By Jared Beanland. After tasting premiership success in 2023, Rowville have fallen short of that goal the past two years, losing out in the Preliminary Final both times. Last year it was a deeper run into the finals than a 10-8 home and away record would have suggested. The Hawks have the quality to go far when they are at their best, however 2025 was a story of inconsistency down at Seebeck Oval. Ben Wise enters his sixth year as Rowville’s senior men’s coach, and is optimis

By Davis Harrigan.   Blackburn came so close to its first senior premiership since 2002, with last years Premier Division Grand Final going down to the wire. The Burners finished top of the ladder in a landslide, only dropping games across the entire season against East Ringwood and Balwyn. While the ultimate prize remains elusive, the Burners have found their tune over pre-season to have another crack in the EFNL’s top flight.   Senior coach Anthony Fagan was stoked with how

By Josh Ward. The Pioneers are looking to prove their worth this coming season as they re-enter Division Three.   Whitehorse’s senior men’s side return to Division 3 this season after claiming their third EFNL Division 4 premiership last season.   Despite some up and down form at times and their depth being tested, the Pioneers saved their best for last with a thrilling eight-point triumph in last year’s Division 4 decider against Chirnside Park.   Coach Andrew Haining, who i

By Christopher Kourtis.   Fairpark start with a clean slate in 2026, as new coaches take over both senior sides.   Mark Fisher will take over the newly relegated senior men’s side as they look to take on Division Four.    Fisher’s appointment signals the start of a new chapter at the club. The new senior coach brings with him experience with Essendon’s VFL side, as well as the Eastern Ranges, VIC Metro, Upper Ferntree Gully and Mount Evelyn.    Fisher is just one of many new

The Eastern Football Netball League is thrilled to announce it has been officially recognised as a signatory of the Women and Girls Community Football Charter.   The Women & Girls Community Football Charter is a commitment from Community Football Leagues, Clubs & Umpire Groups to work towards ensuring that all Football environments are welcoming, safe and inclusive for Women & Girls.   EFNL Club and Community Manager, Heath Black, is excited about the recognition and the cont

By Davis Harrigan. North Ringwood were one step away from the Division One Grand Final in 2025, only just missing out to eventual premiers South Belgrave in the preliminary final. What that has translated to, however, is a playing group hungry to go again in 2026. They’re young, they’ve been working hard, and have started to find the right groove.   Senior coach Matt Price, in his second year at the helm, has had time to develop and build something since the start of 2025. Fr

By Josh Ward. Both Vermont senior men’s and senior women’s programs are well placed to improve on their 2025 performances this coming season.   Under new coach Matt Adolph, Vermont’s senior men’s side had a rollercoaster start to a new era.   Whilst they snared eight wins last year, it wasn’t enough for the Eagles as they missed finals for the second time in the past four seasons and the fourth time this century.   Adolph returns for his second season at the helm, stating thi

The Bulldogs senior men’s and women’s enter the 2026 season as one of the key clubs to watch.   South Croydon’s senior men’s side had another rollercoaster of a season in Coach Brendan Allen’s second season at the helm.   After starting the season 0-5, the Bulldogs won nine of their last 13 games to finish inside the top five on percentage after a do or die final round matchup with Noble Park before bowing out in the first week of finals to eventual preliminary finalist Rowvi

By Josh Ward. The Norsemen senior men’s get a chance at redemption in Division One after a winless 2025 while its Senior Women’s will be looking to continue building on a successful return.   Last season saw Norwood compete in the second tier of the EFNL in 19 years after suffering relegation from Premier Division in 2024.   Despite some improvements throughout the year and patches of promise in games, the Norsemen went winless for the first time in 32 years last season.   Br

By Christopher Kourtis.   Park Orchards have their eyes set on premiership glory for both senior programs, whilst the club have announced the instatement of a second women’s team.   Park Orchards senior men’s side came agonisingly close to promotion to Premier Division in 2025, a second-straight season in which they’ve fallen short at the final hurdle.   The Sharks have once again backed in their list, trusting that they will have what it takes to get the job done this time a

