The Essendon District Football League division 2 competition will revert to a top four.
The league released its fixtures for the three men’s divisions for next year, with a change to the division 2 finals series among the key elements.
This year the league ran with a top five with finals matches played over three weeks, with no second chances.
The league has announced it will revert back to the traditional top four.
The grand final is set down for the weekend of 5 September.
“Despite the success of the innovative top-five finals format of 2025 the league adopted based on club consultation, further consultation was conducted for the 2026 season with a return to a traditional top-four finals series the outcome,” the league said.
The EDFL season will kick off on Good Friday with action across all three grades.
Strathmore will host Keilor in its annual Good Friday clash, with the match also doubling as a grand final rematch.
The newly promoted Hillside, which also traditionally plays on Good Friday, will make its top flight debut against Pascoe.
In division 1, Taylors Lakes will host West Coburg on Good Friday while in division 2, the annual Keilor Park and Coburg Districts match will also be played.
The rest of the clubs will kick off their seasons the following week.
In premier division there will be a split round across round 14 with the home away season to conclude on August 22.
The grand final is set down for the weekend of 19 September.
In division 1, Rupertswood will make its return to division 1 against Oak Park on 18 April.
In other round one matches, Leo Dineen Reserve will see an improved Tullamarine outfit take on preliminary finalist Craigieburn, with Moonee Valley set to face St Albans at Ormond Park.
The top-five finals series will commence on the weekend of 15 August with the grand final set for the weekend of 12 September.
In division 2, other first round matches include the Sunbury Kangaroos against Roxburgh Park and East Sunbury hosting Hadfield.
Westmeadows will start its season on the road against Burnside Heights.
The two Sunbury teams will play each other on Anzac Day before East Sunbury will host the Sunbury Kangaroos in round 12 for its annual NAIDOC Week matchup.
