RDFNL 2026 Season discussion

[Doona2]

Hey all.

Just want to wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Ditto Auck to you and yours from me and mine, same goes to all the regulars

Already getting anxious about the thought of no footy involvement for the first time in a bloody long time, so please keep the interest and content levels high for 2026

 

[Turbos mail]

Hey all.

Just want to wish everyone a Merry Xmas and a safe and happy New Year.

Same to you Auck and your family, as well as all the rest of the BF regulars. Remember to go hard or go home.. and slip, slop, slap unless you use the coconut oil like myself.

Go South in 2026..

 

[Aucklander]

Ditto Auck to you and yours from me and mine, same goes to all the regulars

Already getting anxious about the thought of no footy involvement for the first time in a bloody long time, so please keep the interest and content levels high for 2026

Not really sure how much footy I will get to watch in 2026 Doona. My grandson has come from NZ to play soccer here so will be a bit of juggling to do.

 

[Doona2]

Hope everyone enjoyed the XMas/NY period safely and surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

Generally now's the time the bush telegraph gets going, young blokes everywhere have posted shirt off pics with towels wrapped around their heads and after running into many football lads, players, coaches over the last week in Melbourne it sounds like a few more movements yet to land.

Gill back to Wallan full time is huge for them, and don't underestimate how getting big Kova will help Riddell and more importantly Josh Grabham too.
Centrals too have a jagged a high end ruck in Chapman also, one thing the comp lacked until the last few years were quality (above 200cm) big men.

Early stab for me ...
1. Diggers Rest - couldn't f**k it up for a 3rd year, too proud a club.
2. Wallan - now or never as one local explained
3. Macedon - still need to score 3-4+ goals more a week on average for me.
4. Riddell - only on list rollover, will know more after first month.
5. South - had their look, now will recruit accordingly.
6. Kyneton - losing Ryan hurts after he got the keys to the city recently, but list will hold up.

Boring somewhat if the 2025 ladder simply shuffles, but given lopsided draws etc I can't see (this far out) the top 6 changing.

 

[uptheguts625]

Hope everyone enjoyed the XMas/NY period safely and surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

Generally now's the time the bush telegraph gets going, young blokes everywhere have posted shirt off pics with towels wrapped around their heads and after running into many football lads, players, coaches over the last week in Melbourne it sounds like a few more movements yet to land.

Gill back to Wallan full time is huge for them, and don't underestimate how getting big Kova will help Riddell and more importantly Josh Grabham too.
Centrals too have a jagged a high end ruck in Chapman also, one thing the comp lacked until the last few years were quality (above 200cm) big men.

Early stab for me ...
1. Diggers Rest - couldn't f**k it up for a 3rd year, too proud a club.
2. Wallan - now or never as one local explained
3. Macedon - still need to score 3-4+ goals more a week on average for me.
4. Riddell - only on list rollover, will know more after first month.
5. South - had their look, now will recruit accordingly.
6. Kyneton - losing Ryan hurts after he got the keys to the city recently, but list will hold up.

Boring somewhat if the 2025 ladder simply shuffles, but given lopsided draws etc I can't see (this far out) the top 6 changing.

Who outside this 6 could push for a spot in there? Particularly with all the signings teams have been posting.

 

[Aucklander]

Who outside this 6 could push for a spot in there? Particularly with all the signings teams have been posting.

Surely Melton C are going to make a charge?

Comp looking very close in 2026.

 

[Vlodrive]

Surely Melton C are going to make a charge?

Comp looking very close in 2026.

Romsey before Centrals for me. Are the transfers still being updated regularly?

 

[Doona2]

Surely Melton C are going to make a charge?

Comp looking very close in 2026.

Anywhere other than last is an improved season for Centrals IMO.
They will be in plenty of games at 3/4 time and/or late compared to recent years ... then it's about nailing the attention to detail stuff more often than not, and can they run out 4 x 30+ minute blocks.

Romsey for me is the other contender, they'll also be nipping around that 4th/5th/6th spot until very late in the season.

 

[Aucklander]

Romsey before Centrals for me. Are the transfers still being updated regularly?

Romsey usually in the mix, but Melton with the signings will need to make a challenge.

I noticed the transfers went up, I think, when the were due to come down.

The RDFNL need to do better when it comes to Social media and things like transfers. IIRC, still not vote count tally up yet.

Any news on the Moore signing at Diggers? They're putting together a very tough side to beat.

 

[Vlodrive]

Anywhere other than last is an improved season for Centrals IMO.
They will be in plenty of games at 3/4 time and/or late compared to recent years ... then it's about nailing the attention to detail stuff more often than not, and can they run out 4 x 30+ minute blocks.

Romsey for me is the other contender, they'll also be nipping around that 4th/5th/6th spot until very late in the season.

Have heard from a few guys that have recently signed at Centrals they aren’t very hopeful. Been strugglers for years, something has to change for the good of the club & the comp.

