FOOTBALL will be played across four states and one territory in the NAB League Boys fixture released earlier this month.

With the four AFL northern academies plus the Northern Territory making guest appearances in the first five rounds, games have been scheduled in NSW, Queensland and the Territory on top of Tasmania Devils’ home matches and those in regional centres across Victoria.

Each of the 13 NAB League teams will play 13 matches across 16 rounds from Saturday, April 2, with the Grand Final scheduled for Saturday, September 17.

A total of 29 venues have been called into play, with several double headers giving NAB League fans and talent scouts plenty of opportunities to see tomorrow’s AFL talent in action.

Regional Victorian venues to be used this year are at Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura, Morwell, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Wangaratta, Waurn Ponds and Wendouree; metro grounds will be in use at Box Hill, Carlton, Craigieburn, Dandenong, Frankston, Moorabbin, Oakleigh, Preston, Sandringham, Seaford, Werribee and Williamstown; and Tasmania will play home games at Hobart, Kingston, Launceston and Penguin.

The Swans and Giants Academies each play four games, with the Swans hosting the Devils at Blacktown and the Giants meeting the Murray Bushrangers at Lavington in Round 2 and both teams flying to Melbourne for the other three.

The Lions and Suns Academies play three times each, twice in Melbourne and once in a double header at Brisbane’s South Pine Sports Complex against the Eastern Ranges and Western Jets respectively, while Northern Territory plays two games in Melbourne and welcomes Geelong Falcons to TIO Stadium in Round 4.

The Academy matches lead in to a community recess period across Rounds 6 and 7, where only four matches are scheduled alongside Young Guns matches and State Academy trials before the National Championships start for Vic Country and Vic Metro in June.

The season kicks off with two double headers at Highgate Recreation Reserve, with Calder and Northern welcoming GWS and Sydney respectively on Saturday, April 2, and Western and Geelong hosting the Lions and Suns on Sunday, April 3.

The rest of the round features derby clashes, with Bendigo playing GWV, Dandenong meeting Eastern and reigning premier Sandringham facing Oakleigh.

Calder Cannons will be looking to make early hay with their first four matches at Highgate before the Championships break, and they have three more late for a competition-high seven games in the comforts of home.

On the other side of the coin, the Western Jets will travel to Queensland, Tasmania, Morwell and Ballarat in the first half of the season before their home grounds at Williamstown and Avalon Airport Ovals become more readily available.

Geelong Falcons will play only one game in their hometown, having opted to play most of their fixtures on AFL-standard grounds, while Oakleigh Chargers only have two at Warrawee Park and Eastern Ranges three at Box Hill City Oval.

Bendigo has six games at QEO plus “home” fixtures in Mildura and Swan Hill; Dandenong has six split between Shepley Oval and Frankston’s Skybus Stadium; Gippsland has five games at Morwell; GWV plays four at Mars Stadium and one at Wendouree; Murray has hosting rights five times split between Shepparton (two), Wangaratta (two) and Lavington; the Northern Knights have five at Preston City Oval; and Sandringham plays four at Moorabbin and two at Trevor Barker Oval but has five of its last six away.

All matches will be played in a COVID safe environment, with protocols in place to protect players, officials, staff and the public at training and matches, and the AFL’s vaccination policy requiring players and officials to be vaccinated is also in place for the NAB League.

Spectators are allowed to attend matches in line with venue and government requirements, and all matches will be streamed live through the NAB League App, presented by Telstra.

Following is the full NAB League Boys fixture, and the breakdowns of who each team will and won’t play in 2022.

