momentum.

What still needs the most work? Sharpening our decision making under pressure, ensuring our forward entries result in higher-percentage scoring that will

COACHES CORNER / DANE LEYDEN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The biggest focus for the group is to maximise our potential and see how far we can go with no regrets.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Supporters will notice us working harder along with some new faces out there. We want to be a physically fit side this year.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our sides greatest strength might be our enjoyment playing alongside each other, we have a great group that gets along.

What still needs the most work? Possibly just gelling as a unit, trying to find cohesion with some new players that haven’t played together.

What does success look like for this group in 2026? Success is based on growth, we

hopefully take us from competitive to genuinely dangerous.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

The same success that everyone wants, to do better than last year and play in a grand final. We’re aiming for a grand final berth and a premiership win.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Levi Middleton, Fraser Haintz, Max Tallent, Kody Jackson, Jay Harms, Lachlan Pyle and Jackson Hourigan OUTS: Lochie Conboy — Albury (O&M), Matt Whelan — Finley (MFL), Tom Whelan, Jacob Bartlett

want to be in games until the final siren and hopefully win a few more than the last few years.

DENI ROVERS

COACHES CORNER / CARISSA BULMER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? To bring the netball premiership cup back home to Roverland.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Our determination, defensive presence and ability to gel together as a team.

Where can this team improve the most?

There is always room for improvement. Taking direction, using our voices and having the willpower to perform consistently for 60 minutes are key focuses for us. If we can maintain that intensity across four quarters, the rest will take care of itself.

DOOKIE UNITED

COACHES CORNER / LAURA HENDERSON (co-coach)

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Last year was our first year in the Picola League, it was hard to gauge what other teams were like. No we know what we’re up against, our focus is making it to the final two.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Our defensive end is probably going to be our strongest. We’ve picked up Ella Dickins from Wodonga Bulldogs so we’re very excited to see what she’s going to bring.

Where can this team improve the most?

We’ve got a pretty good unit as is, it’s just building some new connections. You’re always polishing your current plays, and we’re always building on what we’ve got.

COACHES CORNER / ALEX HAYE

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Going into the season we’ve identified that we probably needed to improve our contested game, so training has focused on that pretty well throughout the pre-season period.

What will supporters notice about this team?

I think our supporters will be really excited about the growth in our younger local players who have been with the club since juniors and have already taken that step into senior footy but are now ready to elevate their game to another level.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I think forward of the ball we look really strong. I think this is backed up pretty well by our defensive system which we’re looking to tweak slightly but certainly those aspects of our game saw us have some success last year.

COACHES CORNER / TRAVIS WATERS

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Obviously our focus will be improving on last year. We had a rough trot with injuries and unavailability, but we feel like we’ve recruited well.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ve brought in six or seven young fellas around the age of 19 and 20. We’ve added some real talent and some real speed.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

This year I’m hoping our quick ball movement will be a big threat for us, and our defence is looking quite strong as well.

What still needs the most work? Reinforcing a game style; we went through a bit of a change last year, new players, new coach, new league, so just reinforcing how we want to play will be key.

What still needs the most work?

I think our midfield has great potential for growth.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

After making the preliminary final last year, the goal is always to improve on the season following so going one better will certainly be our aim.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

If we don’t play finals that would be seen as a real negative so it’s a bit of a must for us this year — that’s the language we’re going with and our expectation of the group is to play finals footy.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Chris Nield (Berrigan), Rowan Hiscock (Shepparton), Jackson Tier (Preston), Tom Fayle (Bayswater), Jacob Ballerini (Barooga), Jye McDonald, Zavier Marshal, Liam Kendall (Shepparton Swans), Liam Sorraghan (Shepparton East)

OUTS: Connor Hayes (Shepparton United), Lachlan Ludeman (Shepparton), Connor Michel (Numurkah)

JERILDERIE

COACHES CORNER / KATRINA MUTO

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We want to be known as a side that gives everything for four quarters — a strong, relentless team that’s tough to beat and determined to play finals netball.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Our greatest strength is our unity.

Where can this team improve the most?

With a number of players returning after the off-season, rebuilding our match fitness is a key priority at the moment. We’re putting in the hard work on the training track to ensure we’re physically ready to compete at a high level consistently.

KATAMATITE

COACHES CORNER / CASSIA COLBECK

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Developing our younger netballers.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Being a regional town, we have had really good numbers at pre-season and at trials. We are really building a lot of strength and consistency through all our grades.

Where can this team improve the most?

We are going to have to focus on our depth as a club so we can draw up those players. I think it will be more of a development year this year.

COACHES CORNER / SAM SLEIGH

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

To take the next step in the back end of the year — we find ourselves consistently making finals, however this year there seems to be a fierce internal motivation to go a bit deeper.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We have the most loyal supporters in the league who travel for away games and turnout at home. This year, they’re likely to see pace on the footy and plenty of line breaking across the ground.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I think we’re a footy side that has the ability to adapt and improve on the run.

What still needs the most work?

In terms of what needs most work, we’re under no illusions that as a young side, there are many aspects that need work as we continue to develop.