This Sunday, the 2026 EFNL Junior Interleague Program will host the first set of Practice Matches of the year. Six games will be held at Holm Park Reserve on Sunday, 1st of March, 2026. The first game is set to kick off at 8:00am on Sunday morning with the Under 14 Girls. Come down to Holm Park Reserve to support some of the league's future stars in action ahead of the 2026 season and the 2026 AFL Victoria Junior Development Series. Full Timetable: Under 14 Girls - 8:00 am U

By Christopher Kourtis.   The Waverley Blues return to Mount Waverley Reserve in 2026, as both sides have their eyes set on bringing finals footy to their new facilities.   The Blues’ senior men’s side are ready to put inconsistency behind them and make a finals push in their upcoming campaign.   Senior coach Sam Bates is looking to put an end to his team’s wavering form, saying that his players have wasted no time and are ready to keep the ship at even keel.    “We identifie

By Blake Tennant.   After missing out on the finals last season, the Demons have made some big changes ahead of the 2026 season. Last year brought an end to the reign of Hawthorn legend Gary Ayres after a four year stint coaching Montrose. It now sets up a new chapter with returning premiership coach, Brett Johnson, taking on the role as senior coach.   Johnson is no stranger to the Montrose Football Club, having last coached the club to a flag in 2013. He was there up until

By Josh Ward. The Wickers senior men’s will be looking to build off a promising 2025 season in Premier Division while its senior women’s program continue its rebuild in a new division.   Berwick were one of the most improved sides in Premier Division the past season after a changing of the guard at the top.   Whilst they ultimately finished ninth for a third consecutive season, they still snared five wins, defeating the likes of East Ringwood, Rowville, Vermont and Doncaster

By Christopher Kourtis.   Bayswater’s new look Men’s side are ready to compete in Division One, while the Women’s program aim to replicate their regular season dominance in 2026.   The men’s side finished 2025 with three wins and are now looking forward to the fresh start of a new season.   Senior coach Luke Harris has given his side a boost over the off-season, bringing in eighteen new players to the club. Despite the number of new faces, Harris says that the side is already

By Josh Ward. After yet another excellent season across the board, the Panthers of Surrey Park will be looking to go one better in season 2026.   In their second new division in as many years last season, Surrey Park’s senior men’s side was once again one of the benchmarks.    Unlike previous seasons though, they fell just one game short of making a fourth consecutive Grand Final, going down to Templestowe and Wantirna South in the Division 2 second-semi final and preliminary

By Blake Tennant.   After a successful 2025 season, last year’s minor premiers, Chirnside Park, are eager to put their Grand Final loss behind them and contend once again.   Returning as the club’s senior coach, Justin Ficorilli, has labelled this year as ‘unfinished business’ heading into the 2026 season.   “We need to bring back that level we had last year but also lift due to the division being even with sides coming after us,” Ficorilli said.   Chirnside Park had a domina

By Christopher Kourtis.   Balwyn’s senior men’s program enter 2026 with aims of a three-peat in Premier Division, while their senior women’s side will look for similar finals success in just their second year of existence.   The Tigers sealed back-to-back Premier Division premierships in 2025, coming from behind to beat Blackburn in a brilliant Grand Final.   If they want to make it three-straight, they’ll have to do so without some of their greatest clubmen of recent history

By Josh Ward. After a promising 2025, the Hawks senior men’s and women’s look set to contend once again this coming season.   Boronia’s return to the second tier of the EFNL men’s competition was fruitful, finishing in fourth place with nine wins. However they bowed out in the first weekend of finals to eventual preliminary finalist North Ringwood by 55 points.   Three-time Hawks premiership coach Matt Clark has re-signed for a ninth season at the helm, saying that the group

By Christopher Kourtis.   South Belgrave’s senior men’s side face new horizons in the season ahead, as the senior women’s side are out for redemption after coming agonisingly close to conquering Premier Division in 2025.   The Saints are the new kids on the block in the EFNL’s topflight of the Senior Men's competition, having earned promotion to Premier Division.   South Belgrave enter the competition with momentum, having dominated Division One last year. The club went throu