Twitter: @BRhodesVFL

Lead Photo: Bendigo's Queen Elizabeth Oval is one of 29 venues in this year's NAB League Boys fixture. Picture: AFL Photos

BENDIGO PIONEERS

Fixture: GWV (H), Geelong (A), Dandenong (N), GWS Academy (N), Gippsland (H), bye, bye, Calder (H), Western (A), Murray (N), Tasmania (H), Geelong (N), Northern (H), bye, Dandenong (A), Murray (H)
Plays Twice: Dandenong, Geelong, Murray
Doesn’t Play: Eastern, Oakleigh, Sandringham

CALDER CANNONS

Fixture: GWS Academy (H), Sandringham (H), Western (H), Oakleigh (H), bye, bye, Northern (A), Bendigo (A), Oakleigh (A), Geelong (N), Eastern (H), Northern (H), bye, Tasmania (A), Murray (A), Eastern (H)
Plays Twice: Eastern, Northern, Oakleigh
Doesn’t Play: Dandenong, Gippsland, GWV

DANDENONG STINGRAYS

Fixture: Eastern (H), Brisbane Lions Academy (N), Bendigo (N), Gippsland (A), Geelong (N), bye, bye, Sandringham (H), GWV (H), Tasmania (A), Oakleigh (A), Murray (H), Eastern (A), bye, Bendigo (H), Gippsland (H)
Plays Twice: Bendigo, Eastern, Gippsland
Doesn’t Play: Calder, Northern, Western

EASTERN RANGES

Fixture: Dandenong (A), Gold Coast Academy (N), Oakleigh (H), Brisbane Lions Academy (A), bye, bye, Sandringham (A), Tasmania (A), bye, Northern (A), Calder (A), Western (A), Dandenong (H), GWV (A), Sandringham (H), Calder (A)
Plays Twice: Calder, Dandenong, Sandringham
Doesn’t Play: Bendigo, Geelong, Gippsland, Murray

GEELONG FALCONS

Fixture: Gold Coast Academy (N), Bendigo (H), GWV (A), Northern Territory (A), Dandenong (N), bye, bye, Oakleigh (N), Gippsland (N), Calder (N), Murray (N), Bendigo (N), Sandringham (A), Western (A), bye, GWV (N)
Plays Twice: Bendigo, GWV
Doesn’t Play: Eastern, Northern, Tasmania

GIPPSLAND POWER

Fixture: Murray (N), Western (H), Sydney Swans Academy (N), Dandenong (H), Bendigo (A), bye, bye, Murray (A), Geelong (N), bye, Sandringham (H), Oakleigh (H), Tasmania (A) Northern (H), GWV (N), Dandenong (A)
Plays Twice: Dandenong, Murray
Doesn’t Play: Calder, Eastern

GWV REBELS

Fixture: Bendigo (A), bye, Geelong (H), Sydney Swans Academy (N), Murray (N), bye, bye, Western (H), Dandenong (A), Oakleigh (H), Northern (A), Sandringham (H), Western (A), Eastern (H), Gippsland (N), Geelong (N)
Plays Twice: Western, Geelong
Doesn’t Play: Calder, Tasmania

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS

Fixture: Gippsland (N), GWS Academy (H), Northern Territory (N), Northern (H), GWV (N), bye, bye, Gippsland (H), Tasmania (N), Bendigo (N), Geelong (N), Dandenong (A), Oakleigh (H), bye, Calder (H), Bendigo (A)
Plays Twice: Bendigo, Gippsland
Doesn’t Play: Eastern, Sandringham, Western

NORTHERN KNIGHTS

Fixture: Sydney Swans Academy (N), Oakleigh (H), Tasmania (A), Murray (A), bye, bye, Calder (H), bye, Sandringham (A), Eastern (H), GWV (H), Calder (A), Bendigo (A), Gippsland (A), Tasmania (H), Western (N)
Plays Twice: Calder, Tasmania
Doesn’t Play: Dandenong, Geelong

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS

Fixture: Sandringham (A), Northern (A), Eastern (A), Calder (A), bye, bye, Tasmania (N), Geelong (N), Calder (H), GWV (A), Dandenong (H), Gippsland (A), Murray (A), bye, Western, Sandringham (N)
Plays Twice: Calder, Sandringham
Doesn’t Play: Bendigo

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS

Fixture: Oakleigh (H), Calder (A), GWS Academy (H), Tasmania (H), bye, bye, Eastern (H), Dandenong (A), Northern (H), Western (A), Gippsland (A), GWV (A), Geelong (H), bye, Eastern (A), Oakleigh (N)
Plays Twice: Eastern, Oakleigh
Doesn’t Play: Bendigo, Murray