COACHES CORNER / TOM CLUREY

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Getting a taste for (last year’s premiership), everyone is keen to go around again and hopefully have that feeling once again. That’s definitely the goal.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We haven’t changed too much from last year. We have a mix of half-a-dozen senior guys who have been at the club their whole life and then half-a-dozen or more younger guys coming through that are really exciting.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Country footy you rely on your depth a lot. We have added a few to the list in both grades so our depth is probably our biggest strength at the moment.

What still needs the most work?

That’s the challenging part for the group, we have been hungry for success for a while. You go from

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

In 2026 finals is a must and I will go as far to say winning at least one, two, three or perhaps four finals. I feel as though most

coaches will say that, but why else are we here? Play with mates and win premierships!

NICKNAME: TIGERS HOME GROUND: KATAMATITE RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH:

being the hunters and striving for that success to being at the top and everyone trying to chase you down.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

As coach, I would say a premiership.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Archie Lewis (Dookie United) James Kam (Numurkah), Seb Conheady (Cobram), Jack Connolly OUTS: Jack Gerrish (Wangaratta Rovers)

KATANDRA

COACHES CORNER / JO MORONEY

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

To continue the growth, and particularly the success.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

They are a cohesive group. There are really no weak links.

Where can this team improve the most?

Increase the stats under the goal circle, we want to be scoring well. Just making sure that the team has a good understanding of the three court movements so that we can get it from end to end.

KATUNGA

COACHES CORNER / KELLIE SALTER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We have been decimated a little bit with pregnancies and babies, so it is an opportunity for our younger girls to step up. The ones that were being mentored last year will get the opportunity to demonstrate what they learned.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

It will always be Sarah Sidebottom in defence. She is our captain and she leads from the front and from training to game day.

Where can this team improve the most?

It will be getting the girls working together, because it will be a totally different side than previous years.

COACHES CORNER / JASON WHITTAKER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We just want to give ourselves the best opportunity to play in the last game of the year.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We want to have really good speed on the ball and make fast play movement and make it really difficult for the opposition to defend.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We have found ourselves to be pretty strong defensively over the past couple of years.

What still needs the most work?

We have identified a couple of shortcomings from the past couple of years. We would like to make the opposition hurt a bit more on the scoreboard. If we make a mistake by foot or by hand, not to go back into our shells.

COACHES CORNER / TIM FEW

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The 2025 season didn’t end the way we hoped, so we are regrouping a bit, trying to bring some players in and consolidate our juniors. Get back to being competitive week-in-week-out is our main goal at this stage.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We have a really good group of juniors coming through. We are going to have a lot of 21-and-under that are still developing and have come through our junior system.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We have some talented kids coming through. I like to think we are also even across the board and not relying too heavily on a player or two.

What still needs the most work? Just like everyone else, we are working on fitness and skills.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

It’s not taking a backward step. We want to be as competitive

as we have been over the past couple of years and, hopefully, off the back of that results will come.

NICKNAME: SWANS HOME GROUND: KATUNGA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: 11TH (5–11)

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We like to think we can improve on last year’s result. But we won’t mark the season on wins and losses, we have to improve in every area.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Frazer Dale (Myrtleford), Declan Lowden (Cobram), Hudson Storer OUTS: Xavier Thorp (Numurkah), Darcy Laffy (Tongala), Zachary Laffy (Tongala), Max Hendy (Murchison-Toolamba)

MATHOURA

COACHES CORNER / SHARON MOON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

To build on their skills and to create a positive environment for them to excel at their best.

We want them to enjoy their netball and improve within themselves as well as within a team.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? They’re a young squad that are keen to develop their skills.

Where can this team improve the most?

If we can improve on last year then I think that’s a win for us, so if we can improve on our skill and win a couple of extra games.

PICOLA UNITED

COACHES CORNER / EMMA GREAVES

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Be more competitive than the previous few years and definitely making finals is top of the list for us.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’re very versatile position wise and also we’ve got a good range of ages as well.

Where can this team improve the most? We’ve had a lot of fluctuations previously, so being more consistent in where everybody’s playing and having more of a set plan for game day.

COACHES CORNER / ADAM BOURKE

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We felt the last six weeks of the season we were more competitive than what we had been in the first ten rounds and we want to continue that theme and do the little things well.

What will supporters notice about this team?

A few new faces around the club, but also some old faces because we’ve really tried to get blokes back that have a connection with Mathoura.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We actually started pre-season the first week in November, non-compulsory and most nights we had a dozen turn up to training.

Turning up has been a lot better than it was last season and that may seem really simple but for a small club it’s quite critical.

What still needs the most work? Execution skills.

COACHES CORNER / JON VARCOE

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

It’s a team first focus and we’re just really looking to teach our players the roles in it and get it well ingrained in the playing group.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ll be well organized and structured. We’ll be fit and we’ll be a pressure team.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Everyone that takes the field for Picola will be fit, play their role and be part of a tight knit team.

What still needs the most work? At the moment it’s just a continuation of improving our fitness and getting our players to know the game plan and their roles really well before round one.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We’ve been a mid-table team for a period of time so our aim

HOME GROUND: MATHOURA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: 15TH (0–16) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: 14TH (2–14)

This year we’re looking for a much improved performance by hand and by foot than what we had last year.

