WOMEN’S football’s most successful organisation added more silverware to the trophy cabinet yesterday with North Melbourne Werribee saluting in the VFL Women’s Grand Final. The Roos – who partnered with Werribee at the start of 2025 – continued on the same trajectory they have been on by winning a third straight VFLW flag to go with their back-to-back premierships at AFLW level.

The most recent success came at the expense of VFLW minor premiers Williamstown, as the second placed Roos made the most of their opportunities to kick 4.1 (25) to the Seagulls’ 1.6 (12) at Ikon Park on Sunday. Leading throughout the match, the Roos never had it easy, and a goal in the third term to league best and fairest winner Emily Eaves closed the gap, but the blue and white always looked like having one hand on the cup in a 13-point victory.

Incredibly, despite the Seagulls only kicking 0.3 until Eaves’ sixth minute major in teh third term, Williamstown’s defence had held up superbly, restricting the high-scoring Roos to just two goals. Former AFLW Tiger Stella Reid kicked the game’s first major as her side took a six-point lead into the first change, before Alana Barba extended it out to double-digits by the main break.

Barba was incredible throughout the game, producing a dominant midfield display from start to finish on her way to a third Lisa Hardeman Medal. Meanwhile her side answered Eaves’ major with one to former Blue Maddison Torpey at the tall’s past homeground, before a fitting sealer from skipper Renee Tierney put an exclamation mark on the performance.

Williamstown never gave up, having comfortably beaten North Melbourne Werribee in the regular season, and kicked the last three scoring shots of the game, but all were behinds. That proved costly with the Seagulls having two more scoring shots, but only kicking the one goal to four. Both sides had 28 inside 50s, and while the stats were otherwise even, North Melbourne laid 98 tackles to 80 and also produced their trademark handball game (109-75) to keep the ball in transition.

Barba would finish with a huge 29 disposals – 17 contested – five clearances, eight tackles, four inside 50s, four rebound 50s and a goal to be named best on ground, while partner in crime and former Borough talent Ava Seton had 21 disposals, 13. tackles, two clearances and two inside 50s in the win. Reid (18 disposals, five marks, five clearances, six tackles, three rebound 50s and a goal) and Charlotte Ryan (18 disposals, seven clearances and six tackles) were also huge around the ball.

Torpey’s performance through the ruck of 12 disposals, four marks, 27 hitouts, seven tackles, three inside 50s and a goal was enough to earn her second in the Lisa Hardeman voting and even get one three-vote nomiantion, while skipper Tierney worked hard for 16 touches, four marks, four tackles and a goal.

For Williamstown, Eaves was her fierce, ball-winning self with 16 contested possessions amongst 20 disposals, as well as six clearances, five tackles and the side’s only goal. Bella Smith (19 disposals, six clearances, 11 tackles and four inside 50s) and youngster Taelah Smith (18 disposals, three marks, three clearances, four tackles and three inside 50s) also found plenty of the ball. Ellen Williams tried hard with five rebound 50s coming out of the back half to go with 17 touches and four marks.

WILLIAMSTOWN 0.1 | 0.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 (12)
NORTH MELBOURNE 1.1 | 2.1 | 3.1 | 4.1 (25)

GOALS:
Williamstown: E. Eaves
North Melbourne: A. Barba, S. Reid, R. Tierney, M. Torpey

RMC BEST:
Williamstown: E. Eaves, B. Smith, T. Smith E. Williams, L. Hung
North Melbourne: A. Barba, M. Torpey, A. Seton. S. Reid, C. Ryan