JUST one round remains in both the VFL Women’s and WAFL Women’s competitions and we take a look at how the ladders look, fixtures ahead, and therefore possibilities that could occur in the respective leagues.

VFL WOMEN’S:

Split across three days, the frantic final round of action all begins tomorrow with finals positions up for grabs in both the north and west of the city. Eight sides are in contention for a top six spot, with realistically five of them locked in and just the three teams battling it out for the last position.

MINOR PREMIERS

1st North Melbourne (11-2 | 44 points | 276.9%)

DOUBLE CHANCE ON OFFER

2nd Collingwood (9-4 | 36 points | 139.7%)
3rd Sandringham (8-4-1 | 34 points | 110.2%)
4th Box Hill (8-5 | 32 points | 147.3%)

FINALS BOUND

5th Williamstown (8-5 | 32 points | 109.1%)

BATTLE FOR SIXTH

6th Essendon (7-6 | 28 points | 104.4%)
7th Darebin (7-6 | 28 points | 89.8%)
8th Port Melbourne (6-6-1 | 26 points | 116.4%)

LOOKING TO 2026

9th Western Bulldogs (5-8 | 20 points | 69.7%)
10th Carlton (4-9 | 16 points | 76.2%)
11th Casey Demons (2-11 | 8 points | 55.5%)
12th Geelong (2-11 | 8 points | 48.2%)

ROUND 14 FIXTURE

Friday, August 1:

Carlton vs. Box Hill Hawks @ Ikon Park, 7:05pm

Box Hill are strong favourites in this one and should get the job done with so much more on the line. They need to win and hope both Collingwood and Sandringham lose, though the Hawks are the only side of the three that face a non-finalist in the final round.

Western Bulldogs vs. Essendon @ Whitten Oval, 7:05pm

An intriguing contest that essentially might turn the final round race for sixth into a fizzer. If Essendon win on the road against the ninth placed Bulldogs, then it is all over red rover. But if the Dogs get up, it opens the door for both Darebin and Port Melbourne who face the bottom two sides.

Saturday, August 2:

Williamstown vs. Collingwood @ DSV Stadium, 10:05am

The game that can shape the makeup of the finals which all hinges on the Box Hill result the night before. Assuming the Hawks win, then the Pies must get up in order to earn the double chance. If the Hawks lose, then the Pies are likely to fall into the spot anyway, but Williamstown can leapfrog Box Hill and Sandringham potentially with a victory.

Port Melbourne vs. Casey Demons @ ETU Stadium 10:05am

The game could be a dead rubber by the time it rolls around if Essendon has knocked off the Western Bulldogs, but if not, then expect the Borough to go hell for leather to grab that sixth spot. Every chance Darebin rolls Geelong to deny Port Melbourne anyway, but it all starts with the Bombers.

Sunday, August 3:

Sandringham Zebras vs. North Melbourne Werribee @ Trevor Barker Oval, 9:45am

Both teams are locked inside the finals and the big question is whether or not the Kangaroos will field a full strength side or if they look to throw in a few surprises to tune up for finals. The minor premiers have nothing to lose, while for Sandringham, a rematch with North could be on the cards if both the Magpies and Hawks slip up.

Geelong vs. Darebin Falcons @ KFC Oval, 1:05pm

If by this game it is still a live contest then it has been a wild weekend. The first step is Essendon losing to the Dogs, and if that is the case, regardless of the Port Melbourne/Casey result, a win to the Falcons would be a huge achievement for such a successful club that has gone through some tough years results wise of late.

WAFL WOMEN’S:

The smaller WAFL Women’s competition of course has nine teams and though mathematically six teams can make finals heading into the last round, realistically it is just five chasing four spots. Making that simpler again, the top three sides in Subiaco, Claremont and Swan Districts are locked in, meaning East Fremantle and West Perth are chasing fourth spot while South Fremantle needs a miracle to get there.

MINOR PREMIER RACE

1st Subiaco (12-2-1 | 50 points | 234.6%)
2nd Claremont (12-2-1 | 50 points | 204.9%)

FINALS-BOUND

3rd Swan Districts (11-4 | 44 points | 155.9%)

BATTLE FOR FOURTH

4th East Fremantle (9-6 | 36 points | 135.5%)
5th West Perth (8-7 | 32 points | 130.2%)
6th South Fremantle (8-7 | 32 points | 121.5%)

LOOKING TO 2026

7th Peel Thunder (4-12 | 16 points | 49.0%)
8th Perth (2-13 | 8 points | 49.9%)
9th East Perth (1-14 | 4 points | 23.6%)

ROUND 18 FIXTURE

Friday, August 1:

West Perth vs. South Fremantle @ HIF Health Insurance Oval, 7:35pm

The level of excitement for the finals race hinges on this game. Unless South Fremantle somehow destroy West Perth by a triple-digit margin, there is no realistic way that the Bulldogs can overtake East Fremantle’s percentage. However a big win and a heavy loss for the Sharks against Swan Districts certainly could give it the smallest of chances. Realistically West Perth is in better form and a win would bring the Falcons close enough to the Sharks to make them sweat for Sunday.

Saturday, August 2:

East Perth vs. Perth @ Sullivan Logistics Stadium, 12:10pm

There was a sense this game would decide the wooden spoon but then Perth went and knocked off Peel Thunder to be too far ahead on percentage. The Royals will receive that honour for a second time, but after struggling the last few months, can they end the season on a high with a win at home?

Sunday, August 3:

Claremont vs. Subiaco @ Revo Fitness Stadium, 12:40pm

All eyes are on the battle for the minor premiership. Last time these two faced off they were unbeaten and after the match … remained unbeaten with a draw. Both have slipped up a couple of times since then to show they are not invincible, so it will come down to which ever side is better on the day.

Swan Districts vs. East Fremantle @ Steel Blue Oval, 2:10pm

The importance of the match hinges on the Friday night contest because before a ball is bounced, the Sharks will know what they have to do to play finals. Ironically a win will see them take on the Swans at the same venue next week, while their opponents know that and are just waiting on the opponent. Should be a cracking Sunday of action.