What does success look like for this group in 2026? We’re trying to build a sustainable club and a competitive club.

What success looks like is being more competitive and winning those games of football.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Max Elder (MurchisonToolamba), Beau Ogden (Longwood), Norman Tipiloura (Muluwurri Magpies), Chris Warlapinni (Imalau Tigers), Josh Walters (Macorna), Brodie Watts (Avendale Heights), Jordan Jones (hiatus/Tooradin Dalmore), Phoenix Evans OUTS: Maksym Eddy (Picola United)

NICKNAME: BLUES HOME GROUND: PICOLA RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: SEVENTH (10–6)

is to push higher up the ladder.

If we can have a successful and fun year, retain all our players and continue to build, that will be a success.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Declan Begley, Mason Cobbledick, Tom Dohnt, Tristan Myers, Josh Vallender (Nathalia), Caden Ratcliffe (Mooroopna) Joe Holloway (Stanhope), Maksym Eddy (Mathoura), Rhys Varcoe (Hawthorn amateurs), Jordan Dalziel, Matt Hore (Lockington-Bamawm United), Ben Nave, Aiden Lindsay, Brayden Lee (hiatus), Dan Walters OUTS: Cody Haub (Echuca United), Blake Azzopardi (Moama), Zac Cockayne (Leitchville-Gunbower)

RENNIE

COACHES CORNER / JENNIKA

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Obviously our plan is to make finals this year. We lost Laynee Rhodes and Heleena Shaw from last year, so we’re trying to look at developing our under-17s and really bring them through.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got some really good young ones coming up, but we’ve also got some stronger, more experienced players that are going to take on that role of helping develop our younger team members.

Where can this team improve the most?

Just building that strength, uniting as one and working together.

COACHES CORNER / CONNOR HARGREAVES

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We’ve got quite a young side still — we’ve bought in four blokes from other teams so our focus is a lot of skills at the moment as we’ll be a much shorter side.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Coming from last year where we only had three wins, I think people will notice a much needed improvement in their ability to push through games and get good finishes rather than falling off in the last quarter.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Camaraderie at this point. We’ve still got a lot of things to work on across the board, but everyone is having a good crack and welcoming the new boys in well.

What still needs the most work?

The biggest one will be skills. Our fitness will be much better than last year but the skills will still need a polish up.

STRATHMERTON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? Settling the team as it looks quite different from last year and focusing on doing the basics really well.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

A mix of ages and career stages and a great sense of camaraderie.

Where can this team improve the most?

Sorting what combinations work best and our talk on court with new combinations.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Success is just making it a bit further on the ladder than what we did last year.

NICKNAME: BULLDOGS HOME GROUND: STRATHMERTON RECREATION

COACHES CORNER / ADRIAN CRESTANI

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We’ve had a lot (of players) come in, so just trying to get that mix right and work towards playing finals.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Hopefully when we’re kicking goals, we’re getting around each other; there’ll be plenty of rundown tackles and pressure to keep our fans involved and keep them getting around us.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our youth and our speed. We’ll be a lot fitter than we have been the last couple of years as well — I think we started back pre-season about seven weeks before Christmas.

What still needs the most work? It was probably just the age of our list. We wanted to get a lot more young guys in and add some speed back into our side

because that’s something we have lacked.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

It will all depend on how well everyone gels together and how soon that can happen. I think at minimum, we want to be playing finals.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Thomas Corso, Daniel Clark, Flynn Penberthy (Cobram), Sonny Rowe, Ned Higgins, James Hooper, Seb Fotia (Barooga), Jonathan Pearson, Layne Baker (Stanhope), Brad Collins, Keegan Oliver, Luke Larsen

OUTS: Tim Looby (Shepparton United), Zach Betson, Aubrey Coote (Shepparton East), Darrean Wyatt

COACHES CORNER / ALANA TYNDALL

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

This is my first year as A-grade coach so I want to bring a new energy and freshness to the team. My biggest focus is 100 per cent effort in all areas.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Bringing the positive vibes and having each others back.

Where can this team improve the most?

The GD’s fitness. But seriously the girls pushed into finals last year so obviously that’s our priority again to be up there with the best being able to compete, but also just enjoying each other’s company while we are at it.

TUNGAMAH

COACHES CORNER / STACEY PARKS

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? I think everyone’s main goal is to try and win a premiership and improve on last season.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? The diversity across both the A and B-grade squad.

Where can this team improve the most? Our attacking style and teamwork.

COACHES CORNER / DANIEL KIRCHEN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Building consistency across four quarters and earning our place in finals through disciplined, teamfirst football.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Relentless pressure, strong connection, and a group that competes hard for each other every contest.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our adaptability and youth. We can adjust quickly and bring energy that lifts the whole group.

What still needs the most work? Consistency under pressure and sustaining our intensity for four quarters against top-quality opposition.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Playing finals, developing our younger players, and building a culture that sets us up long-term.

COACHES CORNER / LUKE EDNIE

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We struggled to finish off games against the top clubs last season. We would love to be more competitive against the likes of Katamatite, Waaia and those top sides that blew us out of the water late in games.

