NFNL div 3 2026

[hfchfc]

Kyle Green at Mernda, no surprise really. Who else is Nipper going to bring along? They're probably a couple of good signings from being at the pointy end again?

Had a few clubs now

 

[Champ or Chump]

Had a few clubs now

Maybe HFC, but will still be a handful for opposition teams in 2026 within Div 3 as Mernda to make a BIG push to get out of the division. IF the pub talk is true about recruiting some experienced players to get them out ..... NOW!!!

Kilmore also coming with a Xmas rush of signings along with Rezza, Epping, Power, West, Turtles and Hoers all recruiting well so far..... and I think we will see some more from most over the next 3-5weeks.

Hard to believe, but I think the comp will be even tighter in 2026 than 2025.

 

[Sticksbradley]

Sam Lloyd
Shepherd
And another from the bulls is a VERY strong pub rumour

Absolutely they will be at the pointy end with those recruits and having added around 10-12 new players to their 2025 list

The noise was
Green
Shepheard
McKernan

Big gets but some of the money is ridiculous. A lot of money to finish 3rd. Shepheard still living down the coast?

 

[NorthernBastard]

Had a few clubs now

Oh yeah, you blokes only play locals and juniors

 

[Champ or Chump]

Well at least the Hoers won't lose in Round 1

 

[Kangaman4lyf]

Well at least the Hoers won't lose in Round 1

No different til the rest of the year! Watsonia biggest losers of the draw

 

[10571z]

No different til the rest of the year! Watsonia biggest losers of the draw

Generally team coming down is ranked “high” which unfortunately probably won’t be the case for them.

 

[baggersforflaggers]

I get Laurimar and Watsonia (take the place of the premier for fixturing purposes) only playing lalor once but surely the Ivanhoe team that finished 3rd (and picked up a stack of talent) shouldn’t play them twice when kinglake who finished 5th and lost their best player and more only play them once. Fixturing in Div 3 should be more equal than that.

 

[10571z]

I get Laurimar and Watsonia (take the place of the premier for fixturing purposes) only playing lalor once but surely the Ivanhoe team that finished 3rd (and picked up a stack of talent) shouldn’t play them twice when kinglake who finished 5th and lost their best player and more only play them once. Fixturing in Div 3 should be more equal than that.

All teams should have equal fixtures. The idea that the league attempts to give some teams easier fixtures than others is ridiculous.

 

[Champ or Chump]

I get Laurimar and Watsonia (take the place of the premier for fixturing purposes) only playing lalor once but surely the Ivanhoe team that finished 3rd (and picked up a stack of talent) shouldn’t play them twice when kinglake who finished 5th and lost their best player and more only play them once. Fixturing in Div 3 should be more equal than that.

It's never going to be even Bagger with the number of teams and you can find pros and cons to each and every club.

I doubt the NFNL read socials to see what 'talent' clubs have picked up to do fixtures? Come on Bagger, this is silly talk.


You happy with your clubs draw?

 

[MortlockWatcher]

All teams should have equal fixtures. The idea that the league attempts to give some teams easier fixtures than others is ridiculous.

That's why the ideal number for a division is nine (18 rounds, 16 matches and two byes playing everyone home and away) or ten (18 rounds, playing everyone home and away).

That way there is equality for all ... but then people will pick through their matches with a fine tooth comb and whinge about their tough start or tough run into the end of the home and away season.

 

[baggersforflaggers]

It's never going to be even Bagger with the number of teams and you can find pros and cons to each and every club.

I doubt the NFNL read socials to see what 'talent' clubs have picked up to do fixtures? Come on Bagger, this is silly talk.


You happy with your clubs draw?

Don’t have a son playing in Div 3 this year but I just don’t understand how 3rd plays last twice and 5th doesn’t? That’s all.. Ivanhoe already have an extra win over two of last years finalists Laurimar and Kinglake with their draw..

 

[Wastin time]

After quick look at draw , imo early predictions.
(Just for something to do)

top.5.
Laurimar (Premiers)
Ivanhoe
Mernda
Kilmore
Resevoir

Wildcard - H/West

*The Next 5 won’t beat any of these.

