The AFL has announced the 2021 VFL season will begin on Saturday, 17 April, with the Grand Final to be held on the weekend starting 18 September.
The Sharks will enter the VFL alongside fellow former NEAFL Clubs – Aspley, Brisbane Lions, Gold Coast Suns, Greater Western Sydney and the Sydney Swans.
The VFL is the largest second-tier football competition in Australia and will feature eight standalone VFL clubs, 11 AFL standalone clubs and three aligned clubs across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.
The home and away season will consist of 16-games across 19 rounds to allow flexibility to adjust the fixture where required.
The VFL fixture will be streamlined with the AFL fixture and is expected to be released at the end of February. There will be an 8-team final series that will commence Saturday, 28 August. Practices matches are still to be confirmed – beginning in March.
The club has added to its list over the season, headlined by the recruitment of Billy Gowers, Lukas Webb, Jesse Joyce and Brad Lynch, and has put itself in the best position it can for what will be an exciting but challenging competition.
General Manager of Football Operations, Jarrod Field said, “Preparations are in full swing for the VFL and we are building towards our practice matches in late March. The squad is working very hard to prepare for the huge challenge that the VFL presents”.
The club is continuing to follow the return-to-play protocols for the health and safety of everyone involved. Thanks to the AFL for their work, ensuring there is a competition in 2021.