What will supporters notice about this team?

The commitment. The boys have realised there is a lot going on around the club and the boys have started to put more in themself to give back to the club.

What’s your side’s greatest strength? Will be down in our forward line. We have recruited well down that way.

What still needs the most work? Because we have recruited a lot of numbers this year, it will be just gelling as a group.

PLAYER CHANGES

INS: Nate Grieves, Clay Howe, Sam DeCicco, Cody Jordan, Nick Egan, Chase Hardwidge, Hayden Davis, Noah Sneddon OUTS: Xavier Walker, Flynn Tonks, Achoung Agog, Cory Parish, Max Mickelson, Dillon Kirchen, Harry Barker

HOME GROUND: JUBILEE PARK 2025 FINISH: SIXTH (11–7) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: SEVENTH (10–7)

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Our goal will be set to try and beat every side that beat us in 2025. If we can do that or at least be competitive we should hold ourselves in good stead for the year to come.

INS: Jacob Adkins (Yarrawonga), Brad Ward (Mulwala), Liam McDonell (North Wangaratta), Nathan Hill (Benalla)

OUTS: Sean Johns, Oscar Willis (Tatura), Flynn Fletcher (Port Douglas), Wally Thomson, Sam Ferguson

COACHES CORNER / JESSI HICKS

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We’re excited to focus on building and connecting as a new team and building on the foundations that we’ve already established.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve got an unpredictability about us and that will be influential against the opposition to keep them guessing.

Where can this team improve the most?

We’ve had a lot of new players come across to the Bombers, as well as pregnancy returns and juniors stepping into the senior ranks so we’re excited to focus on building and connecting as a new team.

COACHES CORNER / JESSE TROWER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We’re not going to shy from it, our goal is to go one step further than what we did last year.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Hopefully we see a bit more of a refreshing game style and a refreshing way that those players are going about their roles — hopefully that creates some excitement among the club and town.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

I think we’ve found a bit of hunger again. I think for the majority of the group, it was actually their first grand final loss — there’s a fair bit of hunger that’s come back into the group during pre-season.

What still needs the most work? We talked about some things that we probably need to get better at, not just being a bit

more relaxed, but also some gameplay-related things.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We obviously had a reasonably successful season last year without winning on the last day of the year, and the goal

INS: Lukas Hanslow (Stanhope), Seb Boyd (WA), Todd Davies (Marong) OUTS:

will be to go better than that. There’s no doubt that’s the goal and that’s what everyone’s driving for.

