afl games will reach more viewers in 2026 after the AFL announced a new VFL broadcast agreement that brings multiple Collingwood VFL fixtures to national screens; the deal covers the 2026 Smithy’s VFL season and aims to expand coverage across several networks and radio partners. The agreement sets out broadcast allocations across Kayo SPORTS, the ABC, the Seven Network and SEN for the 2026 home-and-away season. Collingwood’s set of five matches already named in the schedule will see start times adjusted to fit the broadcast windows.
Afl Games: Collingwood broadcast slate and key scheduling
The AFL’s deal confirms at least 53 VFL matches across the four broadcasters in 2026, with specific Collingwood fixtures included among the early-round schedule. Kayo SPORTS will air 16 matches across the opening 13 rounds and will carry Collingwood games that serve as curtain-raisers to AFL matches. Kayo SPORTs’s listed Collingwood broadcasts and amended start times are: Round 2 — Collingwood vs GWS Giants, Victoria Park, Friday 27 March, 3: 00pm (ET); Round 7 — Collingwood vs Geelong Cats, Victoria Park, Saturday 9 May, 12: 05pm (ET); Round 8 — Sydney Swans vs Collingwood, Tramway Oval, Friday 15 May, 2: 00pm (ET); Round 9 — Werribee vs Collingwood, Melbourne Avalon Airport Oval, Saturday 23 May, 12: 05pm (ET); Round 11 — Collingwood vs Casey Demons, Victoria Park, Saturday 6 June, 12: 05pm (ET).
The ABC will broadcast one VFL match each round of the home-and-away season and will carry key finals weeks including preliminary finals and the Grand Final, with its regular-season broadcast generally commencing at 12: 05pm each Saturday (ET). The Seven Network will carry all Tasmania home games nationally, while SEN Tasmania will broadcast Tasmania home-and-away matches on radio and the SEN app. The AFL will continue to stream all Smithy’s VFL and VFLW matches live and free on its official platforms.
Immediate reactions
Greg Swann, AFL Executive General Manager Football Performance, framed the structural certainty as a priority for clubs: “Throughout the off-season we have worked closely with all clubs to carefully assess the overall performance of the VFL and its member clubs. ” Swann added that the commitment enables clubs and stakeholders to operate with greater confidence, noting that the existing competition format will be maintained.
Collingwood has adjusted fixture start times where broadcasts require amended kick-offs, and the club has signalled the line-up for its first home fixture will be confirmed ahead of the season opener.
Quick context: the AFL has committed to maintaining the VFL competition structure for at least the next three seasons, keeping the single-division, 21-round format and a top-10 finals system in place through at least 2028. The VFL features 22 clubs across four eastern seaboard states, including eight standalone clubs, two aligned clubs and 12 AFL reserves clubs.
What’s next for coverage and the competition
Broadcasters will confirm additional VFL broadcast selections once scheduling for Rounds 14 to 21 is finalised, and the Smithy’s VFL fixture will be updated where matches require amended start times to suit broadcast windows. Clubs will continue to undergo annual licence reviews at season’s end to confirm on-field and off-field compliance with licence obligations. Expect more fixture updates and final broadcast lists as the 2026 Smithy’s VFL home-and-away season approaches and more afl games are scheduled into televised and radio windows.