TASMANIA DEVILS

Fixture: bye, Sydney Swans Academy (A), Northern (H), Sandringham (A), Northern Territory (N), Western (H), Oakleigh (N), Eastern (H), Murray (N), Dandenong (H), Bendigo (A), bye, Gippsland (H), Calder (H), Northern (A), bye
Plays Twice: Northern
Doesn’t Play: Geelong, GWV

WESTERN JETS

Fixture: Brisbane Lions Academy (N), Gippsland (A), Calder (A), Gold Coast Academy (N), bye, Tasmania (A), bye, GWV (A), Bendigo (H), Sandringham (H), bye, Eastern (H), GWV (H), Geelong (H), Oakleigh (H), Northern (N)
Plays Twice: GWV
Doesn’t Play: Dandenong, Murray

GUEST TEAMS

BRISBANE LIONS ACADEMY: Western (N, Rd1), Dandenong (A, Rd2), Eastern (H, Rd4)

GOLD COAST ACADEMY: Geelong (N, Rd1), Eastern (N, Rd2), Western (N, R4)

GWS ACADEMY: Calder (A, Rd1), Murray (A, Rd2), Sandringham (A, Rd3), Bendigo (N, Rd4)

NORTHERN TERRITORY: Murray (N, Rd3), Geelong (H, Rd4), Tasmania (N, Rd5)

SYDNEY SWANS ACADEMY: Northern (N, Rd1), Tasmania (H, Rd2), Gippsland (N, Rd3), GWV (N, Rd4)

NAB LEAGUE BOYS FIXTURE 2022

LEGEND
AAO: Avalon Airport Oval, Werribee; AGR: Alan Garden Reserve, Swan Hill; BHCO: Box Hill City Oval; BISP: Blacktown International Sports Park; CEB: CE Brown Reserve, Wendouree; DPP: Dial Park, Penguin; DRS: Deakin Reserve, Shepparton; DUG: Deakin University, Waurn Ponds; HRR: Highgate Recreation Reserve, Craigieburn; IKON: Ikon Park, Carlton; LHS: Linen House, Seaford; LSG: Lavington Sports Ground; MARS: Mars Stadium, Ballarat; MRR: Morwell Recreation Reserve; MSP: Mildura Sporting Precinct; NHO: North Hobart Oval; NMO: Norm Minns Oval, Wangaratta; PCO: Preston City Oval; QEO: Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo; RSEA: RSEA Park, Moorabbin; SPSC: South Pine Sports Complex, Brendale, Qld; SSF: Skybus Stadium, Frankston; SOD: Shepley Oval, Dandenong; TBO: Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sandringham; TIO: TIO Stadium, Darwin; TOK: Twin Ovals, Kingston, Tasmania; UTAS: University of Tasmania Stadium, Launceston; WO: Williamstown Oval; WP: Warrawee Park, Oakleigh. 

ROUND 1
Saturday, April 2
Calder Cannons v GWS Academy (HRR, 11.45am)
Bendigo Pioneers v GWV Rebels (QEO, 2pm)
Northern Knights v Sydney Swans Academy (HRR, 2.15pm)
Dandenong Stingrays v Eastern Ranges (SSF, 3pm)
Murray Bushrangers v Gippsland Power (LHS, 3pm)
Sunday, April 3
Western Jets v Brisbane Lions Academy (HRR, 12pm)
Sandringham Dragons v Oakleigh Chargers (RSEA, 1pm)
Geelong Falcons v Gold Coast Academy (HRR, 2.30pm)
Tasmania Devils bye

ROUND 2
Friday, April 8
Murray Bushrangers v GWS Academy (LSG, 6pm)
Saturday, April 9
Sydney Swans Academy v Tasmania Devils (BISP, 1pm)
Geelong Falcons v Bendigo Pioneers (DUG, 1pm)
Calder Cannons v Sandringham Dragons (HRR, 2pm)
Sunday, April 10
Northern Knights v Oakleigh Chargers (PCO, 11.30am)
Dandenong Stingrays v Brisbane Lions Academy (IKON, 12.15pm)
Gippsland Power v Western Jets (MRR, 1pm)
Eastern Ranges v Gold Coast Academy (IKON, 2.45pm)
GWV Rebels bye

