AFL Northern Territory is excited to announce the upcoming 2026 TIO Central Australian Football League (CAFL) season fixture, beginning with a blockbuster opening round that will showcase the very best of football in Central Australia.
The town competition is set to kick off on April 8, with the future of the league on full display as the Under 15s, Under 17s and Under 18s take centre stage at TIO Traeger Park across Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
The Senior Divisions will then take to the field for the first time on Saturday, April 11, with a huge opening day of senior football. Headlining the action is a Grand Final replay between Federal and Pioneer, who will meet across the Reserves, Women’s and Men’s competitions in a marquee prime-time slot.
Rovers and South will also clash across all divisions in Round 1, setting the stage for another competitive and high-quality TIO CAFL season.
Round 2 continues the early-season excitement, with the Women’s Grand Final rematch scheduled for Saturday, April 18 at Albrecht Oval, giving fans another early look at two of the competition’s premier sides.
The 2026 TIO CAFL season promises a blockbuster schedule, kicking off with a marquee opening round at TIO Traeger Park celebrating premier partner TIO.
TIO continues its strong support of Territory Footy, playing a vital role in strengthening communities, fostering local talent, and ensuring Australian Rules Football thrives across the Northern Territory.
The season quickly builds momentum with a series of headline rematches and tribute fixtures. Round 4 features a highly anticipated 2025 Reserves Grand Final replay, as West looks to bounce back against Federal in a physical contest. In Round 5, Federal and South meet in the annual Tony Cusack Shield, a cornerstone fixture honouring Cusack’s courage following his life-altering injury in 1996.
Tribute matches continue in Round 6 with South and Rovers contesting the Josh Palmer Shield at Albrecht Oval, before the Foster Webb Shield closes out the series in Round 8, as South takes on Pioneer in a clash celebrating club greats Robbie Foster and Harold Webb.
The league’s emerging talent will also take centre stage, with junior Grand Final replays scheduled throughout the early rounds. Rovers and South open proceedings in the Under 15 Male clash in Round 1, followed by Pioneer and South in the Under 17 Female replay in Round 3, before Federal and South meet in the Under 18 Male rematch in Round 5 each providing a prime platform for the next generation under lights.
The CAFL community competition will then get underway on Sunday, April 19, with matches played across TIO Traeger Park and Albrecht Oval. Highlighting the opening weekend is a 2025 Grand Final rematch between Laramba and Western Aranda, set for 2:00pm at TIO Traeger Park.
With a strong mix of emerging talent, fierce rivalries and Grand Final rematches to open the season, the 2026 TIO CAFL campaign is shaping up as one of the most exciting yet.
Club and Competitions Manager for Central Australia, Brooke Leaver spoke on the excitement ahead of the season.
“The anticipation around this year’s TIO CAFL season is as strong as we’ve seen in recent years,” Brooke stated.
“Clubs have put in a tremendous amount of work over the off-season, and there’s a real sense of energy and optimism across the competition. We’re expecting a highly competitive season that showcases the depth of talent and passion within our league.”
For the full 2026 fixture, visit PlayHQ or download the PlayAFL app today.
Competition Disclaimer: Game times, dates, and venues are subject to change. Please refer to PlayHQ for the latest information throughout the season across all grades and divisions.
AFLNT will release a weekly recap following each round of the 2026 TIO CAFL Season.