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 vs Richmond (La Trobe University Sports Park, 6:30pm)
Wednesday, February 18
Carlton vs Coburg (IKON Park, 6:30pm)
Thursday, February 19
Footscray Bulldogs vs Sandringham (Mission Whitten Oval, 5:00pm)
Friday, February 20
Essendon vs Richmond (NEC Hangar, 1:05pm)
Casey Demons vs North Melbourne (Casey Fields, 2:30pm)
St Kilda vs Port Melbourne (RSEA Park, 5:30pm)
Saturday, February 21
Williamstown vs Frankston (La Trobe University Sports Park, 12:30pm)
Wednesday, February 25
Carlton vs Geelong Cats (IKON Park, 2:00pm)
Thursday, February 26
Brisbane Lions vs Gold Coast Suns (Brighton Homes Arena, 10:30am)
Sydney Swans vs GWS Giants (Henson Park, 7:30pm)
Friday, February 27
Footscray Bulldogs vs Box Hill Hawks (Mission Whiten Oval, 4:10pm)
North Melbourne vs Coburg (Arden Street Oval, 5:30pm)
Saturday, February 28
Coburg vs Sandringham (Highgate Recreation Reserve, 10:00am)
Casey Demons vs Richmond (Casey Fields, 11:00am)
Werribee vs Frankston (Highgate Recreation Reserve, 12:45pm)
Williamstown vs Port Melbourne (Highgate Recreation Reserve, 3:30pm)
Sunday, March 1
North Melbourne vs Collingwood (Arden Street Oval, 10:00am)
Essendon vs St Kilda (NEC Hangar, 11:00am)
Friday, March 6
Gold Coast Suns vs Southport Sharks (People First Stadium, 3:00pm)
Carlton vs Footscray Bulldogs (IKON Park, 5:00pm)
Sydney Swans vs North Shore Bombers (Tramway Oval, 5:00pm)
Saturday, March 7
Brisbane Lions vs Aspley (Graham Road Oval, 10:00am)
St Kilda vs Williamstown (RSEA Park, 10:30am)
Casey Demons vs Box Hill Hawks (Casey Fields, 11:00am)
Frankston vs Sandringham (Belvedere Reserve, 12:00pm)
North Melbourne vs Geelong Cats (Arden Street Oval, 12:00pm)
Werribee vs Tasmania (RMIT Bundoora, 2:10pm)
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
Footscray Bulldogs vs Werribee (Mission Whitten Oval, 10:00am)
Brisbane Lions vs Southport Sharks (Brighton Homes Arena, 11:00am)
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)
