2026 Talent League Girls preview: Geelong Falcons
GEELONG Falcons had the sole draftee in Meg Lappin make it onto an AFLW list last season, with a couple of unlucky players missing out, while also blooding some promising talents coming through the program ahead of their top-age seasons in 2026.
LAST SEASON
Played: 14
Wins: 8
Losses: 6
Geelong Falcons have a history of being competitive, and the 2025 season was no different, finishing fourth overall in the country pool and sixth on the ladder from the full-time teams. They faced Dandenong Stingrays first up in an elimination final and were no match, but still showed plenty of potential for the future.
FIXTURE
Round 2: vs. Dandenong Stingrays | April 12 @ Queen Elizabeth Oval
Round 3: vs. GWV Rebels | April 18 @ TBA
Round 4: vs. Brisbane Lions Academy | April 25 @ Avalon Airport Oval
Round 6: vs. Calder Cannons | May 9 @ McCartney Oval
Round 7: vs. Sydney Swans Academy | May 16 @ TBA
Round 9: vs. Western Jets | May 30 @ DSV Stadium
Round 12: vs. Dandenong Stingrays | June 20 @ TBA
Round 13: vs. Gippsland Power | June 28 @ Shepley Oval
Round 14: vs. Bendigo Pioneers | July 4 @ Queen Elizabeth Oval
Round 17: vs. Oakleigh Chargers | July 25 @ West Oval Reserve (Geelong)
Round 18: vs. Western Jets | August 1 @ Central Reserve (Colac)
Round 19: vs. GWV Rebels | August 9 @ Leopold Memorial Park
Round 20: vs. Sandringham Dragons | August 16 @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Round 21: vs. Tasmania Devils | August 22 @ Windsor Park (Riverside)
Geelong Falcons get to travel all across western Victoria this season, with matches from Geelong to Colac, Leopold to Torquay. The Falcons still have a few venues to be determined, but will rarely stay in one place for too long, and certainly hit the road for some valuable away trips in 2026.
TOP-AGE PLAYERS TO WATCH
Geelong Falcons actually have a handful of draftable prospects coming into 2026, with National Academy member Greea McKeegan and Under 16s MVP Ava Bilyk among them. McKeegan started her career as a forward, but spent plenty of time off a wing and could play just about anywhere on the ground with some elite athletic traits and pinpoint passing. Bilyk has a well-balanced all-round game with great smarts and skills, while also playing in just about every spot on the field. She had injury interruptions last year, but oozes class and will be one to watch.
On top of those two, the Falcons also have two other top-agers in the Vic Country summer hub with tall defenders Meyah Fursland and Jayme Lasky developing prospects. The latter is coming off a long-term knee injury, while Fursland managed 10 games in her bottom-age season. Outside the summer hub members, the likes of Lua Payne, Grace Carroll and Jayde Morrissy had their moments last season.
FUTURE NAMES TO REMEMBER
The 2026 AFLW Draft is not the only draft to look forward to from a Falcons perspective, with a couple of bottom-agers also in the Vic Country summer hub. Mobile tall Ella Condon followed in Bilyk’s footsteps by winning the Under 16s MVP a year later and could role into any one of the three key position posts.
Midfielder Jemma Andrews is only three centimetres smaller than Condon, but uses her 179cm frame around the coalface as a clearance winner. Players such as Evie Albones and Holly Confoy are among the names to keep tabs on after impressive Country performances and a taste for Talent League action through the Falcons.
SUMMARY
Geelong Falcons look like producing another few draftees over the next couple of seasons, and have a well-balanced squad across all thirds of the ground. With promising talls and smalls, the Falcons will be a team to watch throughout the 2026 Talent League Girls season.