ROUND 3
Thursday, April 14
GWV Rebels v Geelong Falcons (CEB, 7pm)
Friday, April 15
Sandringham Dragons v GWS Academy (TBO, 11.45pm)
Tasmania Devils v Northern Knights (DPP, 12.30pm)
Gippsland Power v Sydney Swans Academy (TBO, 2pm)|
Saturday, April 16
Calder Cannons v Western Jets (HRR, 10am)
Murray Bushrangers v Northern Territory (HRR, 12.30pm)
Eastern Ranges v Oakleigh Chargers (BHCO, 2pm)
Sunday, April 17
Bendigo Pioneers v Dandenong Stingrays (HRR, 1pm)

ROUND 4
Saturday, April 23
Sandringham Dragons v Tasmania Devils (RSEA, 12pm)
Murray Bushrangers v Northern Knights (DRS, 1pm)
Gippsland Power v Dandenong Stingrays (MRR, 1pm)
Calder Cannons v Oakleigh Chargers (HRR, 2.30pm)
Sunday, April 24
Northern Territory v Geelong Falcons (TIO, 11am)
Bendigo Pioneers v GWS Academy (HRR, 11.45am)
Brisbane Lions Academy v Eastern Ranges (SPSC, 11.45am)
GWV Rebels v Sydney Swans Academy (HRR, 2.15pm)
Gold Coast Academy v Western Jets (SPSC, 2.15pm)

ROUND 5
Sunday, May 1
Bendigo Pioneers v Gippsland Power (QEO, 9.45am)
Murray Bushrangers v GWV Rebels (QEO, 12.15pm)
Tasmania Devils v Northern Territory (HRR, 1pm)
Geelong Falcons v Dandenong Stingrays (QEO, 2.45pm)
Calder Cannons, Eastern Ranges, Northern Knights, Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons, Western Jets bye

GENERAL BYE
May 8-9

ROUND 6
Saturday, May 14
Tasmania Devils v Western Jets (UTAS, 12pm)
Bendigo Pioneers, Calder Cannons, Dandenong Stingrays, Eastern Ranges, Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, GWV Rebels, Murray Bushrangers, Northern Knights, Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons bye

ROUND 7
Saturday, May 21
Northern Knights v Calder Cannons (PCO, 12pm)
Sunday, May 22
Oakleigh Chargers v Tasmania Devils (TBO, 12pm)
Sandringham Dragons v Eastern Ranges (TBO, 2.30pm)
Bendigo Pioneers, Dandenong Stingrays, Geelong Falcons, Gippsland Power, GWV Rebels, Murray Bushrangers, Western Jets bye

ROUND 8
Friday, May 27
Dandenong Stingrays v Sandringham Dragons (SOD, 7pm)
Saturday, May 28
GWV Rebels v Western Jets (MARS, 11.30am)
Tasmania Devils v Eastern Ranges (UTAS, 12pm)
Geelong Falcons v Oakleigh Chargers (MARS, 2pm)
Sunday, May 29
Bendigo Pioneers v Calder Cannons (AGR, 10.30am)
Murray Bushrangers v Gippsland Power (NMO, 1pm)
Northern Knights bye

ROUND 9
Saturday, June 4
Oakleigh Chargers v Calder Cannons (WP, 10am)
Dandenong Stingrays v GWV Rebels (SOD, 11.30am)
Murray Bushrangers v Tasmania Devils (HRR, 12pm)
Sandringham Dragons v Northern Knights (RSEA, 1pm)
Gippsland Power v Geelong Falcons (SOD, 2pm)
Sunday, June 5
Western Jets v Bendigo Pioneers (AAO, 1pm)
Eastern Ranges bye

GENERAL BYE
June 11-12

ROUND 10
Saturday, June 18
Northern Knights v Eastern Ranges (PCO, 11am)
GWV Rebels v Oakleigh Chargers (MARS, 11.30am)
Tasmania Devils v Dandenong Stingrays (NHO, 12pm)
Geelong Falcons v Calder Cannons (MARS, 2pm)
Sunday, June 19
Bendigo Pioneers v Murray Bushrangers (MSP, 11.30am)
Western Jets v Sandringham Dragons (WO, 1pm)
Gippsland Power bye

