PREVIEW | 2023 VFLW Finals Week 1: It all begins
FINALS have arrived.
With six teams ending their season last week, six are left and fighting it out for the right to become the 2023 champions of the VFLW.
This weekend sees six team battle it out in three matches. Four will move on to next week and two will go home, their premiership dreams shattered.
- Team
Box Hill VFLW
Essendon VFLW
Second Elimination Final
Saturday at 11am
Box Hill City Oval
The weekend begins with a clash between two old rivals as the Hawks host the Bombers tomorrow.
This is not the first time the pair have met in finals, with the pair meeting in week one last year. It was a happy day for the Bombers that day, so the Hawks will want to avoid a repeat of that, especially at home.
The two matches between the sides this season have been vastly different, with a draw in round one followed by a three goal win to the Bombers almost two months later.
Regardless, both of these teams have plenty of finals experience in their line ups so they will not be overawed by the occasion.
Injuries have not been a friend to either side this week though.
The Hawks have lost Akayla Peterson and Jess Trend to injuries, but do gain back Chloe Bailey and Chantella Perera.
Essendon meanwhile lose Tamsin Crook to a calf injury, but gain back Madison Gray.
- Team
Collingwood VFLW
Port Melbourne VFLW
Qualifying Final
Sunday at 11am
Victoria Park
Sunday’s action begins with a Qualifying Final out at Victoria Park as the Pies host the Borough.
This game can be looked at with a redemption angle for both sides. Collingwood is back at the top of the perch after being unable to defend its title last year and bundling out of finals in week one, while Port Melbourne has made a triumphant return to finals after not making them at all in 2022.
Port Melbourne did win the one meeting between the two sides this year during the home and away season, but Collingwood is peaking at just the right time of the season so there are reasons for both sides to go into the game with some confidence.
Collingwood has brought back Rhiannon Busch and Charlotte van der Vlies this week, in place of Nicola Weston and the concussed Amy Kane.
Meanwhile Kate Dudley and Isobel Hartog highlight a list of four changes for the Borough this week, while Britney Mueck and the injured Keely Byrne are among the omissions.
- Team
Williamstown VFLW
Carlton VFLW
First Elimination Final
Sunday at 4:30pm
DSV Stadium
The second match on Sunday is a historic one for both Williamstown and Carlton, with both sides making the finals for the very first time in their history.
They make their finals debuts in the most cutthroat of situations though, with a sudden death Elimination Final to open their finals history books.
Williamstown got the better of the Blues both times these sides met this year, so will take some confidence from that heading into Sunday.
Williamstown has only made one change for this clash, bringing back Phoebe Chisholm at the expense of Mikayla Meyer. Carlton on the flipside has not made any changes from last week’s side that beat Darebin.