Official Fixture Season 2026

ROUND 1

April 3 Good Friday

Tocumwal v Barooga

ROUND 2

April 11

Jerilderie v Blighty

Katamatite v Tungamah

Katandra v Dookie United

Deni Rovers v Mathoura

Strathmerton v Waaia

Rennie v Berrigan

Katunga v Picola United Tocumwal, Barooga bye

ROUND 3

April 18

Tocumwal v Katamatite

Blighty v Deni Rovers

Tungamah v Katandra

Dookie United v Strathmerton

Mathoura v Berrigan

Waaia v Katunga

Picola United v Rennie

Barooga v Jerilderie

ROUND 4

April 25

Rennie v Waaia

Katandra v Tocumwal

April 26

Deni Rovers v Jerilderie

Berrigan v Blighty

Strathmerton v Tungamah

Katunga v Dookie United

Mathoura v Picola United

Katamatite v Barooga

ROUND

5

May 2

Katamatite v Katandra

Jerilderie v Berrigan

Tocumwal v Strathmerton

Blighty v Picola United Tungamah v Katunga

Dookie United v Rennie

Waaia v Mathoura

Barooga v Deni Rovers

ROUND 6

May 9

Berrigan v Deni Rovers

Strathmerton v Katamatite

Picola United v Jerilderie

Tocumwal v Katunga

Waaia v Blighty

Rennie v Tungamah

Mathoura v Dookie United

Katandra v Barooga

ROUND 7

May 16

Katandra v Strathmerton

Deni Rovers v Picola United

Katamatite v Katunga

Jerilderie v Waaia

Tocumwal v Rennie

Dookie United v Blighty

Tungamah v Mathoura

Barooga v Berrigan

GENERAL BYE

MAY 23

ROUND

8

May 30

Picola United v Berrigan

Katunga v Katandra

Waaia v Deni Rovers

Rennie v Katmatite

Dookie United v Jerilderie

Mathoura v Tocumwal

Blighty v Tungamah

Strathmerton v Barooga

ROUND 9

June 6

Strathmerton v Katunga

Berrigan v Waaia

Katandra v Rennie

Deni Rovers v Dookie United

Katamatite v Mathoura

Jerilderie v Tungamah

Blighty v Tocumwal

Picola United v Barooga

ROUND 10

June 13

Waaia v Picola United

Rennie v Strathmerton

Dookie United v Berrigan

Mathoura v Katandra

Tungamah v Deni Rovers

Tocumwal v Jerilderie

Katamatite v Blighty

Katunga v Barooga

ROUND 11

June 20

Katunga v Rennie

Picola United v Dookie United

Strathmerton v Mathoura

Berrigan v Tungamah

Deni Rovers v Tocumwal

Blighty v Katandra

Jerilderie v Katamatite

Barooga v Waaia

ROUND 12

June 27

Dookie United v Waaia

Mathoura v Katunga

Tungamah v Picola United

Berrigan v Tocumwal

Blighty v Strathmerton

Katamatite v Deni Rovers

Katandra v Jerilderie

Barooga v Rennie

GENERAL BYE

July 4

ROUND 13

July 11

Rennie v Mathoura

Waaia v Tungamah

Picola United v Tocumwal

Katunga v Blighty

Berrigan v Katamatite

Jerilderie v Strathmerton

Deni Rovers v Katandra

Dookie v Barooga

ROUND 14

July 18

Tungamah v Dookie United

Tocumwal v Waaia

Rennie v Blighty

Katamatite v Picola United

Katunga v Jerilderie

Katandra v Berrigan

Strathmerton v Deni Rovers

Mathoura v Barooga

FINALS

ROUND 15

July 25

Dookie United v Tocumwal

Blighty v Mathoura

Waaia v Katamatite

Jerilderie v Rennie

Picola United v Katandra

Deni Rovers v Katunga

Berrigan v Strathmerton

Barooga v Tungamah

ROUND 16

August 1

Tocumwal v Tungamah

Katamatite v Dookie United

Mathoura v Jerilderie

Katandra v Waaia

Rennie v Deni Rovers

Strathmerton v Picola United

Katunga v Berrigan

Blighty v Barooga

ROUND 17

August 8

Deni Rovers v Blighty

Jerilderie v Tocumwal

Picola United v Mathoura

Tungamah v Rennie

Dookie United v Katandra

Waaia v Strathmerton

Barooga v Katamatite

Berrigan v Mathoura

Elimination Finals: August 15 & 16

Qualifying Finals: August 22 & 23

Semi Finals: August 29 & 30

Preliminary Finals: September 5 & 6

Grand Final: September 12

PREMIER 2025

Get ready to see things clear in HD this year

The HDFNL is back for 2026, with those at the top desperate to keep their spot and those lower down looking to rise to the challenge in the new season.

After upsetting 15–1 North Bendigo twice in the finals series to claim the crown, Mount Pleasant will have to wait until round two to hoist the flag at Toolleen Recreation Reserve, taking on Huntly in its home opener.

In A-grade netball, Colbinabbin executed a dominant unbeaten season to get its hands on the flag, and the Grasshoppers have the same core intact for another tilt at the title.

Colbo won’t be at home until round three, where it will salute a well won 2025 premiership as it takes on White Hills.

A tight, nine-team competition, the league features sides mostly

centred around Bendigo and Rochester.

Colbinabbin, Elmore, Heathcote, Huntly, Leitchville-Gunbower, Lockington-Bamawm United, Mount Pleasant, North Bendigo and White Hills are all once again raring to go in 2026, the balanced competition format seeing each side battle the other eight home and away, with two byes thrown in over 18 rounds.

The league has added an under-15 grade for the upcoming season, strengthening the pathways for junior

League action kicks off on April 11, with three of four opening round fixtures scheduled for a late 5.50 pm

Heathcote A-grade netball premier Colbinabbin

The regular season wraps on August 8, with five sides per grade advancing to the finals series.

The postseason begins on August 15, with the premiers to be crowned on grand final day, September 5.

SAM CHEATLEY MEDALLISTS

2025: Tyler Phillips (LBU)

2024: Jobee Warde (L-G)

2023: Liam Jacques (Heathcote)

2022: Tyler Phillips (LBU)

2021: Tyler Phillips (LBU)

2019: Joel Helman (N. Bendigo)

2018: Ryan Semmell (Huntly)

2017: Jarrod Findlay (N. Bendigo)

2016: Ryan Semmell (Huntly)

2015: Grant Weeks (Colbinabbin)

ESTHER CHEATLEY MEDALLISTS

2025: Ella Kerlin (Colbinabbin)

2024: Brooke Bolton (Heathcote)

2023: Olivia McEvoy (Colbinabbin)

2022: Brooke Bolton (Heathcote)

2021: Brooke Bolton (Heathcote)

2019: Anna-Grace Close (White Hills)

LADDER PREDICTIONS: FOOTBALL

1: Colbinabbin

2: North Bendigo

3: Mount Pleasant

4: LeitchvilleGunbower

5: Huntly

6: LockingtonBamawm United

7: Elmore

8: White Hills

9: Heathcote

PAST PREMIERS:

FOOTBALL

2025: Mount Pleasant

2024: White Hills

2023: Mount Pleasant

2022: LockingtonBamawm

United

2019: North Bendigo

NETBALL

1: Colbinabbin

2: Mount Pleasant

3: White Hills

4: Elmore

5: Huntly

6: North Bendigo

7: LockingtonBamawm United

8: LeitchvilleGunbower

9: Heathcote

2017: LeitchvilleGunbower

2016: North Bendigo

2015: North Bendigo

2014: LockingtonBamawm United White Hills White Hills Colbinabbin Colbinabbin

The strength behind your success.

