2026 SENIOR FOOTBALL PREVIEW | Eaglehawk fights to stay perched top of ladder
AFTER soaring to premiership glory last September, Eaglehawk will fight to stay perched atop the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football Netball League’s senior footy ladder in 2026.
The Hawks now become the hunted against the likes of Sandhurst, Gisborne, South Bendigo and Strathfieldsaye.
After missing finals in ’25, Golden Square will be striving to be there again.
Castlemaine has bolsted its attack significantly to mark a long-awaited appearance at finals time.
The return of several past players has Kangaroo Flat confident of being far more competitive.
Then there’s the X-factor thrown up by Broadford as it competes in the Bendigo FNL for the first time after a two-season recess on the footy front.
Here’s a club-by-club rundown in the lead-up to the season start on March 28 where Broadford will tackle South Bendigo on the Kangaroos’ ground at Harley Hammond Reserve.
Broadford
Plenty of excitement about the town as the Kangaroos bounce back into footy action.
The Kangaroos have appointed former Hawthorn and North Melbourne key forward Nathan Thompson as coach.
Being part of the Bendigo FNL is not new to Thompson who previously played for and later coached Kyneton.
Biggest signing for Broadford was the skilful Quinton Narkle who joins the Kangas after stints at AFL level with Geelong, Port Adelaide and Fremantle.
A goal is for Narkle to play at least half of Broadford’s matches starting with the opening two against South Bendigo and Sandhurst.
It’s a young squad the Kangaroos will field where a focus is on development, not just across this season, but for many years to come.
Some of the players to watch for the Kangaroos include midfielders Riley Edwards and Charlie Neilson, key defenders Ollie Lubeck and Adam Miles.
Broadford also has two players with Bendigo FNL experience in Seb Morris who previously played at Sandhurst, and half-forward Lewis Thompson from Kyneton.
After facing the Bloods and Dragons in the opening two rounds, Broadford then hosts Golden Square and then plays Kangaroo Flat in the clash of two mobs at Dower Park.
Castlemaine
It’s a new era for the Magpies as gun on-baller/mid Bailey Henderson steps up to be playing senior coach.
A shoulder injury sustained in last season’s Good Friday clash with Golden Square meant Henderson was sidelined for all of the campaign.
A fit and firing Henderson who has played at VFL level with Werribee and Richmond, Coates Talent League with Bendigo Pioneers is a huge plus.
The Magpies new leader also won a Bendigo FNL senior premiership with Strathfieldsaye in 2019.
Huge plus for the club was Michael Hartley, coach of the past two seasons, staying on with the club.
Hartley will again play a key role in an attack bolstered by the inclusion of Zack Derksen whose most recent playing stints were with Nightcliff and Perth.
Other gun recruits are midfielder Dylan Landt from St Mary’s, and Jacob Bauer who played five senior matches for Richmond before injury ended his ’25 season.
Plenty of injuries meant Castlemaine blooded a lot of talented youngsters who will be keen to have a greater impact this season.
The Magpies’ squad includes Jack Chester, Kal Huntly, Ben and Callum McConachy, Zave Murley, Hunter Staples, and John Watson.
Eaglehawk
After the excitement of last September’s final quarter fightback to defeat Sandhurst for the Bendigo Advertiser premiership cup it’s back to business for Eaglehawk’s players and coaches.
The Hawks fly into this season as the hunted and striving to achieve consecutive senior premierships which no club has done since Strathfieldsaye in 2014 and ’15.
Eaglehawk again has Travis Matheson and Clayton Holmes as co-coaches of a squad bolstered by the return of Michelsen medallist Noah Wheeler in the midfield.
Other key recruits include ruckman Callum Heath, Jordan Mangan, Lewin Davis and Oscar White.
Midfield and on-ball groups are two of the Hawks greatest strengths.
Captain and last season’s Michelsen medallist in Billy Evans will again team up with the likes of Ben Thompson, Tom Bennett, Oscar White, Jack Donat and Tyh Evans.
In attack the Hawks have the high-flying Sam O’Shannessy and will also have Bailey Ilsley, Jordan Mangan and Nick Thompson as key targets inside the 50m arc as the season rolls on.
The Hawks faithful will pack Canterbury Park on Easter Saturday to see the ’25 premiership flag unfurled before the Two Blues tackle Sandhurst in the rematch of last season’s grand finalists.
Gisborne
If this season is Gisborne’s last in the Bendigo FNL the Bulldogs are determined to make it a memorable one on the footy field and netball court.
The Bulldogs have endured many highs and a few lows across the past two decades.
Gisborne will be aiming to add a sixth senior premiership to an incredible record in the Bendigo FNL.
In ’22 the Rob Waters-coached Bulldogs beat Strathfieldsaye in the season decider.
The next year and an injury-hit Gisborne slid to seventh place.
The Bulldogs fought back to be runner-up in ’24.
Many of the Waters-coached team which played in last season’s preliminary final will be back in action.
Among them will be Michelsen medallists Brad Bernacki and Braidon Blake, gun forward Pat McKenna, Jed and Zac Denahy.
Huge plus for the Bulldogs is the return of rover Flynn Lakey who is a dual winner of the club’s fairest and best award.
Gisborne has recruited Epping defender Jordan Wilkins.
The Bulldogs squad includes Shane Clough, James Gray, Harry Luxmoore, Matt Merrett, Boyd Nalder and Tom Werner.
Gisborne will be on home turf at Gardiner Reserve to take on Kangaroo Flat in the Good Friday match.
Golden Square
After not featuring in last year’s finals series, Golden Square is hungry to reclaim its place in the top five and be playing when it matters most.
