See the 2026 Smithy's VFL practice matches schedule.
The action commences on Friday, February 13 when Coburg and Richmond clash under lights at La Trobe Sports Park in Bundoora.
The highlight of the practice match schedule will be the annual Smithy’s VFL Standalone Practice Match Carnival, which will be held at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Saturday, February 28.
The triple header will commence with a clash between Coburg and Sandringham at 10:00am. Werribee and Frankston clash at 12:45pm, before fierce rivals Williamstown and Port Melbourne round out the action from 3:30pm.
Club memberships for the 2026 season will be on sale, along with merchandise to help supporters get decked out for the upcoming campaign. A range of food and beverage offerings will also be available.
Entry is free to all VFL practice matches unless a match is a curtain raiser to an AAMI Community Series or Toyota AFL Premiership Season match, where standard AFL ticketing prices apply.
Continue below for the full practice match schedule. Additional matches will be added as details are confirmed.
Friday, February 13
Coburg 6.12 (48) def by Richmond 7.10 (52) at La Trobe University Sports Park
Wednesday, February 18
Carlton 7.14 (56) def Coburg 7.8 (50) at IKON Park
Thursday, February 19
Footscray Bulldogs 13.9 (87) def Sandringham 8.11 (59) at Mission Whitten Oval
Friday, February 20
Essendon 18.13 (121) def Richmond 8.7 (55) at NEC Hangar
St Kilda 6.7 (43) def by Port Melbourne 19.10 (124) at RSEA Park
Casey Demons 11.11 (77) def by North Melbourne 11.12 (78) at Casey Fields
Saturday, February 21
Williamstown 17.11 (113) def Frankston 6.5 (41) at La Trobe University Sports Park
Wednesday, February 25
Carlton 13.4 (82) def Geelong Cats 13.3 (81) at IKON Park
Thursday, February 26
Brisbane Lions 12.6 (78) def Gold Coast Suns 11.8 (74) at Brighton Homes Arena
Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants at Henson Park (match abandoned due to weather)
Friday, February 27
Footscray Bulldogs 10.11 (71) def by Box Hill Hawks 11.7 (73) at Mission Whiten Oval
North Melbourne 7.9 (51) def by Coburg 9.20 (74) at Arden Street Oval
Saturday, February 28
Coburg 12. (84) def Sandringham 6.8 (44) at Highgate Recreation Reserve
Casey Demons 5.4 (34) def by Richmond 12.12 (84) at Casey Fields
Werribee 17.10 (112) def Frankston 6.9 (45) at Highgate Recreation Reserve
Williamstown 14.6 (90) def Port Melbourne 10.7 (67) at Highgate Recreation Reserve
Sunday, March 1
North Melbourne 11.8 (74) def by Collingwood 15.14 (104) at Arden Street Oval
Essendon 10.6 (66) def by St Kilda 16.11 (107) at NEC Hangar
Friday, March 6
Gold Coast Suns 13.8 (86) def Southport Sharks 7.3 (45) at Austworld Centre Oval
Carlton 6.22 (58) def by Footscray Bulldogs 12.7 (79) at IKON Park
Sydney Swans 15.16 (106) def North Shore Bombers 1.3 (9) at Tramway Oval
Saturday, March 7
Brisbane Lions vs Aspley (Graham Road Oval, 10:00am)
Essendon 8.3 (51) def by Port Melbourne 12.8 (80) at NEC Hangar
St Kilda 11.10 (76) def by Williamstown 11.14 (80) at RSEA Park
Casey Demons 13.12 (90) def by Box Hill Hawks 14.14 (98) at Casey Fields
Frankston 13.9 (87) def by Sandringham 13.11 (89) at Belvedere Reserve
North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats (Arden Street Oval, 12:00pm)
Werribee 14.8 (92) def Tasmania 10.12 (72) at RMIT Bundoora
Glenelg 9.10 (64) def by Coburg 11.9 (75) at West Gambier Football Oval
Thursday, March 12
Carlton vs Richmond (IKON Park, 1:00pm)
Friday, March 13
Box Hill Hawks vs Port Melbourne (Kennedy Community Centre, 4:30pm)
Saturday, March 14
GWS Giants vs Sydney Swans (Tom Wills Oval, 9:30am)
Footscray Bulldogs vs Werribee (Mission Whitten Oval, 10:00am)
Geelong Cats vs Collingwood (Deakin University, 11:00am)
North Melbourne vs Essendon (Arden Street Oval, 2:00pm)
Sunday, March 15
St Kilda vs Casey Demons (RSEA Park, 10:00am)
Gold Coast Suns vs Palm Beach (People First Stadium, 1:30pm)
(all times local)
