Sport
11 November, 2025
Swings and roundabouts in new NCFL draw
ST ARNAUD shapes as the big winner from the North Central league draw for 2026.
ST ARNAUD shapes as the big winner from the North Central league draw for 2026.
The Saints, who finished second last in 2025, will play fellow strugglers Donald and Charlton three times.
The eight-team, 16-round competition means every side plays each other twice, with the last two weeks repeating rounds one and two.
Donald was winless in 2025, while Charlton won four matches and finished sixth, but with a poorer percentage than the seventh-placed Saints, who won just their two games against the hapless Royal Blues last season.
Under new co-coaches Harley Durward and Darby Schilder, St Arnaud will be looking to climb the ladder next season, and the favourable draw is a big advantage. The Saints travel to Charlton in round one on April 11 before hosting Donald in round two, so a quick start to the season is on the cards.
The Navy Blues, also under a new coach in Carl Thiesz, will play St Arnaud and Wedderburn three times.
They will fancy their chances against the Saints and Donald, whom they face in round four.
Wedderburn and Boort have been handed tough draws.
The Redbacks will meet reigning premiers Calder United three times, with two of those clashes away from home.
Wedderburn also has a tough extended start to the season, with matches against 2025 runners-up Birchip Watchem and fierce Loddon Shire rivals Boort as well as Calder in the first five rounds.
However, Boort has an even more difficult beginning to the season after its meeting with Donald in round one.
The Magpies have lost their key playmaker Jhye Baddeley-Kelly and last season’s captain Jarrod Fitzpatrick to Loddon Valley league’s Pyramid Hill, with Fitzpatrick appointed as Bulldogs coach.
New Boort coach Andrew Rutley, who has replaced Dale Cameron, faces tough assignments against Sea Lake Nandaly, Calder, Birchip Watchem and Wedderburn among the opening five rounds.
The Magpies play Donald and Sea Lake three times. North Central will have a disjointed season again in 2026, with four all-competition byes for the football and netball teams.
The first week off, for Anzac Day weekend, is after just two rounds have been played, before another bye after two more rounds.
King’s Birthday weekend in June brings yet another bye, meaning only six rounds will have been played over nine weeks to start the season.
2026 North Central league draw
April 11
Sea Lake Nandaly v Birchip Watchem
Donald v Boort
Charlton v St Arnaud
Calder United v Wedderburn
April 18
Boort v Sea Lake Nandaly
St Arnaud v Donald
Wedderburn v Charlton
Birchip Watchem v Calder United
April 25
ANZAC Day
May 2
Sea Lake Nandaly v St Arnaud
Donald v Charlton
Birchip Watchem v Wedderburn
Calder United v Boort
May 9
Charlton v Sea Lake Nandaly
Donald v Wedderburn
St Arnaud v Calder United
Boort v Birchip Watchem
May 16
Hockey Weekend (JCC Championships)
May 23
Sea Lake Nandaly v Donald
Calder United v Charlton
Birchip Watchem v St Arnaud
Wedderburn v Boort
May 30
Wedderburn v Sea Lake Nandaly
Calder United v Donald
Birchip Watchem v Charlton
Boort v St Arnaud
June 6
King’s Birthday Weekend
June 13
Sea Lake Nandaly v Calder United
Donald v Birchip Watchem
Charlton v Boort
Wedderburn v St Arnaud
June 20
Birchip Watchem v Sea Lake Nandaly
Boort v Donald
St Arnaud v Charlton
Wedderburn v Calder United
June 27
Sea Lake Nandaly v Boort
Donald v St Arnaud
Charlton v Wedderburn
Calder United v Birchip Watchem
July 4
Mid-Season Bye (School Holidays)
July 11
St Arnaud v Sea Lake Nandaly
Charlton v Donald
Wedderburn v Birchip Watchem
Boort v Calder United
July 18
Sea Lake Nandaly v Charlton
Wedderburn v Donald
Calder United v St Arnaud
Birchip Watchem v Boort
July 25
Donald v Sea Lake Nandaly
Charlton v Calder United
St Arnaud v Birchip Watchem
Boort v Wedderburn
August 1
Sea Lake Nandaly v Wedderburn
Donald v Calder United
Charlton v Birchip Watchem
St Arnaud v Boort
August 8
Calder United v Sea Lake Nandaly
Birchip Watchem v Donald
Boort v Charlton
Wedderburn v St Arnaud
August 15
Sea Lake Nandaly v Birchip Watchem
Donald v Boort
Charlton v St Arnaud
Calder United v Wedderburn
August 22
Boort v Sea Lake Nandaly
St Arnaud v Donald
Wedderburn v Charlton
Birchip Watchem v Calder United
Finals
August 29, September 5, September 12, September 19
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