North Geelong ready for division one test

THE North Geelong Warriors will open their Victorian Premier League Men’s 1 campaign at home on February 14, hosting the Melbourne Knights in a highly anticipated Round 1 clash.

The release of the Warriors’ fixture comes after Football Victoria confirmed the full 2026 schedule last month. North Geelong will be aiming to cement their place in the division after earning promotion on the back of their championship-winning VPL2 season in 2025.

Their opponents, the Knights, enter the season determined to rebound quickly after being relegated from the National Premier League Men’s and will be keen to start strongly.

North Geelong will travel to North Sunshine in Round 2 before returning home to face FC Melbourne Srbija the following week. A bye awaits in Round 8, followed by a major test away to Melbourne Victory.

The Warriors will close out their home-and-away season with an away trip to Langwarrin SC at Lawton Park Reserve. The VPLM1 finals will begin on the weekend of September 13 and wrap up the following week.

Football Victoria competitions manager, Dylan McKenzie, said excitement was building ahead of the new season.

“The countdown is on for what promises to be an enormous season in the Victorian Premier League Men’s and Women’s competitions, and we cannot wait to kick-off all three competitions in February and March,” he said.

“We have some huge clubs from across the Victorian football landscape within the VPL Men’s competitions in 2026, and we look forward to seeing which clubs emerge from what should be two hotly contested competitions.”

For the full 2026 VPL fixture, head to the Football Victoria website.