The countdown begins! With a thrilling conclusion to the 2025 NPLM season in September followed by several clubs kicking on in the inaugural Australian Championship, the 2026 edition promises to be even better as old rivalries are renewed in Victoria, the centre of the universe.
Here's a closer look at some of the must-watch clashes form the opening rounds that will set the tone for an action packed year ahead.
Round 2: Green Gully v Caroline Springs George Cross
A rivalry returns, as two of Victoria’s proudest clubs renew their vows as proud stalwarts of the Maltese community. Formed in 1947, George Cross were an ever-present in Victoria’s top-flight for over 40 years, their run only broken by their representation in the NSL, where they locked horns with Green Gully on the national stage. Although formed less than a decade later, Gully have proven the more successful of the clubs and have shaken their little-brother tag with aplomb, enjoying an unprecedented run in the top-flight only matched by South Melbourne.
With former Port Melbourne Head Coach Eric Vassiliadis at the helm, George Cross achieved promotion in an impressive nineteen-win VPL1 campaign, returning to the top-flight for the first time in sixteen years. The last match between both clubs was in the only edition of the Mirabella Cup in 2011, Gully running out winners thanks to a Pasquale Vizzari goal in the second-half. After a mid-table finish in 2025, Green Gully will be hoping to emulate that result as David Chick seeks a return to finals football for the first time since 2022.
Round 6: Preston v Avondale
The winds of change have swept through Avenger Park and Genis Steel Stadium, but few would have predicted that Zoran Markovski’s return to the former venue would be at the helm of the Lions. Replacing club legend Lou Acevski in the dugout, Markovski brings an imposing record to Preston, and the club are hoping his midas touch will be the spark that elevates the club into Championship contention.
Meanwhile, the Avengers have overhauled their squad and have invested their future in playing great Jonatan Germano, who commenced his senior coach journey in the Australian Championship campaign. Still smarting after their failure to win at home in the quarter-finals, Avondale will be hoping that gun Championship recruit Bruno Fornaroli will stick around for the NPL season and spearhead their charge in a campaign that may pose more questions than answers if results fail to fall in their favour.
Round 13: Bentleigh Greens v Heidelberg United
Is there a more mouth-watering prospect that the return of a Championship winning coach to his former club? How about doubling the dose? For George Katsakis and John Anastasiadis, the prospect of coaching against one another is a rivalry they live for, but against a club where success is synonymous with the respective careers is the spice the NPL Victoria is renowned for.
Katsakis delivered the Greens promotion just two seasons after relegation, restoring their top-flight status with the help of the experienced Leigh Broxham and trusted Adrian Zahra. Meanwhile, Anastasiadis begins 2026 with a season to behold behind him, with success in the NPL Championship decider matched by an unprecedented run in the Australia Cup, where they came up just short against a rejuvenated Newcastle Jets, and a semi-final finish in the inaugural Australian Championship. While many expect Johnny A’s days to be numbered as A-League clubs come circling, this clash promises one more edition in a coaching rivalry for the ages.
Round 10: Dandenong City v Dandenong Thunder
While the clubs proudly represent their respective Albanian and Croatian communities in Melbourne’s South-East, this rivalry has evolved into a true reflection of the Greater Dandenong region.
What better way to win your first Dandy Derby than to do it away from home – and in an Elimination Final. Forever the also-rans in a fixture that was so one-sided it beggared belief, City began their epic finals run with an upset over Thunder at George Andrews Reserve. Jamie Latham capped off a brilliant season with what proved to be the winner and Nick Tolios will be hoping the Welshman can bring that form again in 2026 and help his club go one better.
Despite the loss and subsequent elimination, the improvement Thunder had under Adam Piddick in 2025 was stark, and they will be hoping to build upon that foundation in a bid to solidify a top two spot they narrowly missed out on to Heidelberg United. They will be hoping for maximum points in this fixture too, if only for bragging rights in a city which has fast become a hotbed for some of Victoria’s finest talent.
Round 9: Oakleigh Cannons v South Melbourne
While these two teams have been involved in some dour fixtures in recent seasons, a revamped Jack Edwards Reserve will be rocking when it welcomes a reborn South Melbourne for undoubtedly the biggest fixture of their home calendar. Under Sinisa Cohadzic, South have discovered a brand of football that has not only been more competitive, but brought back its fans, as evidenced by some wonderful crowds at Lakeside Stadium in the Australian Championship. As the inaugural winners of the national second-tier, South are riding a high after a record breaking tenth Dockerty Cup kickstarted an ultimately successful 2025 season.
Evergreen Chris Taylor returns for another season at the helm of the Cannons, who will be buoyed by its talisman and Gold Medal Winner Joe Guest, who kits up for another season where he promises to spearhead the Cannons charge for a third Championship in five seasons. Whatever the outcome in this one, expect a packed grandstand and an atmosphere only the NPL in Victoria can deliver.
Your Team's Must-Watch Match
Altona Magic v Preston Lions (Round 13)
Avondale v Preston Lions (Round 6)
Bentleigh Greens v Heidelberg United (Round 13)
Caroline Springs George Cross v Green Gully (Round 2)
Dandenong City v Dandenong Thunder (Round 10)
Dandenong Thunder v Dandenong City (Round 10)
Green Gully v Caroline Springs George Cross (Round 2)
Heidelberg United v Bentleigh Greens (Round 13)
Hume City v Green Gully (Round 4)
Melbourne City v South Melbourne (Round 11)
Oakleigh Cannons v South Melbourne (Round 9)
Preston Lions v Avondale (Round 6)
South Melbourne v Oakleigh Cannons (Round 9)
St Albans v Hume City (Round 9)