BENDIGO netball fans can look forward to a double dose of Suncorp Super Netball action in March next year, with confirmation Melbourne Vixens will face crosstown rivals Melbourne Mavericks in a pre-season clash in the regional Victorian hub.
Defending SSN premier Vixens and the Mavericks will do battle in the Bound 4 Bendigo pre-season match at Red Energy Arena on 5 March. The event will also feature a curtain raiser intra-club match, showcasing local Victorian Netball League club Bendigo Strikers.
The Thursday night clash will be less than two weeks before the Mavericks play their 2026 season opener against GIANTS at Red Energy Arena on Saturday 14 March. A tantalising final warm-up for both clubs follows the success of last year’s Bound 4 Bendigo event, which will again be delivered by the Vixens in partnership with the City of Greater Bendigo and the State Government’s Significant Sporting Events Program.
The partnership will also extend beyond the on-court action, with Netball Victoria delivering community activities in the region including netball clinics, school visits, and umpiring and coaching development opportunities for local officials.
The pre-season match will be one of the final steps in the Vixens’ preparation ahead of round one.They will face Queensland Firebirds in Brisbane on Sunday 15 March. Netball Victoria general manager, high performance and pathways Sharelle McMahon said pre-season matches such as the one in Bendigo were a crucial part of the Vixens’ preparation.
“There is a strong performance element to these events, but our team also loves to get out into the community, meeting the next generation of Victorian netballers and putting all their hard work into action in front of a big crowd,” the Sport Australia hall of famer and Diamonds legend said.“Coming from regional Victoria myself, I know firsthand the impact of connecting young netballers in regional areas with their heroes.
“These pre-season events are an invaluable opportunity for us to do that. ”Tickets for Bound 4 Bendigo went on sale to Vixens members on 9 December and to the general public a day later via Ticketek.
Netball Victoria CEO Andrea Pearman said the Vixens were looking forward to being back in Bendigo, after they defeated New Zealand ANZ Premiership side Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic 65-49 in their pre-season game at Red Energy Arena in March this year.
“There’s nothing like the intensity of a local sporting rivalry, and we’ve been building that with the Mavericks and with our Super Netball fans all over the state in the past couple of years,” she said. “We’re excited to partner with the City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Government to bring elite netball to the region again in 2026, and to engage with such a passionate local netball community.
“Sport is the lifeblood of many Victorian communities and Bendigo’s no different.“Connecting with young netballers at a local school or at a clinic is just as special for our Vixens as playing in front of a packed house at Red Energy Arena.“We’re looking forward to doing both in March.”2026 BOUND 4 BENDIGO Thursday 5 March(Red Energy Arena, Bendigo)• 4pm – Train Like a Vixen meets Make It as a Mav junior clinic.• 5.45pm – Bendigo Strikers curtain raiser.• 7pm – Melbourne Vixens vs Melbourne Mavericks.
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