Among the changes at Wade Street was the appointment of Liam Barrett to be co-coach with Brad Eaton.
A star in the Bulldogs charge to a grand final victory in 2023, Barrett’s skill, workrate and experience are huge assets for the club.
Other key recruits for the blue and gold include ruckman Lee Hoy, Isaac Corvo, Lee Dale and Archie Edwards.
The Bulldogs also welcome back Macey Eaton from a one-season with Irymple in the Sunraysia FNL.
A talented midfield group will include Jordan Rosengren, Terry Reeves, Dylan Hird and Tom Strauch.
In defence the blue and gold have Harry Burke, Noah Warfe, and also Jayden Burke who can be equally effective in the back six or as a key target in attack.
A key focus for Golden Square is limiting turnovers and workrate when opponents have possession.
Players to watch include Jack McMahon, Jack Stewart, Archie Eaton and Josh Kelly.
Golden Square’s season kicks off with the Good Friday match on Castlemaine’s turf at Camp Reserve.
Kangaroo Flat
Regain and retain players were a major part of Kangaroo Flat’s list strategy for the ’26 season and beyond.
The Tyrone Downie-coached Kangaroo Flat rolls into a new campaign having done so.
Among those back at Dower Park are ruckman Max Johnson, experienced midfielder Mitch Collins, key position player Jordan Rouse, and pacy mid/forward Mitch Rovers.
Those four will play crucial roles in the Kangaroos’ quest to end their losing streak and being competitive for much longer in every match they play.
Loyalty of captain Ethan Roberts and ruckman Angus Macpherson who could have chased success elsewhere but have stayed at Dower Park is a massive plus for the club.
Both will again play crucial roles along with Zach Rouse and Jeremy Rodi.
The club has welcomed midfielder Flynn Clark who previously played for St Kevins in the Victorian Amateur Football Association, and Mount Pleasant’s premiership player Zac Featherby.
Plenty of Kangaroo Flat’s youngsters have earnt a chance at senior level in recent seasons.
Roos’ coaches and fans will be keen to watch the progress of Zach Bird and many more.
Kangaroo Flat heads to Gisborne for its opening round match on Good Friday.
Sandhurst
THE Dragons’ players and supporters have experienced the pain of grand final defeat, ecstasy of premiership victory, and agony of another grand final loss the past three seasons.
Expectations are high that Sandhurst will again be a strong contender for premiership glory in ’26.
A new-look co-coaching team is Bryce Curnow, non-playing, and gun forward Fergus Greene, playing.
Sandhurst rolls into this campaign with considerably more height through the return of Rory Ellett and Lachlan Watson and also has Connor Sexton back in action.
A strong attack is likely to have Greene, Hugh Schmetzer, Tom Campbell and Cobi Maxted as the main marking targets.
The Dragons will be without Michelsen medallist and gun on-baller/mid Lachlan Tardrew who has headed west to Peel Thunder.
Sandhurst still has Lachie Hood, Cooper Smith, Caleb Connick, Matt Wilkinson, Matt Stagg and Jacob Austin capable of winning plenty of possessions and setting up attacks.
Among the inclusions is Jonty Davis, a multiple premiership winner with Marong in the Loddon Valley who is likely to start at half-forward.
The Dragons take on Eaglehawk in the ’25 grand final rematch on Easter Saturday on the Borough’s turf in Canterbury Park.
South Bendigo
A FIRST semi-finalist last season, South Bendigo is determined to build on the momentum and jump into the league’s top three.
It’s a second year where Troy Coates, non-playing, and Jack Fallon, playing, team up as co-coaches.
The Bloods have brought in the experience and skill of Nathan Kay who was coaching at Elmore, and also welcome back former coach Nathan Horbury from a stint with Noosa.
It’s a new-look midfield which will include Coen Harker and Tom Templeton following the departure of Joel Swatton, Jesse Collins and Chase Poyser.
The Bloods also welcome back Cohen Balnaves and have signed George Symons medallist Jack English who was the Bendigo FNL’s under-18s fairest and best in ’24 when at Sandhurst.
In attack it will be Ron Best medallists Brock Harvey and Kaiden Antonowicz who will again play crucial roles for the red and white.
Major strength for South Bendigo is the ruck department through Callum Crisp and Mac Cameron who returns after being sidelined because of injury for most of last season.
The athletic Zaydyn Lockwood who is on Richmond’s VFL list also adds to the ruck or key position options for the Bloods.
Strathfieldsaye
A NEW era begins at Strathfieldsaye which has been among the league’s most successful clubs of the past decade.
Jeff Andrews takes charge aiming to build on Storm’s premiership tally of four.
The club was decimated by long-term injuries to several key players last season, but worked incredibly hard to reach the elimination final.
Huge plus for Storm was retaining most of last year’s squad and adding the likes of VFL-aligned players Zane Keighran, Tyson McKenzie and Drew Lloyd.
Other newcomers include Kane Newby, Marco Mentha and Golden Square’s Melvic Pambai.
A talented squad at Storm includes Cooper Jones, Sam Heavyside, Riley Wilson, Ben Lester, Zach Charles, George Simpson and Jed Brereton.
Massive plus is key forward James Schischka fit and firing after two injury-interrupted seasons, and midfielder Daniel Clohesy who did not play after injuring his shoulder in the first round of the ’25 campaign.
Storm kicks off the season with the Good Friday match against South Bendigo at Triple M Park in Tannery Lane.
A testing start includes playing at Gisborne on April 18, and then at home against Castlemaine on May 2 leading into the clash at Eaglehawk a week later.
