The AFL has announced a new VFL broadcast agreement, which will see Smithy's VFL matches broadcast by Kayo SPORTS, ABC, the Seven Network and SEN throughout the 2026 season.

Under the expanded broadcast deal, at least 53 VFL matches will be broadcast across the four networks, with more matches to be confirmed once scheduling for Rounds 14 to 21 is confirmed.

Kayo SPORTS will broadcast 16 matches across the opening 13 rounds of the VFL home and away season, with at least one match each round of the regular season to be broadcast throughout the first portion of the season.

A number of Kayo SPORTS’ VFL broadcast games will be curtain-raisers to AFL matches, allowing supporters to watch both their VFL and AFL teams back-to-back on the platform.

In addition, Kayo SPORTS will broadcast VFL finals coverage.

The ABC will broadcast one match each round of the VFL home and away season, along with one final in each of the first three weeks of the VFL Finals Series, and both preliminary finals and the Grand Final.

The ABC broadcast match will generally commence at 12:05pm each Saturday of the regular season, with coverage available on the network’s main channel in Victoria and via ABC iview nationally. Matches will also be simulcast on ABC Radio and available on ABC Listen.

The only exception to the ABC’s Saturday afternoon coverage for the first portion of the VFL season will be the ANZAC Day weekend match between Sandringham and Box Hill Hawks during Round 5, which will be played on Sunday, April 26 from 12:05pm.

And in a huge win for Tasmanian football fans, the Seven Network will broadcast all ten Tasmania Football Club home matches in its debut season in the VFL via Seven Tasmania and 7plus Sport nationally.

Meanwhile, SEN Tasmania will broadcast all home and away matches on radio via SEN Tassie 1629am into Hobart, SENTrack 1611am into Launceston and Devonport, plus they will also be streamed onto the SEN app.

All VFL and VFLW matches will continue to be streamed live and free on AFL platforms via AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.

The VFL fixture will be updated to reflect changes in scheduling for broadcast matches where they require amended start times.

KAYO SPORTS

Kayo SPORTS will broadcast the VFL for the first time since 2021, with 16 matches to be broadcast throughout the first 13 rounds of the home and away season.

Additional matches may be included when scheduling for Rounds 14-21 is confirmed.

Many of Kayo SPORTS’ VFL broadcast games will be curtain-raisers to AFL matches, allowing supporters to watch both their VFL and AFL teams back-to-back on the platform.

The Kayo SPORTS VFL coverage will also be available on Foxtel, and internationally on WatchAFL.

Below is the Kayo SPORTS broadcast schedule for Rounds 1-13.

Round 1: Richmond vs Southport Sharks, Kinetic Stadium, Saturday 21 March, 10:00am
Round 1: Gold Coast Suns vs Werribee, People First Stadium, Sunday 22 March, 11:00am EST / 12:00pm EDT
Round 2: Collingwood vs GWS Giants, Victoria Park, Friday 27 March, 3:00pm
Round 3: North Melbourne vs Carlton, Arden Street Oval, Friday 3 April, 11:30am
Round 3: Port Melbourne vs Sydney Swans, ETU Stadium, Saturday 4 April, 1:00pm
Round 4: Gold Coast Suns vs Essendon, People First Stadium, Saturday 18 April, 9:00am
Round 5: Brisbane Lions vs Port Melbourne, Brighton Homes Arena, Sunday 26 April, 10:00am
Round 6: Sydney Swans vs Casey Demons, Tramway Oval, Sunday 3 May, 12:00pm
Round 7: Casey Demons vs Carlton, Casey Fields, Saturday 9 May, 10:00am
Round 8: Sydney Swans vs Collingwood, Tramway Oval, Friday 15 May, 2:00pm
Round 8: Box Hill Hawks vs Richmond, Box Hill City Oval, Saturday 16 May, 10:00am
Round 9: Richmond vs Essendon, ETU Stadium,  Saturday 23 May, 10:00am
Round 10: Sydney Swans vs Richmond, Tramway Oval, Saturday 30 May, 10:00am
Round 11: Sydney Swans vs St Kilda, Tramway Oval, Sunday 7 June, 12:00pm
Round 12: Southport Sharks vs Syndey Swans, Fankhauser Reserve, Saturday 13 June, 10:00am
Round 13: Gold Coast Suns vs Box Hill Hawks, People First Stadium, Friday 19 June, 3:00pm

ABC

The ABC returns as a VFL broadcast partner for the first time in more than a decade, having previously broadcast VFA/VFL games between 1987 and 2014.