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COLBINABBIN

COACHES CORNER / LINTON JACOBS

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We sort of want to try and finish in that top bracket again if we can and give ourselves every chance on the back end to play some finals and hopefully win a couple more finals.

What will supporters notice about this team?

They’ll see a slight change in the way we defend, look to be a little bit more assertive.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Having the group together for another season is really important, especially in this day and age of footy continuity between your group, cohesion, that sort of thing is super important.

What still needs the most work?

In a couple of those bigger games we got beat up around the footy and couldn’t get our hands on it, so we’ve worked heavily on our contest in pre-season.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

I think we’re like everyone, we want to win a premiership. Colbinabbin hasn’t won a

ELMORE

COACHES CORNER / LUKE FREEMAN

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We’ve brought in some new concepts and systems that some of the boys, not all the boys, have been exposed to, and we’re just trying to implement them. The big thing will just be embedding them in our game.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ve been working a fair bit on just team defence as opposed to individual defence. I think we’ll probably move the footy a little bit

differently to what they’ve done in previous years.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Their willingness to take new stuff on board and to be able to give things a go.

What still needs the most work?

The ability to be able to adapt these new structures and systems under pressure.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Keep showing improvement as a team but also in the wins column. There was obviously some blowout games last year which we want to try to

HEATHCOTE

COACHES CORNER / ANDREW SALADINO

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

We’re focusing on training numbers so we can continue to work on certain game styles and game plans.

What will supporters notice about this team?

We’ve brought in some guys that we think will help with the aerial stuff.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

All those numbers, it’s going to put pressure on guys and create a healthy competitive training environment.

flag for almost 18 years, I think. We’re under no illusions, it’s going to be a very, very competitive comp.

COACHES CORNER / JEN MCINTYRE

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Just to keep getting better as a team and I guess improve as individuals.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

I think they’ve played together now, the majority of them, for three or four years, so I think they do know each other’s games inside out.

What still needs the most work?

Clearances and stoppages have been a deficiency of ours, something we’ve worked hard on.

We’ve brought in some good mids that I think will help fix that.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

I don’t think we were that bad last year, we had a lot of bad luck with injuries and depth, and we’ve fixed that issue.

improve on.

COACHES CORNER / ADAM BOLDISTON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? We want to be challenging up towards the top of the ladder. The club’s got a proud history of being right in the mix in finals.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

Versatility and also unknown quantities. We’ve got very versatile players who can play two or three positions this year. We’re a little bit unpredictable in the fact that

COACHES CORNER / BROOKE PRICE

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

Finals is always a good goal at the start of the year and then if you can get that far, anything can happen.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

There’s a lot of improvement from the younger girls to come and also having that experience there will help. Work ethic from the squad has been really impressive. Where can this team improve the most?

NICKNAME: GRASSHOPPERS HOME GROUND: COLBINABBIN RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: THIRD (12–4) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: PREMIER (18–0)

Where can this team improve the most?

We don’t ever want to be seen as predictable, so I guess we’ll just keep looking at different things that we can tweak. You can always get better.

NICKNAME: BLOODS HOME GROUND: ELMORE RECREATION RESERVE 2025 FINISH: SEVENTH (4–12) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: FOURTH (9–1–7)

we’ve recruited some new players.

Where can this team improve the most?

The thing that we’re going to need to obviously develop is our connections on court as a new group.

INS: Mychael Baker (Bridgewater), Xavier Coghill (Kangaroo Flat), Bailey Hall (Dunolly), Matthew Cox (Campbells Creek), Matt Filo (Castlemaine), Ashton Sinn (North Ringwood), Matt Gilmour

OUTS: Nathan Kay (South Bendigo), Phil Smith (Surf Coast Suns), Liam Bianco (Boort)

So far in pre-season there’s some really good patches, but just getting that consistency over four quarters as a group would be the main thing.

Jack Hebbard (Aberfeldie)

OUTS: Harley Burmeister-Lyons (Bayside), Connor Hamilton (Sunbury Kangaroos), Aaron Gundry (overseas)

HUNTLY

COACHES CORNER / HAMISH MORCOM

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The big thing that we looked at was adding a bit of top end talent and experience to our group.

We’ve been able to cover up a few of our deficiencies.

What will supporters notice about this team?

How fit we are from the amount of work we’ve put in throughout the preseason.

Hopefully, we’re the sort of team that can run for a full four quarters.

LBU

COACHES CORNER / JAYDEN HOWE

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

The biggest focus that Lockington will have this year is getting into finals.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Structure across the ground.

A cohesive team that knows what they’re trying to achieve and they’re going to live by the sword or die by the sword type style of football.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our kids. I think that’s one thing we really need to hang

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our depth this year.

The way we’re going to be able to spread the load among the players is going to be a big stand out for us. What still needs the most work?

A bit of our ball use, continuing to work on the fundamental skill components.

Our usage by foot’s going to be really important across the year.

What does success look like for this group in 2026? Trying to make it in the top

three, but that’s going to be an outcome of the work that we put in.

