2026 Blood Toyota Geelong FNL Senior Football Grand Final Preview
The 2026 Blood Toyota Geelong FNL Senior Football Grand Final will see a matchup of two GFNL heavyweights as St Mary’s take on South Barwon for the premiership.
St Mary’s will come in the match as favourites following their premiership last year and the minor premiership for this season.
For South Barwon, they will be looking to avenge consecutive grand final losses in 2023 and 2024 in their quest for a first premiership in 13 years.
In the most recent matchup between the Saints and Swans it was St Mary’s day as they ran out 20-point winners in the second qualifying final two weeks ago.
No matter what happens, spectators will be treated to one of country football’s best games this year.
Form
St Mary’s: WWWLW
South Barwon: WLWWW
Ladder Position
South Barwon 3rd 13-4 143.22%
St Mary’s 4th 10-5 123.52%
Head-to-head in 2026
Round 9: St Mary’s 89 defeated South Barwon 77 at Anthony Costa Oval
Round 13: South Barwon 68 defeated by St Mary’s 85 at McDonald Reserve
Qualifying Final 2: St Mary’s 77 defeated South Barwon 57 at Wests Oval
Grand Final History since 2000
St Mary’s
Premiers: 2025 2022 2019 2008 2004
Grand Finalists: 2003 2016 2017 2018
South Barwon
Premiers: 2013 2012 2010 2009 2007 2006 2005 2001
Grand Finalists: 2024 2023 2011
Key players
St Mary’s
Harry Benson
One of the GFNL’s best as a two-time Mathieson Medallist, Benson has only featured in eight games this season. In that time though he has showcased his immense talent, averaging 32.8 disposals a game. Benson has big game experience having featured in two premierships for the Saints in 2021 and 2022.
Fletcher Hughes
The young ruckman has been recognised as one of the GFNL’s best young talents winning the 2025 GFNL Rising Star Award. Hughes has continued to shine in the ruck this season, averaging 30.1 hit outs a game.
Jarryd Garner
An experienced campaigner, Garner is a legend of St Mary’s as a three-time Best and Fairest Winner. He has also tasted premiership success with the Saints three times in 2019, 2022 and 2025. A contested beast averaging 12.5 contested possessions a game this season, Garner’s style of play will match up well on Friday.
South Barwon
Doyle Madigan
A former Mathieson Medallist in 2024, Madigan is one of the Swans leading midfielders as well. A hard-working midfielder with plenty of talent, this season Madigan has continued his form averaging 22.8 disposals a game.
Matthew Caldow
One of the premier forwards in the GFNL, Caldow has once again been integral to the Swans this season inside 50. 56 goals in 21 games highlight his ability to convert his opportunities while he is also a strong marking presence with 4.1 marks inside 50 a game.
Ben Kellett
Kellett’s battle with Hughes in the ruck will be one of the important stories in this grand final. Kellett is an exceptional ruckman and his statistics back that up. Across the season he has accumulated 34.5 hit outs a game while also showcasing his ability to follow-up his work with 5 clearances a game.