The ABC will broadcast one match each round of the VFL home and away season, plus six matches throughout the finals series.

Matches will be broadcast on the network’s main channel in Victoria and ABC iview nationally from 12:05pm each Saturday, except for Round 5 which will feature a Sunday match.

The ABC’s coverage begins with the Round 1 clash between reigning premier Footscray and Casey Demons at Mission Whitten Oval, which will see the Bulldogs unfurl their 2025 premiership flag.

Below is the ABC broadcast schedule for Rounds 1-13.

Round 1: Footscray Bulldogs vs Casey Demons, Mission Whitten Oval, Saturday 21 March, 12:05pm
Round 2: Sandringham vs Werribee, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Saturday 28 March, 12:05pm
Round 3: Werribee vs Geelong Cats, Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday 4 April, 12:05pm
Round 4: Coburg vs St Kilda, Barry Plant Park, Saturday 18 April, 12:05pm
Round 5: Sandringham vs Box Hill Hawks, Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval, Sunday 26 April, 12:05pm
Round 6: Carlton vs St Kilda, IKON Park, Saturday 2 May, 12:05pm
Round 7: Collingwood vs Geelong Cats, Victoria Park, Saturday 9 May, 12:05pm
Round 8: Carlton vs Footscray Bulldogs, IKON Park, Saturday 16 May, 12:05pm
Round 9: Werribee vs Collingwood, Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday 23 May, 12:05pm
Round 10: Carlton vs Geelong Cats, IKON Park, Saturday 30 May, 12:05pm
Round 11: Collingwood vs Casey Demons, Victoria Park, Saturday 6 June, 12:05pm
Round 12: Footscray Bulldogs vs Sandringham, Mission Whitten Oval, Saturday 13 June, 12:05pm
Round 13: Williamstown vs Casey Demons, DSV Stadium, Saturday 20 June, 12:05pm

SEVEN NETWORK / SEN

The Seven Network will continue its long-standing partnership with the VFL by broadcasting every Tasmania Football Club home match during the 2026 season.

All ten of the Devils’ home games in their debut VFL campaign will be broadcast via Seven Tasmania and 7plus Sport nationally.

Meanwhile, SEN Tasmania will broadcast all home and away matches on radio via SEN Tassie 1629am into Hobart, SENTrack 1611am into Launceston and Devonport, plus they will also be streamed onto the SEN app.

Tasmania will host home games right across the state as the club ramps up preparations for entry into the AFL after being awarded the 19th licence in 2023.

Below is the Seven Network broadcast schedule for Rounds 1-13.

Round 1: Tasmania vs Coburg, North Hobart Oval, Saturday 21 March, 12:05pm
Round 2: Tasmania vs Port Melbourne, UTAS Stadium, Saturday 28 March, 12:05pm
Round 5: Tasmania vs Carlton, Ninja Stadium, Saturday 25 April, 7:05pm
Round 6: Tasmania vs Sandringham, UTAS Stadium, Sunday 3 May, 12:05pm
Round 8: Tasmania vs Southport Sharks, North Hobart Oval, Saturday 16 May, 12:05pm
Round 11: Tasmania vs North Melbourne, North Hobart Oval, Saturday 6 June, 12:05pm
Round 12: Tasmania vs Richmond, UTAS Stadium, Saturday 13 June, 12:05pm

AFL.COM.AU / AFL LIVE OFFICIAL APP

All Smithy’s VFL and VFLW matches will continue to be streamed live and free on AFL platforms via AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.