Senior fixture for 2026 released
THE fixture for the 2026 AFL North West NSW senior competition has been finalised to begin the countdown until the season begins.
When the first bounce of the season takes place on April 11, the AFL North West will definitely have five clubs fielding both a men’s and women’s team.
AFL Northern NSW Community Football & Competition Manager Brad Greenshields said the 2026 season promises to be a great one for both the men’s and women’s competitions.
“The season starts with a replay of the men’s grand final between the Tamworth Swans and Inverell and then the highlights throughout the season will continue to come,” Greenshields said.
“The standard of football played in the AFL North West has improved each year and I’ve no doubt it will again next season.”
“Of course a major highlight this year will be the representative football matches being played in Port Macquarie on July 18.”
Other highlights of the upcoming 2025 season are:
- Increased sponsorship of the League will see the men’s competition being called the Regional Australia Bank Cup;
- The New England’s Nomads women’s team will be playing its home games under the new Bellevue Oval lights with matches starting at 4.20pm after the men have played;
- Indigenous Rounds being played in May across Rounds 5 & 6;
- Pride Round being played on June 28 which is International LGBTQI+ PrideDay;
- A replay of the women’s Grand Final between Inverell and Gunnedah will be played in Round 3.
The 2026 fixture has been loaded into PlayHQ and can be found under the Fixtures & Results tab in the Menu of the AFL North West’s website.
The program for the Junior Gala Days has also been finalised.
Junior matches in 2026 will be played on:
- Sunday, May 3 at Gunnedah
- Sunday, May 24 at Glen Innes
- Sunday, June 14 at Tamworth
- Sunday, June 28 at Inverell
- Sunday, July 26 at Tamworth
- Sunday, August 16 at Armidale
- Sunday, August 23 – Grand Finals (Venue TBC)
