The most hotly-anticipated Geelong and Bellarine clashes in 2026
From the Bellarine debut of an AFL legend to a Big Freeze blockbuster, these are the local football fixtures which will have huge levels of expectation in 2026.
When will Port Adelaide legend Travis Boak make his Bellarine debut in 2026?
Can Queenscliff bounce back after a horror finals series?
And how will the Surf Coast Suns fare in their first senior BFNL game?
Meanwhile, in the GFNL, can St Joseph’s translate its home-and-away dominance into a flag?
Will there be more controversy between Colac and Bell Park?
With AFL Barwon revealing its fixtures this week, those questions will be answered in what shapes as the most anticipated games in 2026 across the GFNL and the BFNL.
We’ve taken a closer look at the fixtures and identified the games with perhaps the highest levels of expectation before the BFNL and GFNL kick-off on April 3 and April respectively.
GFNL
St Joseph’s v Leopold – Round 0
It might not be a close one following Leopold’s mass exodus this off-season, but there should be a big crowd regardless for the GFNL season-opener down in Lorne.
The Easter Saturday contest will serve as the GFNL’s sole ‘opening round’ match in 2026.
St Joseph’s thumped the Lions by 58-points in the same fixture in 2025, but it is worth noting the Joeys have also lost several stars.
Colac v Bell Park – Round 1
There was controversy in both clashes between the two sides this season.
The first saw a player taken to hospital following an ugly hit behind the play, while in their next hitout a false siren (or was it two?) caused mass confusion in a one-point thriller.
What does their round one blockbuster have in store?
St Joseph’s v South Barwon – Round 2
AFL Barwon has scheduled a bumper Anzac Day weekend in the GFNL with two games on Saturday and four on Sunday, with the annual Anzac Day match the main event.
The Joeys pulled away in the last quarter to knock off the Swans in round two of 2025.
Grovedale and Lara will also face off on the Saturday, which will likely be either side’s first win of the season.
St Mary’s v St Joseph’s – Round 4
It doesn’t get much bigger than this in the GFNL.
St Mary’s secured its unlikely premiership against St Joseph’s just a couple of torpedos away from Anthony Costa Oval at GMHBA Stadium, holding off a defiant Joeys to win by 13 points.
The last time these two sides met at Anthony Costa Oval, fans were treated to one of the great local footy spectacles, and this promises to be another mouth-watering clash.
Newtown & Chilwell vs South Barwon - Round 6
Geelong’s Big Freeze clash pits two of the sharpest local footy coaches in Geelong great Steve Johnson and former Melbourne coach Mark Neeld.
Both sides are jam-packed with young talent and both are expected to improve on their 2025 finishes.
World No Tobacco Day also falls on Sunday 31st May, and this cracker at Elderslie Reserve should be enough to make your head spin.
BFNL
Geelong Amateur v Modewarre – Round 1
One of the Bellarine’s most decorated players will face a tough introduction to coaching, taking on last season’s grand finalists on their home deck, who only dropped three regular season games in 2025.
After Mark Hovey stepped down, four-time Ash medallist Josh Finch has taken over the reins at Mount Moriac Reserve with new players, including former Western Bulldog Roarke Smith, set to make the Warriors more competitive after last season’s seventh-place finish.
Surf Coast Suns v Torquay - Round 1
It will be a historic day on April 4 at Banyul-Warri Fields with the Bellarine’s newest club playing its first senior game and the birth of a new Surf Coast rivalry.
The Suns have obviously built a team from the ground up over the past few months while the Tigers will be looking to atone for a disappointing finals series, bowing out in a prelim against eventual premier, Anglesea.
Will we also see the first appearance from Travis Boak in 2026?
Torquay v Queenscliff - Round 2
After an opening round match against Drysdale on their home turf, plenty will be looking to see how the Coutas go against a BFNL powerhouse who dismantled them in week one of the finals.
Coming into the 2025 post-season as one of the form teams of the comp, the Coutas were flogged by 105 points and then went out in straight sets after a 42-point loss to Anglesea.
Bringing in some older heads for 2026, it will be interesting to see how Queenscliff bounce back under Heath Jamieson, coming into his third season in charge at the Couta Bowl.
Portarlington v Newcomb - Round 9
Friends will become foes on May 30 at the Port, with the Demons, coached by Leopold premiership player Sam Scott, facing a Newcomb side boasting three of his former title-winning teammates: Andrew Pepper, Logan Wagener and Luke Justin.
Meanwhile, Brock Williamson has also returned to his junior club of Portarlington, which lost former AFL Connor Menadue during the off-season.
Can both sides continue their seemingly ascendant form over the past 12 months?
Anglesea v Geelong Amateur - Round 9
A grand final rematch is always a big clash on the footy calendar and the Ammos will have plenty of motivation to hit back after last season’s 13-point classic at Grinter Reserve in September.
However, Geelong Amateur will go into season 2026 without Tom Gorrell and Joe and Nick Maishman while there have been doubts the Roos can keep their premiership side completely intact.
More Coverage
Originally published as The most hotly-anticipated Geelong and Bellarine clashes in 2026
Ranked: Every BPCA batter and bowler
