Hickey and Davis say NBL1 South 2026 is set for a major shake up

Matt Hickey and Beth Davis believe NBL1 South 2026 is shaping as one of the competition’s most intriguing seasons yet, with a new finals structure, heavy player movement and several clubs taking very different paths into Round 1.

Speaking at the NBL1 South 2026 Season Launch at Hoop City in Port Melbourne, Hickey said the opening rounds will reveal plenty about how the season could unfold.

“The silly season is chaotic in NBL1, as everyone in this room knows,” Hickey said.

“And I’m just fascinated to see those first few rounds as the teams feel each other out.”

Hickey said the changes to the finals format will also be a key storyline across the year.

“The finals thing I think is fascinating,” he said.

“No double chance now for the top four. So that is going to be fascinating to watch.”

He also pointed to the league’s new Court Walk activation as another sign of the competition continuing to grow off the floor.

“I love the court walk too,” Hickey said.

“I’m a big F1 fan, so it’s giving me grid walk, Martin Brundle vibes as well.”

Davis said player movement across the competition is one of the biggest reasons the 2026 season could look very different from last year.

“A lot of the movement from the clubs this year and players changing teams to different NBL1 South clubs as well, it’s going to be a big shake up,” Davis said.

“And some of the teams that were in finals last year may not make finals even with now it being a top 10 instead of a top eight.”

Davis said Geelong United would be one of the most fascinating teams to watch after an undefeated women’s season in 2025.

“It’s interesting you talk about Geelong and their success last year, because I think that’s something that will be really interesting to watch this year,” she said.

“Geelong went undefeated last season, but they haven’t brought back a lot of their players.

“Their players in the women’s team have moved on to other clubs, so the team this year is going to be a very different team and it’ll be really interesting to see how they go.”

She also highlighted Steph Reid’s move to Sandringham as one of the biggest player moves in the women’s competition.

“I think again on the women’s side, Steph Reid moving from Diamond Valley to Sandringham is a big move as well,” Davis said.

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Hickey said there are also several major roster moves that could shape the race across both competitions.

“In the men, I think the big move, and it’s good that we’ve got Sam here, is Harry Froling making the move to Dandenong,” he said.

“That’s a big move.”

Hickey also said Casey could be one of the more fascinating teams to watch in the women’s competition following the arrival of Dallas Loughridge.

“Dallas Loughridge leaves Dandenong, goes to Casey, has an incredible WNBL year, Betty Watson Breakout Player of the Year in the WNBL,” he said.

“I think she’s someone who Casey can build their team around, hand the keys to the offence and away they go.”

He added that Knox looks primed to again be one of the benchmark teams in the women’s competition.

“I think Knox in the women’s division have reloaded in a massive way,” Hickey said.

Hickey also said the league’s continued growth is being reflected beyond the court as well.

“I think the league does that brilliantly,” he said.

“The NBL1 South, the NBL1 East as well, are taking really big steps, I think, in their social media where perhaps, you know, I think they’re growing slowly on court, but I think their off court is really firing up.

“And I think the NBL1 South has it in both avenues.”

With the top 10 now qualifying for finals, major roster changes across the competition and no shortage of contenders in both conferences, Hickey and Davis made it clear that NBL1 South 2026 may not follow the same script as last season.

That uncertainty could be exactly what makes the season so compelling.

The NBL1 South 2026 season tips off on Friday 27th March 2026. For all the latest updates, including player signings, coaching appointments and league news, make sure you’re following NBL1 South on Facebook and Instagram.