COACHES CORNER / ASHLEY SHERLOCK

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

To develop our team a bit more because now we will have been together for a couple of years and give some of our girls a chance to play A-grade as well.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad? How hard they train. All the girls are really fit and everyone gets along really well.

We have lots of social events that everyone comes to as well so we’re getting to be a tight-knit group.

Where can this team improve the most?

Because we were another new team last year, our connections can only keep getting stronger, and the longer you stay together, the better your team is.

OUTS: Harry McCormick (North Bendigo), Max Edwards

our hat on. We’ve got a lot of really good talented youth. What still needs the most work?

When you’ve got young kids the area to develop is trying to either recruit or get young kids to become leaders, so you either recruit leaders or you try and turn young kids into leaders.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We want to play consistent football. We want to play four quarters of football. We want to play hard football, and we want to play finals.

LEITCH-GUN

COACHES CORNER / JOEL DONEHUE

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Going deeper into finals after bowing out in the first round last year. That’s what the boys want to do, and challenge those top sides.

What will supporters notice about this team?

Our game style will be a bit more free flowing compared to last year.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Last year we were a pretty small midfield so we recruited

some bigger blokes to run through there and probably not get knocked off the ball as much and be a bit stronger. What still needs the most work?

It’s just more our midfield, but I think we’re pretty strong everywhere else. It’s probably all jelling together.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

Pushing these top sides like North Bendigo, Colbo, Mount Pleasant, that’s our goal. When we play them we’re going to really rip it up them.

COACHES CORNER / STACY BACON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

To be consistent and competitive across the board, and to come together as a side. What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

I would say they’re just a great group of girls, the vibes are really high. They’re going to play for each other. Where can this team improve the most?

Probably just more consistency in our approach to each game. Being able to come out and give everything for those four quarters

INS: Marcus Angove (Eaglehawk), Nick Smart (Kyabram), Tyson McCoomb (Avenel), Dylan Dos Santos (Wanderers — NT), Cooper Mitchell (Watsonia), Nathan Neville (Mathoura), Paul Van der Sluys (Moama), Jacob Gardener, Gav Broad, Mitch Jones

OUTS: Matt Butler (Stanhope), Elijah Bruns, Jack Reiter (Echuca United), Jordan Dalziel, Matt Hore (Picola United)

COACHES

CORNER / KATIE POLLOCK

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

First thing is connections, just girls wanting to connect with other girls and create a really good team culture.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We have girls that are new to the club and new to this league, so other teams might be a bit unsure about what they’re coming up against, which will be useful for us.

Where can this team improve the most?

Our aim is to improve by winning more games and keeping a solid team. Last year we struggled for numbers.

MOUNT PLEASANT

COACHES CORNER / CAM CARTER

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Just consistency. We’ve had a little bit of a turnover in players, we’ve lost a few who played in the grand final last year, a little bit of depth, but we think we’ve brought some good ones in.

What will supporters notice about this team?

I think personnel wise, we’re a little bit taller, and probably a little bit quicker maybe across the board. I think our fitness is pretty good, we’ve brought some good runners in.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Hopefully resilience. We’re going to get tested each and every week, it’s a pretty good comp.

What still needs the most work?

That ability to come to play each and every week. Obviously we’ve become the hunted again, and with that, every week, it doesn’t matter who you play, what position they are on the ladder, they all set themselves up to beat you.

What does success look like for this group in 2026? They’re hard to win, they’re

really, really hard to win premierships. It’s even harder to win multiple premierships. We’d love to be top three.

COACHES CORNER / ANTHEA MCCLEARY

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026? We want to make the grand final. We know the competition hasn’t got any easier, but we’re looking to try and win a premiership.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve brought in some more knowledge, some more

NORTH BENDIGO

COACHES CORNER / ROB BENNETT

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026? We want to go one step further than last year, changing the way we want to defend, but also the way we want to attack.

What will supporters notice about this team?

A little bit more speed on the ball and that’s with a bit of change to the playing group but also the way we want to attack with the footy.

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

Our depth, we don’t rely on just two or three guys to get the job done. We rely on anywhere from 22 to 30 players that we think can play senior footy.

What still needs the most work?

We’ve changed our training a little bit.

We just want to strengthen the way we defend when we haven’t got the footy.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

We just want to put ourselves in a position to challenge again, like we have done the last couple of years.

WHITE HILLS

COACHES

CORNER / BRAD MCCONNELL

What’s the biggest focus for your group in 2026?

Really trying to put four quarters together.

It’s a young list, they’re a good side, but they’ve just got to be better for longer.

What will supporters notice about this team?

It was a really solid preseason. The guys have worked hard six weeks pre-Christmas, and came back post-Christmas and were all really looking pretty fit.

depth. I’m hoping that will push us a bit further come September. Where can this team improve the most? We have brought in Kelsey Meade, who is really skilful, knowledgeable. I’m hoping that will push us a little bit further this year with her accuracy. That was an issue for us at times last year.

INS: Alex Wharton, Joel Wharton

Playing finals is our number one aim, and we’ll see what happens from there.

COACHES CORNER / KIRALEE KINDER

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We’ve been struck with injuries over the last two years, which has halted our plans, so trying to come together and get some success on the board.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

I’ve got a few new inclusions and they’re really versatile within their positions.

