Nfnl: Football Ready To Go For 2026 with Good Friday blockbusters
March 31, 2026 ET — Clubs across the region are finalising preparations as the Northern Football Netball League season edges to kickoff, with nfnl eyes fixed on two Good Friday blockbusters. Four days remain until the season starts, with Eltham meeting Greensborough and Reservoir meeting Lalor in standalone fixtures, and many clubs wrapping final practice matches. The drumbeat to round one is building as teams sharpen lineups and test recruits across the competition.
Immediate fixtures and form
The opening spotlight falls on the Good Friday standalones: Greensborough host Eltham at War Memorial Park, while Reservoir and Lalor meet in a division 3 standalone clash. The nfnl schedule then sees most other clubs begin the season proper on April 11 and April 12, 2026 ET, following a final wave of practice matches this week. Preparations were visible across the league: South Morang held off West Preston-Lakeside to win by 22 points at Mill Park Lakes Reserve; Mernda swept aside Panton Hill after a recent upset of a higher-division opponent; Laurimar beat Lower Plenty by five points after an under-23 victory over Doncaster and then accounted for Kew Bears at RMIT in their last hit-out.
Whittlesea ran three practice matches in recent weeks against Taylors Lakes, Mitcham and Old Carey, debuting a changed list that included recruit Bailey Robinson from Kinglake. The Eagles went down narrowly to Old Carey by 20 points while their women’s side beat Hillside by five goals as the club prepares to face South Morang and Thomastown in round one. Mernda travel to Epping in round one to contest the Patrick Chow Cup, carrying momentum from consecutive strong displays.
Nfnl practice match roundup
Practice match results painted a mixed picture across clubs as the nfnl countdown continued. Laurimar’s under-23s beat Doncaster before the seniors stunned Lower Plenty by five, signalling confidence ahead of their Watsonia clash in round one. South Morang’s win at Mill Park Lakes Reserve followed a previous hit-out against Surrey Park, while Mernda’s back-to-back strong performances included a come-from-behind victory over a higher-division St Albans side the week prior. Across the board, clubs used final practice matches to trial structures and blood new recruits ahead of the opening rounds.
On the headline Good Friday clash, Greensborough arrive with notable additions and returning faces that aim to lift the Borough’s engine room, while Eltham will lean on established standouts to set the tone. Historical results feed the narrative: their recent meetings have produced tight contests, with Eltham winning one Good Friday encounter by 27 points and Greensborough later returning a 33-point victory in the same season era. Individual names and matchups will be under scrutiny as supporters and clubs gauge readiness for 2026.
Through the final days before kickoff, the nfnl picture will sharpen as clubs confirm selections and last-minute form lines emerge. Expect tight contests in the early rounds as teams convert practice match lessons into competitive starts; the calendar moves quickly from tune-ups to ladder points once the season begins.
What’s next: With four days to go from this March 31, 2026 ET briefing, focus turns to the Good Friday fixtures and the wider launch on April 11 and April 12, 2026 ET when the full nfnl slate begins. Clubs will publish final teams and contest plans in the coming days, setting the stage for the opening-weekend dramas and the first test of preseason preparations.
