THE 2026 Talent League postseason is set to get underway this weekend, starting with a jam-packed Wildcard Round. The 13 competing teams have been split into Metro and Country conferences for the Wildcard and Quarter Final fixtures, before crossing over for the Preliminary Final stage.

>> SCROLL to see the final ladder & fixtures

Tasmania has been allocated to the Country pool, meaning the conference’s top-ranked team (Dandenong Stingrays) gains automatic finals entry. Wildcard Round will determine the remaining seven finalists, made up of six victors and the highest-ranked loser from the Metro pool.

Northern Knights secured the minor premiership this year and will have the unique advantage of hosting Wildcard weekend in a triple-header at Preston City Oval. Country sides will battle it out at La Trobe University on the Saturday, while Tasmania takes on Bendigo in a standalone game on home turf.

The Talent League finals series gets underway on the weekend of September 5-6, with a quartet of Quarter Finals. Then come the Preliminary finals on September 12 and/or 13, followed by the decider – locked in for Saturday September 19. All finals venues and times are to be confirmed.

FINAL LADDER ORDER

OVERALL:

1. Northern Knights
2. Western Jets
3. Dandenong Stingrays
4. Gippsland Power
5. Calder Cannons
6. Sandringham Dragons
7. Oakleigh Chargers
8. Tasmania Devils
9. Eastern Ranges
10. GWV Rebels
11. Geelong Falcons
12. Bendigo Pioneers
13. Murray Bushrangers

COUNTRY CONFRENCE:

1. Dandenong Stingrays (automatic finals entry)
2. Gippsland Power
3. Tasmania Devils
4. GWV Rebels
5. Geelong Falcons
6. Bendigo Pioneers
7. Murray Bushrangers

METRO CONFRENCE:

1. Northern Knights
2. Western Jets
3. Calder Cannons
4. Sandringham Dragons
5. Oakleigh Chargers
6. Eastern Ranges

WILDCARD ROUND FIXTURE

Gippsland Power (2nd C) vs. Murray Bushrangers (7th C)
Saturday August 29, 11:45am @ La Trobe University

GWV Rebels (4th C) vs. Geelong Falcons (5th C)
Saturday August 29, 2:15pm @ La Trobe University

Northern Knights (1st M) vs. Eastern Ranges (6th M)
Sunday August 30, 10:00am @ Preston City Oval

Western Jets (2nd M) vs. Oakleigh Chargers (5th M)
Sunday August 30, 12:30pm @ Preston City Oval

Tasmania Devils (3rd C) vs. Bendigo Pioneers (6th C)
Sunday August 30, 1:10pm @ KGV Oval

Calder Cannons (3rd M) vs. Sandringham Dragons (4th M)
Sunday August 30, 3:00pm @ Preston City Oval

Bye: Dandenong Stingrays (1st C)

FINALS STRUCTURE

WC = Wildcard | QF = Quarter Final | PF = Preliminary Final

QUARTER FINALS:
Saturday September 5 and/or Sunday September 6

QF 1: Highest ranked Metro WC winner vs. Highest ranked Metro WC loser
QF 2: Second ranked Metro WC winner vs. Third ranked Metro WC winner
QF 3: Dandenong Stingrays vs. Third ranked Country WC winner
QF 4: Highest ranked Country WC winner vs. Second ranked Country WC winner

PRELIMINARY FINALS:
Saturday September 12 and/or Sunday September 13

PF 1: QF 1 winner vs. QF 4 winner
PF 2: QF 2 winner vs. QF 3 winner

GRAND FINAL:
Saturday September 19