The 2026 Canterbury Men’s AFL season kicks off on Saturday, 29th August, at QEII Park in New Brighton. Four clubs will once again compete for the Thomas Stanley Hill Memorial Cup and Grand Final glory.
The Blues will once again look to extend their title winning run and add a fifth straight CAFL Premiership. After a slow start to their 2025 campaign, the Blues went on a tear, winning every game for the rest of the season, and putting on a show in the Grand Final, winning their fourth straight premiership with a 46-point win over the Christchurch Bulldogs.
With Andrew Leckie stepping away from the coaching role at the club, the Blues have opted for a player-coach setup with Jared Court, Billy Hope and Hayden Johnston stepping up. Four time premiership skipper Jay Johnson will continue his tenure as captain with Hayden Johnston also stepping in as Vice Captain.
The Christchurch Bulldogs will be hard at work to go all the way this season after falling short in the Grand Final for the last three seasons. Henry Russell returns as Captain, after an injury saw him swap the boots for a coaching hat in 2025 with Tim Thorn taking the reigns as Coach of the Bulldogs for their 2026 Campaign. Lachie McBride will also return to the club as vice captain after a stint in Australia.
Starting their 2025 season with a bang, the Mid-Canterbury Eagles will want to return to form and hold on to it for the duration of the season. Starting 2025 four from four before the Blues and Bulldogs ran riot on the rest of the competition.
After a tough few seasons, the University Cougars will be aiming to get back on track in 2026. Although they only won one game in 2025 against the Bulldogs, they also competed with the Blues and Eagles on occasion, with small lapses costing them on the scoreboard, proving to be the difference.
The 2026 Season will also feature an exciting shift to a new location for the Canterbury AFL. From round 8 onwards, the CAFL will be moving to Hagley Park. The Canterbury Women’s competition has been using the ground for the last few seasons, and will now play host to both the Men’s and Women’s competitions for years to come.
The first round of the 2026 season starts with the Cougars taking on the Eagles, before the Grand Final rematch between the Bulldogs and the Blues. Check out what’s to come for 2026 at the Season Launch on Thursday the 27th August from 6:30pm at Volstead Brewing.
