Hobart is set to host the 2026 National Police Football Championship, with teams from every Australian state arriving to compete for the coveted National Championship Trophy and the Lilliam Armfield Cup. The championships officially commence today, Monday, 12 October, and will run until Friday, 16 October.
The event, last held in Tasmania in 2018, brings together approximately 300 participants from police jurisdictions nationwide, according to Tasmania Police. Matches will be played across three championship days at North Hobart Oval, featuring both men’s and women’s teams from all six Australian states. A total of 18 games are scheduled throughout the week.
Commander Jason Elmer, President of the Tasmania Police Football Club, highlighted the significance of the championships. “From 12-16 October, we’ll see the 36th National Police Football Championships held at North Hobart Oval with police football teams from across Australia coming together and vying for the coveted National Championship Trophy and the Lilliam Armfield Cup,” Commander Elmer stated. He also noted that many matches are played in honour of police officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, with memorial trophies and perpetual shields struck in their honour.
A particularly poignant match will take place on Friday, when Tasmania and Western Australia compete for the Ty Bennett Memorial Shield. This shield honours Ty Bennett, a popular Hobart footballer and Tasmania Police officer who tragically died in a car crash while on duty, responding to an alarm call on 16 February 1999.
The Australian Police Football Association (APFA) organises this annual event, which typically sees teams play three games each, with the championship decided by win/loss records or percentage.
Community members are encouraged to attend the games and show their support for police teams from across the country. Entry to all championship matches is free of charge. The championships offer a unique opportunity for locals to witness high-level football and acknowledge the dedication of police officers both on and off the field.