A BRIMMING Talent League fixture has been revealed, with the number of landmark events continuing to expand in 2026. Northern Academies will enjoy an extended stay, while the Bachar Houli Foundation makes for an 18th team in the competition, as a grand tour of regional venues rages on. We outline the marquee matches that shape as must-watches for the upcoming season.

>> REVEALED: 2026 Talent League fixtures

THE SEASON-OPENER

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Northern Knights
Round 1 | Saturday March 21, 10:30am @ Highgate Recreation Reserve

The 2026 season gets underway in Craigieburn with a Metro double-header, starting with the clash between Oakleigh and Northern. Both sides were bundled out of the postseason by Sandringham last year, but will be keen to kick off their campaigns on the right foot. After the Chargers and Knights take centre stage, Calder and Western will step up to complete the day’s play.

GRAND FINAL REMATCH

Sandringham Dragons vs. Eastern Ranges
Round 1 | Saturday March 21, 2:30pm @ RSEA Park

Unlike the wait until Round 14 last year, the 2025 finalists will resume hostilities straight off the bat. Eastern will be looking to built on its breakthrough flag boasting several premiership players, while Sandringham will begin the path to rectifying its first Grand Final loss in four years.

COUNTRY TRIPLE-HEADER

Round 4 | Friday April 10 @ Queen Elizabeth Oval
Bendigo Pioneers vs. Gippsland Power (10:00am)
Dandenong Stingrays vs. GWV Rebels (12:30pm)
Geelong Falcons vs. Murray Bushrangers (3:00pm)

As is an annual tradition, all six Country regions will converge on Bendigo during the first block of the season for a massive triple-header. This one is slated for a jam-packed Friday, with the landmark event serving as a key indicator for Vic Country selectors ahead of the Under 18 National Championships.

THE ULTIMATE RIVALRY

Oakleigh Chargers vs. Sandringham Dragons
Round 2 | Saturday March 28, 1:30pm @ RSEA Park
Round 12 | Sunday June 7, 11:00am @ RSEA Park
Round 23 | Saturday August 22, TBC @ Kennedy Community Centre

Local rivals Oakleigh and Sandringham will again play off thrice throughout the home-and-away rounds, helping form the start, middle and end of their respective campaigns. The two fixtures at RSEA Park promise to draw big crowds, with the second being a standalone game in Round 12. Scheduling these two regions to meet in the first block, APS break, and final block allows the best opportunity for top-end talent to be available – which is what often makes this rivalry a true marquee matchup.

NORTHERN ACADEMY TIME

While the Northern Academies have long been part of the Talent League, this year will see their stay extended to seven matches. The Northern Territory Academy is the only outlier, joining for four fixtures. The Lions, Suns, Giants and Swans cohorts will play their first games in Round 2, before eventually bowing out in Round 9 ahead of the Under 18 National Championships.

BACHAR HOULI FOUNDATION DEBUT

The Talent League continues to expand, with the Bachar Houli Foundation set to field a team and become the competition’s 18th side. They are set to play just twice this season, starting out with a clash against the Giants Academy in Blacktown on Anzac Day. Later in the season, a trip to Tasmania will see them take on the Devils on July 5 as part of Round 16.

THE GRAND TOUR

The inclusion of each Northern Academy will see matches played in a total of six states and territories. The Giants Academy is set to bring Talent League footy to Queanbeyan, while several fixtures have been slated for various locations in Sydney and Brisbane. The Suns Academy will host games at Carrara, while the NT Academy welcomes GWV and Western to Darwin. Tasmania will be covered far and wide by the Devils, and the Geelong Falcons hit landmarks like Torquay, Colac, and Leopold this year. Gippsland will venture out to Wonthaggi, while Lavington is on the map again for the clash between Murray and the Giants. Hawthorn’s new Kennedy Community Centre will also become a frequently used venue.

FINALS TIME

The Talent League postseason starts on the weekend of August 29-30 with Wildcard Round. A three-week finals series then picks up the following weekend (September 5-6), with quarter and preliminary finals whittling the competition down to two – who will meet in the Grand Final on September 19/20.

Round 1 – March 21-22
Round 23 – August 22-23
Wildcard Round – August 29-30
Finals – September 5-6, September 12-13
Grand Final – September 19-20

Full fixture: Click here!