See who Northern Football League clubs are playing in practice matches

Local footy’s return to so close you can taste it and clubs are ramping up their preparations with the final full round of practice matches this weekend. See every NFL club’s plans.

The 2021 Northern Football League season is just a matter of weeks away.

After last year was cancelled clubs’ preparations for the new season have never been more important.

NFL clubs will ramp up their pre-seasons from this weekend as practice matches begin across Victoria.

See who every NFL club is playing practice matches against in the build up to Round 1.

West Preston-Lakeside celebrate winning the NFL Division 1 premiership in 2019. Picture: Hamish Blair

DIVISION 1

WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE

March 13: Doncaster (EFL Premier)

March 20: Thomastown (NFL Division 2)

March 27: Strathmore (EDFL Premier)

GREENSBOROUGH

March 20: Balwyn (EFL Premier)

March 27: Berwick (EFL Premier)

NORTH HEIDELBERG

March 20: Eltham (NFL Division 2)

March 27: Essendon Doutta Stars (EDFL Premier)

HEIDELBERG

March 13: Anglesea (Bellarine)

March 20: Pascoe Vale (EDFL Premier)

March 27: Old Carey (VAFA Premier B)

MONTMORENCY

March 20: Langwarrin (MPNFL Division 2)

March 27: North Ringwood (EFL Premier)

April 1: Lower Plenty (NFL Division 2) Under-23 match

Andrew Stellas is sandwiched between Zac Beadle and Jai Robinson. Picture: Josie Hayden

MACLEOD

February 26: Glenroy (EDFL Premier)

March 13: Eltham (NFL Division 2)

March 27: Balwyn (EFL Premier)

NORTHCOTE PARK

March 13: Strathmore (EDFL Premier)

March 20: Seymour (Goulburn Valley)

March 27: Greenvale (EDFL Premier)

HURSTBRIDGE

March 13: Maribrynong Park (EDFL Premier)

March 20: Banyule (NFL Division 2)

March 27: Pascoe Vale (EDFL Premier)

BUNDOORA

March 13: Ajax (VAFA Premier B)

March 20: Greenvale (EDFL Premier)

March 27: Banyule (NFL Division 2)

WHITTLESEA

March 13: Mulwala (Murray)

March 20: Doncaster (EFL Premier)

March 27: Altona (WRFL Division 1)

Jaron Murphy celebrates a goal in the NFL Division 2 grand final in 2019. Picture: Hamish Blair

DIVISION 2

LOWER PLENTY

March 13: Corowa-Rutherglen (Ovens & Murray)

March 20: Maribrynong Park (EDFL Premier)

April 1: Montmorency (NFL Division 1) Under-23 match

BANYULE

March 13: Marcellin Old Collegians (VAFA Premier C)

March 20: Hurstbridge (NFL Division 1)

March 26: Bundoora (NFL Division 1)

ELTHAM

March 13: Macleod (NFL Division 1)

March 20: North Heidelberg (NFL Division 1)

March 27: West Coburg (EDFL Division 1)

THOMASTOWN

March 4: Heathmont (EFL Division 2)

March 13: Airport West (EDFL Division 1)

March 20: West Preston-Lakeside (NFL Division 1)

DIAMOND CREEK

March 13: Blackburn (EFL Premier)

March 20: Tatura (Goulburn Valley)

March 27: Doncaster (EFL Premier)

Oliver Stapleton is tackled by Kain Proctor. Picture: Andy Brownbill

ST MARY’S

March 13: St Albans (WRFL Division 1)

March 20: Old Paradians (VAFA Division 2)

March 27: Woori Yallock (AFLOE Premier)

FITZROY STARS

March 13: Keilor Park (EDFL Division 2)

March 20: Roxburgh Park (EDFL Division 1)

WATSONIA

March 20: Northern Saints (EDFL Division 2)

March 27: Laurimar (NFL Division 3)

EPPING

February 27: Oak Park (EDFL Division 2)

March 13: Hadfield (EDFL Division 2)

March 26: Mernda (NFL Division 3) Patrick Chow Cup

PANTON HILL

March 12: West Heidelberg (NFL Division 3)

March 20: Kinglake (AFLOE Division 2)

Panton Hill players celebrate after winning the NFL Division 3 premiership in 2019. Picture: Andy Brownbill

DIVISION 3

SOUTH MORANG

March 27: Glen Orden (WRFL Division 2)

LAURIMAR

March 13: Old Paradians (VAFA Division 2)

March 20: Romsey (Riddell District)

March 27: Watsonia (NFL Division 2)

KILMORE

March 13: Lancefield (Riddell District)

March 20: Avenel (Kyabram District)

March 27: Broadford (AFLOE Division 2)

MERNDA

March 13: Northern Saints (EDFL Division 2)

March 20: Oak Park (EDFL Division 2)

March 26: Epping (NFL Division 2) Patrick Chow Cup

Mernda players come together before a Northern Football League game. Picture: Nathan McNeill

HEIDELBERG WEST

March 12: Panton Hill (NFL Division 2)

March 19: Surrey Park (EFL Division 4)

March 27: Northern Saints (EDFL Division 2)

OLD ELTHAM COLLEGIANS

March 12: Ivanhoe (VAFA Division 2)

March 20: TBC

March 27: Healesville (AFLOE Division 1)

DIV 1: INJURY RUINS NFL GREAT’S FAREWELL SEASON

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

TALENT: BEST RECRUITS OF NFL PRE-SEASON SO FAR

LALOR

February 27: Yarroweah (Picola District)

March 13: Richmond Centrals (VAFA

March 20: Keilor Park (EDFL Division 2)

March 27: Cohuna (Central Murray)

RESERVOIR

March 13: Wyndham Suns (WRFL Division 3)

March 20: Sunshine Heights (WRFL Division 3)