Biggest falls ( a draw )
Epping & Kinglake

Spoon - Turtles

 

[yearoftheeagle]

After quick look at draw , imo early predictions.
(Just for something to do)

top.5.
Laurimar (Premiers)
Ivanhoe
Mernda
Kilmore
Resevoir

Wildcard - H/West

*The Next 5 won’t beat any of these.

Biggest falls ( a draw )
Epping & Kinglake

Spoon - Turtles

I’d say watsonia would be the biggest fall considering they were Div 2 and you don’t have them in the 5?
How far do you have Epping and kinglake dropping?

 

[Wastin time]

I’d say watsonia would be the biggest fall considering they were Div 2 and you don’t have them in the 5?
How far do you have Epping and kinglake dropping?

Only going by transfers out , a few sides have lost some quality , but still time to change their fortunes.
ATM I’d say both will be bottom 4.
I have Watsonia 5 goals behind West , followed by Epping , kinglake , lalor , turtles.

 

[10571z]

Only going by transfers out , a few sides have lost some quality , but still time to change their fortunes.
ATM I’d say both will be bottom 4.
I have Watsonia 5 goals behind West , followed by Epping , kinglake , lalor , turtles.

Transfers are useless as it doesn’t show players lost to other leagues.

 

[Wastin time]

Transfers are useless as it doesn’t show players lost to other leagues.

Oh other leagues & leader news are a lot better with their transfer updates than NFNL.. follow edfl , RDFL , wrfl & some country leagues on fb you see most..
Epping , kinglake , Watsonia lost quite a few of their ‘better’ players & thus far haven’t added much..

 

[Champ or Chump]

Don’t have a son playing in Div 3 this year but I just don’t understand how 3rd plays last twice and 5th doesn’t? That’s all.. Ivanhoe already have an extra win over two of last years finalists Laurimar and Kinglake with their draw..

Maybe because we played Lalor once only last year?
Or
do you think all the top sides (from previous year) should play each other twice and all the bottom sides (from previous year) play each other twice as a starting point?

I have no idea how you 'work out' a fixture with 11 teams

 

[10571z]

Don’t have a son playing in Div 3 this year but I just don’t understand how 3rd plays last twice and 5th doesn’t? That’s all.. Ivanhoe already have an extra win over two of last years finalists Laurimar and Kinglake with their draw..

Never going to be “equal” not worth worrying about to much.

 

[baggersforflaggers]

Laurimar and stars only played Lalor once last year champ as well..

It should be like you said, top
Teams play each other twice and go from there..

Example..If we say Watsonia replace the premier (stars), then they should play 2nd 3rd and so on to they play everyone and then start again..

Same for Lalor, they work up the ladder
From last year..

Doesn’t matter anyway.. might be more equal in 2027…

Let the planning begin..

 

[Kangaman4lyf]

Don’t have a son playing in Div 3 this year but I just don’t understand how 3rd plays last twice and 5th doesn’t? That’s all.. Ivanhoe already have an extra win over two of last years finalists Laurimar and Kinglake with their draw..

Ivanhoe play Lalor, HW, Reservoir twice. Kinglake only get Lalor, reservoir and HW once and Laurimar only get Lalor and HW once.
For a team that played in a prelim and would be the second best team remaining in division 3 aside from watsonia dropping down from division 2, without taking recruiting into account you’d think the double ups for ivanhoe wouldn’t include 3 of the bottom 4 teams from 2025. Laurimar and Stars, even Mernda had much tougher draws in the positions that finished in following the 2024 season.

 

[baggersforflaggers]

Maybe the league want the powerhouse Hoers up a Div or two ASAP. The more successful the old VAFA teams are, the more VAFA teams that may come across, the more cash for the league, more bonuses for management..

The league wouldn’t do that or think like that though would they?.