They can goal and defend and my midcourt’s extremely versatile as well. Where can this team improve the most?

It’s hurt our confidence knowing that we don’t have our strongest squad so building and finding that confidence and keeping it.

HOME GROUND: NORTH BENDIGO OVAL

SIXTH (7–1–8)

What’s your side’s greatest strength?

We’ll have our own expectations, but outside there’s not much expectation. I want these guys to have that self-belief and I think they’ve got that this year.

What still needs the most work?

What kills you in football is turnovers so if we can clean up our skills a bit.

We have to get better in game at keeping possession.

What does success look like for this group in 2026?

It’s a young list, so we’re all about developing some

of our youngsters and where that gets us on the ladder, whatever will be, will be.

COACHES CORNER / ELLEY LAWTON

What’s the main goal for this side in 2026?

We’d really like to push further than how we finished our 2025 season.

We’d love to see White Hills in a grand final.

What’s the biggest strength of this squad?

We’ve had new recruits in the mid court and have a

HOME GROUND: WHITE HILLS RECREATION RESERVE

FINISH: NINTH (2–14) NETBALL 2025 FINISH: SECOND (12–4))

strong attacking end so looking forward to see what they can do when they combine.

Where can this team improve the most?

Being able to play and settle as a team.

If we can have a consistent year, no injuries and be able to play as one.

Official Fixture Season 2026

ROUND 1

April 11

LBU v North Bendigo (N)

Elmore v Colbinabbin (N)

White Hills v Huntly (N)

Leitch-Gun v Mount Pleasant (G)

Bye: Heathcote

ROUND 2

April 18

Heathcote v Leitch-Gun

Mount Pleasant v Huntly

White Hills v LBU (N)

North Bendigo v Colbinabbin

Bye: Elmore

ROUND 3

April 26

Huntly v Heathcote

LBU v Mount Pleasant

Colbinabbin v White Hills

Elmore v North Bendigo

Bye: Leitch-Gun

ROUND 4

May 2

Heathcote v LBU

Mount Pleasant v Colbinabbin

White Hills v Elmore

Leitch-Gun v Huntly (G)

Bye: North Bendigo

ROUND 5

May 9

Colbinabbin v Heathcote

Elmore v Mount Plesant

North Bendigo v White Hills

LBU v Leitch-Gun

Bye: Huntly

ROUND 6

May 16

Heathcote v Elmore

Mount Plesant v North Bendigo

Leitch-Gun v Colbinabbin (G)

Huntly v LBU

Bye: White Hills

ROUND 7

May 23

North Bendigo v Heathcote

White Hills v Mount Plesant

Elmore v Leitch-Gun

Colbinabbin v Huntly

Bye: LBU

ROUND 8

May 30

Heathcote v White Hills

Leitch-Gun v North Bendigo (G)

Huntly v Elmore

LBU v Colbinabbin

Bye: Mount Pleasant

ROUND 9

June 6

Mount Plesant v Heathcote

White HIlls v Leitch-Gun

North Bendigo v Huntly

Elmore v LBU

Bye: Colbinabbin

ROUND 10

June 13

Huntly v White Hills

Mount Plesant v Leitch-Gun

North Bendigo v LBU

Colbinabbin v Elmore

Bye: Heathcote

ROUND 11

June 20

Leitch-Gunv Heathcote (L)

Huntly v Mount Pleasant

LBU v White Hills

Colbinabbin v North Bendigo

Bye: Elmore

ROUND 12

June 27

Heathcote v Huntly

Mount Pleasant v LBU

White Hills v Colbinabbin

North Bendigo v Elmore

Bye: Leitch-Gun

ROUND 13

July 4

LBU v Heathcote

Colbinabbin v Mount Pleasant

Elmore v White Hills

Huntly v Leitch-Gun

Bye: North Bendigo

ROUND 14

July 11

Mount Pleasant v Elmore

Heathcote v Colbinabbin

White HIlls v North Bendigo

Leitch-Gunv LBU (L)

Bye: Huntly

ROUND 15

July 18

Elmore v Heathcote

North Bendigo v Mount Pleasant

Colbinabbin v Leitch-Gun

LBU v Huntly

Bye: White Hills

ROUND 16

July 25

Heathcote v North Bendigo

Mount Pleasant v White Hills

Leitch-Gunv Elmore (L)

Huntly v Colbinabbin

Bye: LBU

ROUND 17

August 1

White Hills v Heathcote

North Bendigo v Leitch-Gun

Elmore v Huntly

Colbinabbin v LBU

Bye: Mount Pleasant

ROUND 18

August 8

Leitch-Gun v White Hills (L)

Heathcote v Mount Pleasant

Huntly v North Bendigo

LBU v Elmore

Bye: Colbinabbin

LEGEND

(N) Night Game

(L) Leitchville

(G) Gunbower

LBU Lockington Bamawm United

FINALS

Elimination Finals: August 15 & 16

Qualifying Finals: August 22 & 23

Semi Finals: August 29 & 30

Preliminary Finals: September 5 & 6

Grand Final: September 12

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