Box Hill claims the 2026 VFL premiership in a season of historic expansion
In short: The 144th season of the Victorian Football League marked a milestone in Australian rules football, featuring 22 teams across four states. While Box Hill secured their fourth premiership title, the league underwent significant structural shifts, including the entry of the Tasmania Football Club and the collapse of the Preston Football Club.
The 2026 VFL season, which ran from 20 March to 20 September, was defined by its geographic reach. It was the first time clubs from four different states—Victoria, New South Wales, Queensland, and Tasmania—competed in the same season. With 22 teams participating, the league matched its 2021 record for the most clubs to contest a single-division premiership. This expansion included the debut of the Tasmania Football Club, which joined the VFL ahead of its planned 2028 entry into the AFL. The Tasmania club, coached by Jeromey Webberley, played its first official home-and-away match against Coburg on 7 March 2026.
Off the field, the league faced major transitions. The Seven Network ended its long-standing broadcast partnership, citing commercial viability, leading the ABC to secure the rights for television and radio coverage. Meanwhile, the historic Preston Football Club, formerly known as the Northern Bullants, faced a terminal crisis. Despite reverting to its traditional name in August 2025, the club struggled with debt and uncompetitive performances. Following the revocation of its licence by the VFL in October 2025, the club entered voluntary liquidation in December 2025, ending a legacy that included previous near-folds in 1997 and 2020.
The competitive landscape also saw St Kilda move to a standalone model. After ending its long-term affiliation with Sandringham in June 2025, St Kilda was granted its own VFL licence. Sandringham continued as a standalone entity, securing a notable victory against Werribee in round 2. The season culminated in a Grand Final where Box Hill defeated Geelong by 23 points, marking the first time since 2019 that the final featured two Victorian teams. Individual honors were shared across the league, with Trent Mynott and George Stevens tying for the J. J. Liston Trophy, while Corey Ellison led the goalkicking with 52 goals.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2026 VFL season
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