AFL Barwon has today confirmed the key season dates for its 2026 football and netball competitions, providing clarity for players, families, clubs and supporters as planning begins for the year ahead.

The 2026 season will again deliver a full and diverse program across senior, junior and All Abilities competitions, with fixtures structured to support participation, development and community engagement across the Barwon region.

Below is an overview of the confirmed season dates for each competition.

Senior Female Football

• Season Start: 17–19 April
• Byes: 3–5 July
• Grand Final: 30 August
  *Note: Exact start dates are determined by day of play and are subject to change.

All Abilities Netball

• Season Start: 21 April
• Byes: 9 June & 7 July
• Grand Final: 18 August
  *Note: Matches will be played on Tuesday evenings in 2026.

Under 18 Male Football

• Season Start: 25–26 April
• Bye: 4 July
• Grand Finals:
• Division 3 & 4 – 12 September
• Division 2 – 19 September
• Division 1 – 25 September
  *Note: Grand Final dates align with the GFNL (Division 1), BFNL (Division 2) and GDFNL (Division 3 & 4).

Under 14 & Under 17 Junior Female Football

• Season Start: 26 April
• Bye: 5 July
• Grand Final: 30 August
  *Note: Dates are based on Sunday matches for 2026.

Under 14 & Under 16 Junior Male Football

• Season Start: 25–26 April
• Byes: 4–5 July
• Grand Finals: 5–6 September
  *Note: Under 16 matches will be played on Saturdays and Under 14 matches on Sundays in 2026. ANZAC Day fixtures will commence after 10.00am.

13 & Under, 15 & Under and 17 & Under Friday Night Netball

• Season Start: 24 April
• Byes: 12 June & 3 July
• Grand Final: 11 September
  *Note: Matches will be played on Friday evenings in 2026.

Under 9, Under 10 & Under 12 Junior Male & Mixed Football

• Season Start: 24–25 April
• Byes: 3–4 July
• Last Round: 14–15 August
  *Note: Matches will be played across Friday nights and Saturday mornings in 2026.

Under 9, Under 10 & Under 12 Junior Female Football

• Season Start: 26 April
• Bye: 5 July
• Last Round: 16 August
  *Note: Dates are based on Sunday matches for 2026.

9 & Under and 11 & Under Tuesday Night Netball

• Season Start: 21 April
• Byes: 9 June & 7 July
• Party Round: 23 August
  *Note: Matches will be played on Tuesday evenings in 2026. Party Round applies to 11 & Under only.

AFL Barwon looks forward to another exciting season of football and netball in 2026 and thanks the community for its continued support. Further fixture details will be released closer to the season.

AFL Barwon has confirmed an update to the Female Football age group structure across the Barwon region, which will take effect from the commencement of the 2026 season.

From 2026, the current Under 16 Girls and Under 18 Girls competitions will transition to a single Under 17 Girls age group within AFL Barwon competitions.

The change aligns with AFL Victoria participation pathways and is intended to support appropriate player development, improve retention through key teenage years, and ensure competitive balance and player safety as girls progress through junior football. The adjustment also reflects feedback received through AFL Barwon’s recent Female Football consultation, which identified ongoing challenges within the older junior age groups.

This will be the only junior girls age group change implemented for the 2026 season. All other junior football age groups within AFL Barwon will remain unchanged.

AFL Barwon will continue to work with affiliated leagues and clubs to determine appropriate competition structures based on participation numbers and regional considerations.

Further information regarding player eligibility and competition formats will be communicated closer to the 2026 season in accordance with AFL Victoria regulations.

From 10 December 2025, new Australian regulations require major social media platforms to prevent users under 16 from opening or maintaining accounts. These changes apply to popular platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), Reddit, Threads, Twitch and others.

While these rules are directed at the platforms themselves, they will have flow-on effects for how community sporting organisations — including AFL Barwon clubs — communicate with junior players and families.

What’s Changing?

Under the new laws introduced by the Australian Government, social media companies will be responsible for ensuring children under 16 do not have active accounts. Importantly:

• Clubs, coaches, volunteers, parents or carers will not be penalised if a young person has previously held or used an account.

• Young people under 16 will still be able to view public content on most platforms, even without logging in.

• These changes do not alter existing child safeguarding or communication policies required by sporting organisations.

Why It Matters for AFL Barwon Clubs

Many clubs rely on social media as a primary communication tool for updates, events, team announcements, training changes and general club news. With some junior players no longer able to access platforms directly, clubs may need to reconsider how key information is delivered.

The new regulations may impact:

• Junior communication channels, especially where teams have relied on Facebook or Instagram groups.

• How clubs distribute news and event information to ensure all families, including those with children under 16, remain informed.

• Volunteer-run accounts, which must continue to be managed by individuals aged 16 and over.

Clubs may need to consider supplementary communication methods such as email newsletters, member portals, SMS tools, or parent-managed messaging groups.

What Clubs Can Do Now

AFL Barwon encourages all clubs to take proactive steps as the changes come into effect:

• Review how your club currently communicates with junior players and families.

• Identify any teams or age groups likely to be affected.

• Ensure all club information remains accessible through channels that do not require under-16s to log in.

• Update internal policies and team-manager guidance to reflect the new environment.

• Clearly communicate any changes to parents, carers, coaches and volunteers to ensure smooth transitions.

• Share links to resources provided by the eSafety Commissioner to help families understand the changes and manage their child’s online activity.

Supporting Safe and Inclusive Participation

These new rules are designed to provide greater protection for young people online, helping minimise exposure to harmful content, online abuse or unsafe interactions. For AFL Barwon, they also reinforce our commitment to fostering safe, child-friendly and inclusive environments across all clubs in our region.

AFL Barwon will continue working with clubs to ensure communication remains clear, accessible and compliant with emerging digital-safety standards.

Read more around the changes from the eSafetyCommissioner

AFL Barwon is pleased to announce the appointment of Megan Love to the AFL Barwon Commission as a Director. Megan has been appointed to fill a casual vacancy on a one-year term, following the departure of former Commissioner Mark Wilkin.

Megan brings a wealth of senior executive experience across sport, major events, and corporate leadership, with a distinguished career spanning people, culture, strategic planning, and organisational transformation.

Currently serving as General Manager – People & Capability at Netball Australia, Megan has been instrumental in shaping high-performance workplace environments and leading national people-focused strategy within one of Australia’s most prominent sporting organisations. 

Alongside her current role, Megan is the Founder of Consulting By Megan, where she provides independent advisory services across culture creation, leadership development, talent strategy, and organisational transformation.

Her previous executive experience includes serving as the Executive General Manager, People, Capability & Development at the Victoria Racing Club, where she oversaw large-scale organisational capability programs and cultural initiatives. Megan has also held senior strategic and cultural leadership roles at ANZ, specialising in transformation, talent, and culture, as well as the position of General Manager – People & Culture at Marvel Stadium, contributing to one of Australia’s most recognisable sporting and events precincts.

AFL Barwon Chair and Commissioners welcome Megan’s appointment and look forward to the experience she will bring to the organisation.

Megan will commence her role on the Commission immediately.