Maybe Champ petitioned for an easier draw.. bought the new CEO a few froths at the unofficial league HQ

 

[Champ or Chump]

Maybe the league want the powerhouse Hoers up a Div or two ASAP. The more successful the old VAFA teams are, the more VAFA teams that may come across, the more cash for the league, more bonuses for management..

The league wouldn’t do that or think like that though would they?.

Maybe Champ petitioned for an easier draw.. bought the new CEO a few froths at the unofficial league HQ

Powerhouse - ha ha ha - I think all this chatter is nice to hear about our club, but we finished third last year and got smacked by the top two teams. But, nice others think it (on big footy)

PS - doubt any other VAFA teams would move to NFNL. Parkside and Preston the only one's in the North and I'm told very happy to stay in VAFA.

As for meeting the new CEO, if he wants to come to a past players day I'll shout. That's as close as I'll get

This year will be more competitive than last across the board I'd suggest, but December predictions are good to have some banter about.

As to the theory of top sides from year previous playing each other twice - I personally don't have an issue with it IF we think it might help even things up for home and away. That said, I'd expect Mernda and Ressa to be right up there next year and if they played the bottom half of the draw more than top half from 2024 that would work out very well for them you would think.

We all want an even comp as much as possible, so good to see West and Turtles recruit well with Epping potentially playing a slightly longer game on their youth focussed approach. Kilmore has lost a couple, picked up a couple and have some very good under 19's coming through (and new coach). Who knows with Kinglake with their ins and outs and ground change? Lalor looks to be the only club not to have picked up a lot yet as they have had to focus on off field.

We will see what happens ...... but bagger, if you can send me the CEO's phone number I'll see if he is free to catch up at the SHB and chat

 

[Thunder1]

I think we can all agree, div 3 isn't a draw its a fixture.
It won't be an even draw until it becomes 10 teams, which won't be in 2026.

Already I think it's going to be a too horse race, similar to this year with Laurimar and Ivanhoe clear standouts.

Epping and Kinglake 2025 finalists have lost some quality players and not sure what they have brought in replaces those they have lost.

Mernda will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025, they will play finals.

Kilmore will continue to focus on their youth but losing the Derrick boys is a big loss but I think they will play finals.

Reservoir and West for me are still unknown qualities, can they push up to play finals, I think we will know more after about rounds 3-4.

Turtles have are in a bit of a rebuild phase, think 2026 will just be a year to consolidate and grow before pushing into 2027 and 2028.

Lalor, commend them for continuing to go around again but need a big injection of players but in this day and age it's very very difficult.

And Watsonia, seem to have lost of their top end quality players, they will be there ans thereabouts though..


Early ladder prediction
Laurimar
Ivanhoe.
Gap
Mernda
Gap
After that every side will be wanting to play finals, only 2 sides I can't see playing finals are Turtles and Lalor.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and Safe New Year. Drive safe on the roads

 

[Kangaman4lyf]

I think we can all agree, div 3 isn't a draw its a fixture.
It won't be an even draw until it becomes 10 teams, which won't be in 2026.

Already I think it's going to be a too horse race, similar to this year with Laurimar and Ivanhoe clear standouts.

Epping and Kinglake 2025 finalists have lost some quality players and not sure what they have brought in replaces those they have lost.

Mernda will look to bounce back from a disappointing 2025, they will play finals.

Kilmore will continue to focus on their youth but losing the Derrick boys is a big loss but I think they will play finals.

Reservoir and West for me are still unknown qualities, can they push up to play finals, I think we will know more after about rounds 3-4.

Turtles have are in a bit of a rebuild phase, think 2026 will just be a year to consolidate and grow before pushing into 2027 and 2028.

Lalor, commend them for continuing to go around again but need a big injection of players but in this day and age it's very very difficult.

And Watsonia, seem to have lost of their top end quality players, they will be there ans thereabouts though..


Early ladder prediction
Laurimar
Ivanhoe.
Gap
Mernda
Gap
After that every side will be wanting to play finals, only 2 sides I can't see playing finals are Turtles and Lalor.

I hope everyone has a great Christmas and Safe New Year. Drive safe on the roads

Watsonia will be bottom 3.