 

[Vlodrive]

Romsey usually in the mix, but Melton with the signings will need to make a challenge.

I noticed the transfers went up, I think, when the were due to come down.

The RDFNL need to do better when it comes to Social media and things like transfers. IIRC, still not vote count tally up yet.

Any news on the Moore signing at Diggers? They're putting together a very tough side to beat.

It would be fantastic if they had a setup like the EDFL. I had a look at the RDFL transfers before and gave up after about 15 seconds. Nothings in alphabetical order and the dates are all over the shop. Might give it a go on the computer to see if it’s any better.

 

[daniel31]

Who outside this 6 could push for a spot in there? Particularly with all the signings teams have been posting.

Romsey or Woodend for me to challenge top teams.

 

[uptheguts625]

Romsey or Woodend for me to challenge top teams.

woodend haven’t really made any announcements yet, what makes you think this?

 

[Aucklander]

woodend haven’t really made any announcements yet, what makes you think this?

A couple of posters made a lot of noise last year only for them to fall flat on their face. Signings should ramp up pretty soon I would think.

 

[daniel31]

woodend haven’t really made any announcements yet, what makes you think this?

The only 2 I could think of, just an opinion tbh. I remember they beat Riddell.

 

[Grassroots Guru]

Woodend are very much around the mark to sneak into the 6.

Lost by 20 pts or less against Romsey x2, Melton South, Kyneton, Diggers Rest & won against the premiers in Rnd 17.
Having a percentage of over 100 despite a 6 win season shows they are super competitive and could easily turn some close losses into wins and whole dynamic of the ladder can shift quickly with a 8 point turnaround for sides.

 

[Nick Smith]

Hope everyone enjoyed the XMas/NY period safely and surrounded by their nearest and dearest.

Generally now's the time the bush telegraph gets going, young blokes everywhere have posted shirt off pics with towels wrapped around their heads and after running into many football lads, players, coaches over the last week in Melbourne it sounds like a few more movements yet to land.

Gill back to Wallan full time is huge for them, and don't underestimate how getting big Kova will help Riddell and more importantly Josh Grabham too.
Centrals too have a jagged a high end ruck in Chapman also, one thing the comp lacked until the last few years were quality (above 200cm) big men.

Early stab for me ...
1. Diggers Rest - couldn't f**k it up for a 3rd year, too proud a club.
2. Wallan - now or never as one local explained
3. Macedon - still need to score 3-4+ goals more a week on average for me.
4. Riddell - only on list rollover, will know more after first month.
5. South - had their look, now will recruit accordingly.
6. Kyneton - losing Ryan hurts after he got the keys to the city recently, but list will hold up.

Boring somewhat if the 2025 ladder simply shuffles, but given lopsided draws etc I can't see (this far out) the top 6 changing.

Where is Ryan off to?

 

[Doona2]

Where is Ryan off to?

Coburg I’m led to believe.

And if you listen to some more in the know folk than me - VFL clubs aren’t too keen on their younger listed players participating in the RDFNL which is sad for the comp.

 

[Tigerman75]

Would anyone know where to find the updated clearance list, seems as the RDFNL are living in the past and cant update the online site list.

 

[Mad Jack]

Coburg I’m led to believe.

And if you listen to some more in the know folk than me - VFL clubs aren’t too keen on their younger listed players participating in the RDFNL which is sad for the comp.

I’d say it’s sad on the VFL clubs, particularly Coburg who have been irrelevant for so long. Happy to recruit from the league, and then say the standard isn’t good enough, you need to play elsewhere.

 

[broadsted]

Was looking to bring my son down (under 19s transitioning to senior football) to Wallan but with a bit of research on the new coach don’t think it’s an environment I’d want my family around. Can anyone recommend somewhere local I could look at?
Coming across from the NFL

 

[daniel31]

Was looking to bring my son down (under 19s transitioning to senior football) to Wallan but with a bit of research on the new coach don’t think it’s an environment I’d want my family around. Can anyone recommend somewhere local I could look at?
Coming across from the NFL

Try Riddell or Gisborne giants.

 

[Fozz1908]

Was looking to bring my son down (under 19s transitioning to senior football) to Wallan but with a bit of research on the new coach don’t think it’s an environment I’d want my family around. Can anyone recommend somewhere local I could look at?
Coming across from the NFL

If he's aged anywhere from 23 to 30, he can still get a game in the Giants 19s.

 

[Doona2]

Was looking to bring my son down (under 19s transitioning to senior football) to Wallan but with a bit of research on the new coach don’t think it’s an environment I’d want my family around. Can anyone recommend somewhere local I could look at?
Coming across from the NFL

Kilmore or Lancefield if he's seeking senior opportunity.

 

[leo tolstoy]

Try Riddell or Gisborne giants.

Because the Gisborne Giants need more people not from Gisborne in their team?