BFNL confirm 2026 Fixture

The Bendigo Football Netball League (BFNL) have finalised the 2026 fixture with the season set to commence on 28 March as BFNL newcomers, Broadford FNC host South Bendigo FNC in a standalone feature matchup. While BFNL Grand Final day is scheduled for Saturday 19 September 2026. 

The 2026 BFNL Fixture is headlined by: 

• 2026 SEASON LAUNCH | The 2026 BFNL season begins on Saturday 28 March with Broadford hosting South Bendigo in their first game as a member of the BFNL and the Clubs return to competitive football after two seasons in recess. 
• EASTER WEEKEND | A blockbuster Round 1 across two days of the Easter long-weekend features four mouth-watering matches: 
  • After three thrilling Senior Football matches in 2025, South Bendigo head to Tannery Lane as Strathfieldsaye begin a new coaching era on Good Friday. 
  • Netball powerhouses Gisborne & Kangaroo Flat re-ignite their rivalry at Gardiner Reserve on Good Friday. 
  • Castlemaine kick off their 2026 campaign by hosting Golden Square on Good Friday at Camp Reserve. 
  • A blockbuster 2025 Senior Football Grand Final re-match between Eaglehawk & Sandhurst will be the standalone fixture on Easter Saturday.  
• ROUND 4 | The 4th Round of our 2026 season will be played over two weekends – 25 April and 2 May - and will feature two marquee Rounds: 
  • ANZAC DAY | 2026 sees a repeat of our 2025 ANZAC Day matchup with South Bendigo hosting Eaglehawk at the QEO in what is one of the most anticipated days of the BFNL calendar.  
  • PAT CRONIN FOUNDATION ROUND (PCF) | The BFNL will again support the PCF in their fight to end the coward punch by hosting a PCF Round in Round 4 on 2 May. Three matches are scheduled for the day including Strathfieldsaye v Castlemaine & Sandhurst v Golden Square, while Kangaroo Flat v Broadford will be the PCF feature match for 2026. 
• GRAEME WRIGHT MEMORIAL CUP | South Bendigo will host Sandhurst at Harry Trott for the annual Graeme Wright Memorial Cup during Round 6 on 16 May. 
• INTERLEAGUE | The BFNL will host the Ovens & Murray FNL on Saturday 23 May for a day of highly anticipated representative football & netball including: 
  • A Senior Interleague match with two handpicked teams of the best talent available. 
  • An Under 18’s football match giving the best up and coming talent an opportunity to play on the big stage. 
  • An Open netball clash showcasing the very best of the BFNL netball 
  • A 17 & Under netball clash as part of the existing representative netball schedule.  
  • The exciting addition of 15 & Under netball to our representative ranks. 
• BFNL INDIGENOUS ROUND | In partnership with traditional owners of djandak (Country) in Central Victoria, Djaara (Dja Dja Wurrung People), BFNL Indigenous Round returns in Round 7 on 30 May. The Indigenous Round feature match for 2026 will be played at Wade Street as the Bulldogs host South Bendigo.  
• KINGS BIRTHDAY | The BFNL rolls on through the King’s Birthday long weekend with four fantastic matchups in Round 8 on 6 June. 
• GENERAL BYE | The BFNL will pause for a league-wide General Bye for the middle weekend of the July school holidays on 4 July. 
• RON BEST MEMORIAL |The annual clash between Golden Square and Sandhurst that honours a BFNL great will take place in Round 13 on 18 July at Wade Street. 
• BENDIGO HEALTH FOUNDATION ROUND | In 2026 the BFNL welcome a new partnership with the Bendigo Health Foundation. As part of this partnership, Round 16 will celebrate the ‘Fluoro for Neuro’ campaign that raises vital funds for treatment, recovery, and care innovations for several neurological disorders. South Bendigo v Golden Square will be the feature match for our first Bendigo Health Foundation Round. 
• FINALS SERIES | A much-anticipated Finals Series starts on 29 & 30 August with our Qualifying and Elimination Finals and continues with the Semi-Finals on 5 & 6 September and Preliminary Finals on 12 September. 
• BFNL GRAND FINAL DAY | We close the 2026 season on Saturday 19 September. 

Clubs can continue to negotiate changes to start times into the new year, with any further changes to be announced and captured online. The BFNL maintain the right to amend any fixtures. 

2026 fixtures will be uploaded to PlayHQ and Netball Connect in due course.