South Starting Five - Round 01

The NBL1 South 2026 season tips off tonight.

Each round, we’ll highlight five key topics to watch, setting the scene for the round ahead and sparking conversation across the competition.

NBL1 South 2026 Round 1 brings plenty to talk about, from a brand new club and fresh faces on the sidelines to regional rivalries and big name moves.

1. Northern Force enter the league

There’s a new name on the fixture in 2026, with the Northern Force making their NBL1 South debut.

Representing Northern Tasmania, the Force will split home games between Launceston and Ulverstone, bringing plenty of excitement to the competition in purple and white.

With Zoe Mesman leading the women’s side and Jayden Smith coaching the men, they don’t ease into things either, opening at home against Frankston on Friday night before backing up against Nunawading on Saturday.

New club, home crowd, and straight into it.

2. Country Cup rivalry begins

Regional bragging rights take on added significance in 2026 with the introduction of the Country Cup.

Headlined by long standing rivals Bendigo Braves and Ballarat Miners, the Cup brings together both the men’s and women’s programs... Four new coaches and four very different playing rosters, there’s no shortage of intrigue from the outset.

And then there’s Kelly Wilson. Returning to the competition in 2026, her impact on the league is undeniable, since 2023 formally recognised with the Women’s Golden Hands Award bearing her name, a fitting tribute to one of the competition’s great playmakers.

A new Cup, familiar rivalries, and an added edge to every matchup.

3. New voices on the sidelines

If things feel a little different this season… it’s because they are.

Fourteen teams enter 2026 with new head coaches, marking one of the biggest off season shifts the league has seen.

Ballarat Miners Women – Brendan Joyce
Ballarat Miners Men – Ray Borner
Bendigo Braves Men – Josh Cheney
Bendigo Braves Women – Tess Madgen
Dandenong Rangers Women – Jaysn Harvey
Diamond Valley Eagles Men – Jamie Petty
Frankston Blues Women – Jo Wood
Hobart Chargers Women – Mark Chivers
Kilsyth Cobras Women – Emilee Whittle Harmon
Mt Gambier Pioneers Men – Peter Godfrey
Northern Force Women – Zoe Mesman
Northern Force Men – Jayden Smith
Sandringham Sabres Women – Cheryl Chambers
Waverley Falcons Men – Tom Bandilovski

Round 1 is the first look at how it all comes together, new systems, new voices, and maybe a few surprises along the way.

4. Harry Froling’s next chapter
Harry Froling enters 2026 with a new home at the Dandenong Rangers, following a standout season with the Melbourne Tigers that helped drive the club to the Grand Final.

The 211cm centre was one of the premier big men in the competition in 2025, averaging 18.91 points, 11.23 rebounds and 3.27 assists per game, yet still missed selection in the 20 player MVP All Star shortlist, simply a case of not quite playing a full season thus restricting polling votes across the regular season.

He’s expected to take the floor on Saturday night to begin his new chapter.

A fresh start, a new environment, and a player with plenty of motivation heading into the season.

5. 38 games, 7 days… let’s go

Round 1 doesn’t just dip its toe in, it dives straight in.

A full 38 games across seven days gets the season underway, with action rolling from Friday night right through to a stacked Thursday finish before the Easter long weekend.

There are two Game of the Week double headers on Kayo Freebies to lock in early, with Keilor hosting Knox on Saturday night (6:00pm Women, 8:00pm Men), before Kilsyth takes on Ringwood to close the round on Thursday (6:00pm Women, 8:00pm Men).

And if that’s not enough, Thursday alone features 10 games across the competition, capping off one of the busiest opening rounds the league has seen.

Plenty to watch, plenty to follow, and no shortage of ways to start the season.

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.