TPIL Lawyers QAFL action returns this Saturday March 28 with six blockbuster games across the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Redlands.
Reigning premiers Redland-Victoria Point will start their premiership defence in a Grand Final rematch against Surfers Paradise.
Head of AFL Queensland and International Trisha Squires said it would be another thrilling season of senior men’s Australian rules football.
“2026 will be a year of epic games and fierce rivalries in the TPIL Lawyers QAFL and we look forward to watching it unfold starting this weekend,” she said.
“I thank TPIL Lawyers for their support of the competition and wish our players, coaches, umpires and volunteers the very best for the season ahead.”
Managing Director of TPIL Lawyers James Madden said they were looking forward to supporting the competition for a second season.
“Footy season is here again and we’re pumped,” he said.
“Thrilled to be partnering with the QAFL for another year of speccys, big moments and great community.”
At the 2026 TPIL Lawyers QAFL Media Day, Captains and representatives from all 13 clubs shared their predictions on how they think the season will unfold.
Surfers Paradise’s Ben Woodburn (three votes) is the Captains’ favourite to become the 81st J.A Grogan Medallist as the competition’s Best and Fairest Player.
Eight Captains predicted that Redland-Victoria Point’s Matt Hammelmann will claim his fifth Ray Hughson Medal, as the competition’s leading goal kicker.
Full questions and voting results are below.
Which club aside from your own is most likely to reach the TPIL Lawyers QAFL Grand Final?
(In 2025 no Captains predicted Redland-Victoria Point and Surfers Paradise would reach the Grand Final)
Palm Beach Currumbin - 5
Surfers Paradise - 3
Morningside - 2
Maroochydore - 1
Redland-Victoria Point - 1
Sherwood - 1
Who is your predicted J.A. Grogan Medallist?
(In 2025 no Captains predicted eventual J.A Grogan Medallist Levi Casboult)
Ben Woodburn (Surfers Paradise) - 3
Jack Rolls (Morningside) – 2
Tom Hickey (Palm Beach Currumbin) -2
Jack Manly (Wilston Grange) - 1
Liam Dawson (Morningside) - 1
Jake Chapman (Redland-Victoria Point) - 1
Sam Willoughby (Noosa) - 1
Ryan Bastinac (Aspley) - 1
Levi Casboult (Palm Beach Currumbin) - 1
Who will win the 2026 Ray Hughson Medal as the competition’s leading goalkicker?
(In 2025 nine Captains correctly predicted eventual 2025 Ray Hughson Medallist Matt Hammelmann)
Matt Hammelmann (Redland-Victoria Point) - 8
Levi Casboult (Palm Beach Currumbin)- 2
Koopa Walsh (Aspley) - 1
Rhys Free (Noosa) - 1
Josh Minogue - 1
Who will be the 2026 Rising Star?
Harry Grills (Aspley) - 1
Matt White (Wilston Grange) - 1
Zane Pearce (Morningside)- 1
Max Hudson (Broadbeach) 1
Sam Tully (Sherwood) - 1
Owen Maguire (Mt Gravatt) - 1
Noah Polinski (Coorparoo) - 1
Bailey Rawson (Palm Beach Currumbin) - 1
Harrison Ronchi (Maroochydore) - 1
Miles Callaghan (Redland-Victoria Point) - 1
Toby Griggs (Noosa) - 1
Jimmy Carrigan (Surfers Paradise) - 1
Ely Blizzard (Labrador) - 1
Who will win Mark of the Year?
Liam Dawson (Morningside) - 2
Hugo Papst (Maroochydore) - 1
Aiden Fyfe (Labrador) - 1
William Pendlebury (Morningside) - 1
Kaeden Corboy (Mt Gravatt)- 1
Fergus McFadyen (Wilston Grange) - 1
Cory Beaman (Palm Beach Currumbin) - 1
Matthew Waters (Morningside) - 1
Billy Beardsell (Surfers Paradise) - 1
Jack Austin (Sherwood) - 1
Kyah Moncur (Coorparoo) - 1
Archie Shannon (Noosa) - 1
Who will win Goal of the Year?
Matt Hammelmann (Redland-Victoria Point) - 2
Jack Stringer (Palm Beach Currumbin) - 1
Koby Young (Maroochydore) - 1
Chris Colombo (Noosa) - 1
Joshua Minogue (Surfers Paradise)- 1
Jarrod Cameron (Sherwood)- 1
Ben Morrison (Coorparoo) - 1
Kelly Castle (Morningside) - 1
Fitzroy Greenwool (Wilston Grange)- 1
Ben Major (Mt Gravatt) - 1
Aiden Fyfe (Labrador) - 1
Ky Mackenzie (Aspley) - 1
The survey results were polled by the following players:
Aspley - Lleyton Brown
Broadbeach - Liam Nelson
Coorparoo - Ben Hogan
Labrador - Matt Lee
Maroochydore - Matt Gaul
Morningside - Brad Hodge
Mt Gravatt - Austin Brent
Noosa - Christopher Colombo
Palm Beach Currumbin - AJ Dawson
Redland Victoria Point - Campbell Aston
Sherwood - Elijah Glass
Surfers Paradise - William Broadbent
Wilston Grange - Lachlan Zakaras