Spud’s Game is set to make history once again in 2026, with the AFL and AFLW uniting for mental fitness in a landmark double header at Marvel Stadium.
For the first time, both St Kilda and Carlton’s AFLW and AFL teams will take the field back-to-back as part of Spud’s Game 6, in what will become the biggest and most ambitious edition of the initiative to date.
In another major milestone, the 2026 NAB AFLW Premiership Season will officially kick-off with Spud’s Game, placing mental fitness and community connection at the centre of the opening weekend of the AFLW season.
As the competition’s marquee match for mental health, Spud’s Game continues to evolve beyond a single match into a national movement powered by the AFL and AFLW community.
Backed by Danny Frawley Community, part of Black Dog Institute, Spud’s Game aims to bring people together through the power of football to champion practical ways Australians can build mental fitness - through connection, movement and being part of a team.
Raising vital funds for life-changing mental health programs, this year’s campaign will also introduce a series of exciting new initiatives designed to bring together industry, businesses and the wider community in fun, engaging and meaningful ways in the lead-up to the match.
Spud’s Game 6 will also welcome Medibank as the game’s Official Health Partner, helping bring this year’s campaign and match to life.
As a new Official Partner of the Saints, longstanding supporter of the AFLW and an organisation deeply committed to preventative mental health and community wellbeing, Medibank’s partnership reflects a strong alignment with the purpose and vision of Spud’s Game.
Together, the AFL, AFLW, clubs, partners and community will unite around a shared message - that connection is one of the most powerful tools we have to support mental fitness.
