Strikers land five home games; Brereton reappointed Mavs reserves coach

THE 2026 Victorian Netball League (VNL) season will launch with a blockbuster for Bendigo Strikers, with the club’s opener against Boroondara Express to serve as a curtain-raiser to the Melbourne Mavericks-GIANTS Super Netball clash at Red Energy Arena on 14 March.

The Saturday clash will be the first of 18 regular-season games for the Strikers championship and 23-and-under teams, which will both be looking to consolidate on breakthrough finals performances last season in what will be their third year in the state’s premier netball competition.

A season opener against perennial VNL powerhouse Boroondara will be the first of five games for the Strikers this season in Bendigo as the league this week locked in its draw for the 2026 season.

The release of the draw came on the same day as the announcement of Strikers head coach Tracey Brereton’s reappointment as coach of the Melbourne Mavericks’ Super Netball Reserves team.

City West Falcons coaching panel member Jacinta Todd will again be the assistant coach.

The VNL season will unfold across 18 rounds, building towards a four-week finals series and culminating in the grand finals on Wednesday 12 August.

The Strikers will play their first two games of the season at home at Red Energy Arena, with a Sunday clash on 22 March against Melbourne University Lightning scheduled in round two.

It will be followed by a round three encounter against Western Warriors at Cobblebank Indoor Stadium in Melton on 29 March.

A round four clash against reigning championship division premiers City West Falcons on 1 April will be the club’s first trip to Melbourne for the season, before a third game in Bendigo, this time at Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct, in round five against Southern Saints on 19 April.

It will be the first of three games at Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct.

The Strikers will play further home games at the venue against City West Falcons on Sunday 28 June and Casey Demons on Sunday 12 July.

Five games in Bendigo marks an increase of two on last season for the Strikers, who defeated Peninsula Waves in round one and North East Blaze in round 15, but lost to eventual runners-up Hawks in round nine.

Bendigo Strikers president Melinda Keighran welcomed the release of the draw.

“The 2026 VNL fixture is an exciting one for Bendigo Strikers, with five games to be played in Bendigo and strong opportunities for our community to engage with elite netball right here at home,” Keighran said.

“Opening the season at Red Energy Arena against Boroondara Express as a curtain-raiser to the Melbourne Mavericks versus GIANTS Suncorp Super Netball match is something truly special.

“It’s shaping up to be a ‘Super Saturday’ of netball and a fantastic showcase for the sport in regional Victoria.

“We’re also proud to be part of the Netball Victoria and City of Greater Bendigo initiative in round two when we host Melbourne University Lightning at Red Energy Arena.

“Hosting three home games at the new Mercy Junortoun Sporting Precinct on Sunday, April 19, against Southern Saints, Sunday, June 28, against City West Falcons, and Sunday, July 12, against Casey Demons is a major milestone for our club.

“It will be the first time the precinct has hosted VNL matches, and with a state-of-the-art stadium accommodating around 750 spectators, we’re looking forward to creating an outstanding game-day atmosphere and filling the stands.”

Two league themed rounds will shine a spotlight on what matters beyond the scoreboard, including First Nations Round on 27 May (v Gippsland Stars), aligned with National Reconciliation Week, and Pride Round on 10 June (v Melbourne University Lightning), during Pride Month.

 

Crucially for a club with designs on playing in back-to-back championship and 23-and-under finals series, the Strikers will get to play two of their last four games of the regular season at home.

Ahead of the season, the Strikers will play a practice match as a curtain-raiser to the Melbourne Vixens-Melbourne Mavericks pre-season match at Red Energy Arena on Thursday 5 March.

Meanwhile, Brereton’s Mavs reappointment follows an excellent debut season for the club at Super Netball Reserves level in 2025 in which they reached the grand final, establishing a solid foundation for the club’s pathway program.

Melbourne Mavericks assistant coach and head of pathways Nicole Richardson said the club was thrilled to retain its coaching pair and, in particular, hailed their ability to fast-track young talent.

“Tracey and Toddy set an exceptional standard in our inaugural season, guiding our reserves team all the way to a grand final and establishing a culture of hard work, ambition and care,” Richardson said.

“Their commitment to developing our emerging Mavs is second to none and we’re incredibly proud to have them leading our pathway program again in 2026.

“With their experience across the VNL and their connection to our club environment, our athletes are in the best possible hands.”

The Mavs Reserves program plays a crucial role in identifying, nurturing and elevating future Super Netball talent, with the returning coaching team set to drive another year of growth, opportunity and high-performance development.

This season’s playing roster includes a pair of Strikers players – two-time club best and fairest winner Charlotte Sexton and goaler Teal Hocking.