The 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons are set to kick off in March, with the fixtures for Round 1 being officially released by the AFL. The Smithy’s VFL season, featuring 21 teams from Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland, will commence the weekend of March 24-26, and all teams from the previous season will be competing once again. The reigning champions of the Smithy’s VFL are the Casey Demons, who defeated Southport Sharks in the Grand Final.
The rebel VFLW season, contested by 12 teams, will also start on the same weekend, with the reigning champions being Essendon, who defeated the Southern Saints in the Grand Final. Hawthorn has transferred its VFLW license to the Box Hill Hawks, but the two clubs will remain aligned, and the team will be competing under the Box Hill Hawks banner.
Jennie Loughnan, Head of State League Competitions for the AFL, stated that 2023 is going to be a big year for both the Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW competitions as they aim to build on the success of the previous year, where both competitions were completed and premierships were awarded for the first time since 2019.
Round 1 of the Smithy’s VFL season will feature 10 matches across three states, with the first game being played on Friday, March 24, between Carlton and Geelong Cats at IKON Park. The reigning champions, Casey Demons, will unfurl their premiership flag on Saturday, when they host Footscray Bulldogs at Casey Fields.
Tickets for standalone VFL matches are usually $10 for adults, $5 concession, while kids under 15 go free.
All matches in the 2023 Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be live streamed free via the AFL website (afl.com.au) and AFL Live Official App. Scoring and stats can be found on the AFL Live Official App and the VFL App.
Smithy’s VFL Round 1
Friday March 24
Carlton vs. Geelong Cats – IKON Park, 7:05pm
Saturday March 25
Collingwood vs. Coburg – Victoria Park, 11:05am
Brisbane Lions vs. Werribee – Brighton Homes Arena, 11:05am
Gold Coast SUNS vs. Williamstown – Austworld Centre Oval, 12:05pm
Southport Sharks vs. Sandringham – Fankhauser Reserve, 1:05pm
Casey Demons vs. Footscray Bulldogs – Casey Fields, 2:05pm
North Melbourne vs. Port Melbourne – Arden Street Oval, 3:05pm
Sunday March 26
Sydney Swans vs. Box Hill Hawks – Tramway Oval, 10:05am
Richmond vs. Northern Bullants – Swinburne Centre, 12:00pm
Essendon vs. GWS GIANTS – NEC Hangar, 2:05pm
Bye: Frankston
*All times local
The opening round of the rebel VFLW season will commence on Saturday, March 25, with four matches scheduled for the first day of the season. The first game will be between the Darebin Falcons and Southern Saints at La Trobe University, with the first bounce at 10:00 am. Essendon and Box Hill Hawks will meet in the first of two Sunday games, with the Bombers set to unfurl their premiership flag at the NEC Hangar.
Entry to VFLW matches is free, or free until half time where venues host a VFLW/VFL double header.
rebel VFLW Round 1
Saturday March 25
Darebin Falcons vs. Southern Saints – La Trobe University Bundoora, 10:00am
Carlton vs. Port Melbourne – IKON Park, 2:00pm
Geelong Cats vs. North Melbourne – Deakin University Waurn Ponds, 3:00pm
Collingwood vs. Williamstown – Victoria Park, 3:00pm
Sunday March 26
Essendon vs. Box Hill Hawks – NEC Hangar, 11:00am
Western Bulldogs vs. Casey Demons – Mars Stadium, 12:30pm
The fixtures for the remaining rounds of both the Smithy’s VFL and rebel VFLW seasons will be released shortly.
