League membership
In 2026, 22 teams will compete in the VFL, the equal-most (with 2021) to contest a VFA/VFL premiership in a single division. [9] It is the first time that clubs from four different states will be represented in the same season. [9]
Preston
The Northern Bullants faced several challenges throughout the 2025 season. A new president and board took over in May 2025, reverting the club to its traditional "Preston Football Club" name on 20 August 2025, immediately after the conclusion of the home-and-away season. [10] The club had last competed as Preston in 1999 (when it was nicknamed the "Knights"). [11]
At the same time, it was reported that the club could be in danger of folding because of debt, with the club asking the Australian Football League (AFL) to financially assist. [12] On 6 October 2025, after years of uncompetitive performances, having struggled to pay its players and staff in 2025, and with questions over its long-term viability without the annual subsidies that clubs had received from the league prior to the pandemic-interrupted 2020 season, the VFL revoked the club's licence. [13]
It was the not the first time Preston's history that it had faced similar circumstances – in 1912 it amalgamated with Northcote, in 1997 its licence was withdrawn but was restored after one month, and in 2020 it almost folded after Carlton ended their affiliation. [14]
Initially, Preston club officials expressed optimism about regaining a VFL licence in 2027 or 2028. [15] However, faced with no viable path to readmission, the club entered voluntary liquidation after a meeting of members on 15 December 2025. [16] [17]
St Kilda
St Kilda competed in the VFL with its own reserves team during the 2000 season, before entering into an affiliation with Springvale (later renamed Casey) in 2001. The agreement ended after the 2008 season and St Kilda affiliated with Sandringham in 2009. [18]
In April 2025, Sandringham rejected a proposal from St Kilda to be renamed to the "Sandringham Saints" and move all home matches from Trevor Barker Beach Oval to Moorabbin Oval. [19] The proposal also would have resulted in Sandringham permanently using St Kilda's colours of red, black and white (which it had already worn as an away jumper beginning in 2019). [20]
On 30 June 2025, St Kilda announced it would end its affiliation with Sandringham following the 2025 season. [21] [22] The AFL granted a VFL licence to St Kilda the same day, while Sandringham will continue in the competition as a standalone team. [23] [24]
Tasmania
On 5 September 2025, the Tasmania Football Club was granted a licence to compete in the VFL from 2026, ahead of its planned entry into the AFL from the 2028 season. [25] [26] Jeromey Webberley was appointed as the club's inaugural VFL coach, while former Essendon player Jye Menzie became the club's first player when he was signed on 30 September 2025. [27] [28]
Tasmania played its first official practice match against Werribee at RMIT Oval on 7 March 2026, losing 14.8 (92) to 10.12 (72). [29] Its first home-and-away season match will be played against Coburg at North Hobart Oval in round 1. [30]
It will be the first time a club from Tasmania has competed in the VFL since the original Tasmania Football Club, which competed from 2001 until the end of 2008. [31]