ROUND 11
Saturday, June 25
Oakleigh Chargers v Dandenong Stingrays (WP, 10.30am)
Gippsland Power v Sandringham Dragons (MRR, 1pm)
Calder Cannons v Eastern Ranges (HRR, 2.15pm)
Northern Knights v GWV Rebels (PCO, 2.15pm)
Sunday, June 26
Bendigo Pioneers v Tasmania Devils (QEO, 10am)
Geelong Falcons v Murray Bushrangers (AAO, 12.30pm)
Western Jets bye

GENERAL BYE
July 2-3

ROUND 12
Saturday, July 9
Calder Cannons v Northern Knights (HRR, 10.30am)
Gippsland Power v Oakleigh Chargers (MRR, 1pm)
Dandenong Stingrays v Murray Bushrangers (SOD, 2pm)
Sunday, July 10
Western Jets v Eastern Ranges (AAO, 11am)
GWV Rebels v Sandringham Dragons (MARS, 1pm)
Geelong Falcons v Bendigo Pioneers (AAO, 1.30pm)
Tasmania Devils bye

GENERAL BYE
July 16-17

ROUND 13
Saturday, July 23
Eastern Ranges v Dandenong Stingrays (BHCO, 10.30am)
Murray Bushrangers v Oakleigh Chargers (NMO, 1pm)
Sandringham Dragons v Geelong Falcons (RSEA, 1.30pm)
Western Jets v GWV Rebels (WO, 2.15pm)
Sunday, July 24
Tasmania Devils v Gippsland Power (TOK, 10.30am)
Bendigo Pioneers v Northern Knights (QEO, 1pm)
Calder Cannons bye

ROUND 14
Friday, July 29
Western Jets v Geelong Falcons (AAO, 7pm)
Saturday, July 30
Gippsland Power v Northern Knights (MRR, 1pm)
Tasmania Devils v Calder Cannons (TOK, 1pm)
GWV Rebels v Eastern Ranges (MARS, 2pm)
Bendigo Pioneers, Dandenong Stingrays, Murray Bushrangers, Oakleigh Chargers, Sandringham Dragons bye

ROUND 15
Saturday, August 6
Eastern Ranges v Sandringham Dragons (BHCO, 11am)
Northern Knights v Tasmania Devils (PCO, 12pm)
Murray Bushrangers v Calder Cannons (DRS, 1pm)
Western Jets v Oakleigh Chargers (WO, 2.15pm)
Sunday, August 7
Dandenong Stingrays v Bendigo Pioneers (SOD, 11.45am)
Gippsland Power v GWV Rebels (SOD, 2.15pm)
Geelong Falcons bye

ROUND 16
Friday, August 19
Dandenong Stingrays v Gippsland Power (SSF, 7.30pm)
Saturday, August 20
Western Jets v Northern Knights (HRR, 10am)
Calder Cannons v Eastern Ranges (HRR, 12.30pm)
Sandringham Dragons v Oakleigh Chargers (HRR, 3pm)
Sunday, August 21
Bendigo Pioneers v Murray Bushrangers (QEO, 11.30am)
GWV Rebels v Geelong Falcons (QEO, 2pm)

WILDCARD WEEKEND
August 27-28
1^st Wildcard Final 4 v 13
2^nd Wildcard Final 5 v 12
3^rd Wildcard Final 6 v 11
4^th Wildcard Final 7 v 10
5^th Wildcard Final 8 v 9

QUARTER FINALS
September 3-4
1^st Quarter Final 1 v Lowest WF Winner
2^nd Quarter Final 2 v Second Lowest WF Winner
3^rd Quarter Final 3 v Third Lowest WF Winner
4^th Quarter Final Highest WF Winner v Second Highest WF Winner

SEMI FINALS
September 10-11
1^st Semi Final Winner 1QF v Winner 4QF
2^nd Semi Final Winner 2QF v Winner 3QF

GRAND FINAL
Saturday, September 17
Winner 1SF v Winner 2SF