A GRAND final rematch headlines a massive opening round of action in the WAFL Women’s as the top female West Australian football league officially kicks off tomorrow. All four games take place on Saturday across three different venues, with the big question mark being the weather which could make for some tough conditions for players.

IN A NUTSHELL

Two young sides who are realistically not the in premiership contention window yet, but will see this game as a genuine winning chance against the other.

KEY PLAYERS

The much anticipated return of Kate Bartlett to Peel Thunder will be huge, with the side just lacking that dominant forward in 2025. She provides a goalscoring threat and will be a handful, while the half-back line of Ebony Dowson and Cassie Davidson is rock solid and midfielder Chloe Wrigley will always rack it up. For the Royals, bringing in some fresh faces such as Tessa Kohn (Glenelg), Elissa Price (West Perth) and Tessa Kohn (Glenelg) across half forward gives the Royals a completely different look, while Layla Firns and Emily Boothman are important to the side.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

East Perth’s Lucy Greenwood is one to keep an eye on for a fast start to the season with the upcoming Preseason Draft, as is her hard-running wing teammate Elly Sara. Top age midfielder/forward Charli Bassett is the main end-of-year prospect, while for the Thunder, they are without their own top-age hope in Heidi Ireland, but have bottom-age stars Charlie Fletcher and Tiama Collard.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

A tough one to call to start the season, but going the way of Peel Thunder because the Royals might take a little while to adapt with quite a few new players coming in. Expect a nail-biter that could go either way though, and most likely a low-scoring scrap in the wet conditions.

IN A NUTSHELL

A team hungry for redemption after a straight sets exit in last year’s finals series, up against a side that fell short of the post-season after injuries and absences tested its depth all year.

KEY PLAYERS

Subiaco’s famed midfield of reigning Dhara Kerr Medallist Krstel Petrevski and fellow former AFLW stars Lisa Steane and Paige Sheppard is the most stacked on-ball group in the league. They go up against a young Falcons group that admittedly has one of the top prospects in this year’s AFLW Draft, but can take advantage in the ruck through experience with Tess Lyons. The Falcons get to unveil a host of fresh faces with double bottom-ager Bella Nelson finally eligible for senior football. Katherine Bennett and Brooke Hongell make their much anticipated returns, while Megan Norbury had a great season last year on the wing and has moved inside for Round 1.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Unfortunately the Falcons are minus Cara Dziegielewski in the opening round, but have partner in crime Lexi Strachan in the middle. She will have a huge job against such a talented opposition midfield. Lunay Van Den Heever, Rikisha Nannup and Tayah Nicholson are other top-age WA summer hub members. For the Lions, after providing the number one pick in Olivia Wolmarans last year, they have just the one top-ager in Scarlet Gallo, with Marley Kelman a promising bottom-ager in the team.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

Subiaco has the more experienced midfield, and showed why last season the Lions can be a genuine contender. The massive key is if West Perth can neutralise that area, because if they can, they look more dangerous up forward and in a real slog which it could be with the weather, the tip goes to the Falcons by four points.

IN A NUTSHELL

A grand final rematch with both sides still boasting a stack of talent, as Swan Districts brought in some key interstate prospects, while Claremont has also added readymade talent to go for a third straight flag.

KEY PLAYERS

These sides are loaded across the board, but hte midfield battle with be fascinating, with the Tigers’ tried and true quartet of ruck Matilda Husband and midfield trio Jayme Harken, Matilda Sergeant and Sarah Viney going around. For Swan Districts, adding VFLW star Alana Barba and former skipper Jessica Cox to a midfield that already features Jaime Henry makes it an intriguing battle, while having East Fremantle recruit Chloe Reilly in the mix as well.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

Unfortunately the Swans are without top talent Summer Ajduk for Round 1, which means Grace Hirst is the sole top-ager to key an eye on, while Shaya Yarran will need to wait at least a week for her club debut at League level, named as an emergency. It is a similar story for bottom-age gun India Bonadeo, but the Tigers have over-ager Juliet Kelly, while the likes of Henry and Barba are preseason draft options.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

Swan Districts midfield looks incredibly dangerous, but you can just never write off Claremont. The Tigers will hurt from not having Mackenzie Webb down back, but still have a very strong and reliable squad across the board and you just have to back them in to get the job done.

IN A NUTSHELL

A rivalry that needed no more spice got a bucketload with a host of former Sharks now playing for the Bulldogs in 2026 as South looks to return to finals, while East is preparing to rebuild in an intriguing Fremantle Derby.

KEY PLAYERS

Former Sharks skipper Ashleigh Gomes lining up at the centre bounce will be a fascinating one against her former side, going head-to-head against any one of Ashlee Atkins, Amber Kinnane or Noa McNaughton. Add in Natasha Entwistle and Madison Evans who have also switched their blue for red being on the wing and half-back, the Bulldogs are loaded. Former Pie Mikayla Hyde is another one to watch from South, while for the Sharks, new skipper Tiani Teakle and Victorian pressure forward Storm Johnson are ones to keep an eye one.

DRAFT PROSPECTS

South defender Marie Polimeno has returned to the side after missing the preseason matches and is a name to remember for this year, while for East Fremantle, top-age ruck-forward Avuya Nomlatyu makes her League debut in Round 1. Hard-running bottom-ager Olivia McCay is also in the side, as is Cienna Leslie. South has a number of potential preseason draft options such as Evans and Entwistle too.

TEAMS

PREDICTION

South Fremantle looks like a premiership contender, with the only question mark being the scoring element. The midfield and defence is elite, so the Bulldogs can be a real threat this season. The Sharks still have a strong on-ball group and some key players up either end, so could be competitive, but going with the Bulldogs in this one by a few goals.