2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Sophie White
DANDENONG Stingrays ruck Sophie White enjoyed representing Vic Country as a bottom-ager and her performances impressed selectors enough to secure a spot in the National Academy squad. White comes into 2026 as one of the top talls for her state and is looking to build on that strong 2025 form. We spoke to White at […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Ava Bilyk
GEELONG Falcons utility Ava Bilyk is a natural footballer with great smarts, decision making and skills, while having the ability to play anywhere on the field. The Vic Country Under 16s MVP had an injury-interrupted bottom-age campaign, but is ready to make her mark on the field in 2026. We spoke to Bilyk at the […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Lara Williams
EASTERN Ranges top-ager Lara Williams has played across all three lines along her journey, but the predominant forward-turned-defender at the Ranges is ready to make 2026 her year. Having plenty of ups and downs along the way, Williams is fully focused on making every post a winner entering her top-age campaign. We spoke to Williams […]
Knapp the name to note in Talent League
EASTERN Ranges midfielder Jordan Knapp is primed for a big season according to his teammates. A total of 41 top-age (2026 draft eligible) prospects from the Vic Country and Metro summer squads were surveyed at Saturday’s Talent League preseason testing event, asked for a teammate to watch for 2026. >> ONES TO WATCH: South Australia […]
Preseason Q&A: Blake Justice (Calder Cannons)
AFTER the recent success of its recent Next Generation Academy (NGA) graduates, Essendon will be buoyed by the emergence of current member Blake Justice. After an impressive bottom-age campaign which yielded 15 Talent League appearances, the 17-year-old is seeking to play every game this year. Justice has cut his teeth as a utility across the […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 U22 Women’s Summer Series R2 – Academy sides
AFTER another two big wins by the NSW/ACT Academies in the Under 22 Women’s Summer Series, we take a look at some of the Giants Academy and Swans Academy members who impressed at Henson Park over the weekend. The Giants crushed AFL Canberra with a triple-digit scoreline, while the Swans ran out 75-point winners over […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Grace Tracey
OVERCOMING an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury throughout her bottom-age season, talented tall Grace Tracey made up for lost time late in the year. She squeezed in for a game with the Allies, made the Under 17 Futures squad and won the MVP for her side, which propelled her into the National Academy. We spoke […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Gabrielle Mehrmann
DANDENONG Stingrays defender Gabrielle Mehrmann put her name on the radar in last year’s Talent League Girls finals series, capping off a consistent year by becoming the first person to keep Bailee Martin to under three goals in a match (just one). Mehrmann earned a spot in the Vic Country hub, and has the ability […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Bailee Martin
ONE OF the top pick contenders in this year’s AFLW Draft, Oakleigh Chargers star Bailee Martin has proven to be a goalkicking machine across multiple levels. Winning the goalkicking at both Oakleigh and for Vic Metro, Martin had a day out against Vic Country with seven goals to earn All-Australian honours as a bottom-ager, and […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 Summer Series – Swans Academy vs. AFL Sydney U22
THE SYDNEY Swans Academy has maintained its perfect record in the 2026 Summer Series after defeating the AFL Sydney Under 22s by 62 points at Henson Park on Saturday. After conceding the first goal and going without one in the opening term, the Swans set up their victory with the next 12 majors. Returning star […]
First portion of VFL/W fixtures released
A NEW era of Victorian state league football will take place in 2026, following the announcement of the first fixtures from the VFL and VFLW competitions. The fixture release – which was announced yesterday – included the first 13 rounds of the VFL, and the opening six rounds of the VFLW. >> FULL FIXTURES Alongside […]
Tasmania confirms inaugural VFLW squad
TASMANIA Devils have locked in their VFL Women’s squad for the upcoming 2026 season, confirming the 38-player roster via Instagram yesterday. The squad will feature a host of local players including ex-AFLW talents who are returning to state league level, as well as some interstate draft hopefuls from across the country. >> SCROLL for the […]
Recruitment drive: Standalone Sandringham’s signing spree
THERE’S something in the water down at Sandringham. The bayside club will enter standalone status for the first time this century in 2026, having ended its AFL alignment to St Kilda. With close ties to community clubs and stakeholders, and nearly of 100 years of history, the Zebras have embarked on a monumental list build. […]
Hodder embraces “absolutely crazy” rise
FROM a player who only started taking footy seriously over the last couple of seasons, Grace Hodder‘s meteoric rise from fringe VFLW player to star Sandringham Zebras midfielder has been one of the ages. By her own admission, she never a natural runner, but when she set her sights on getting as far as she […]
Tregellis “absolutely” still chasing AFLW dream
A LATE bloomer to the sub-elite junior footballing pathways, Abbey Tregellis has never lost the hunger to reach the AFL Women’s. Overlooked as a top-ager and over-ager at the Dandenong Stingrays, then a third draft went by without result after a successful year at the Southern Saints and now, off the back of her best […]
Janschek puts netball “on hold” to chase footy dream
A RISING star in the netball world, Yasmeen Janschek got a taste for what Australian rules football had to offer and has instead opted to pursue the code professionally. A member of the New South Wales Under 19s squad and talented defender, Janschek ran out for the Giants Academy, Sandringham VFLW, North Shore Bombers and […]
2025 AFLW Draft Next 30: Smalls-Mediums
LAST WEEK we released our September AFLW Draft Power Rankings featuring 30 names following the conclusion of their junior seasons. Given the even nature of the draft after the top end, we have named our next 30 players over a two-piece series, finishing in this article with the remainder of players. Below are 16 non-talls […]
Shark, Falcon recognised with VFL/W gongs
SOUTHPORT co-captain Jacob Dawson and Darebin Falcons ball-winner Ange Gogos have taken out the respective VFL and VFL Women’s best and fairest awards at the 2025 Awards night held at Marvel Stadium last night. Both players also earned their respective Coaches MVP and were named in the Team of the Years as well. Dawson won […]
Roos go back-to-back in VFLW thriller
NORTH Melbourne-Werribee had to do it the hard way, but it turned out third time is a charm, finally toppling Collingwood in 2025 in what was the only match that counted. The Roos once again fell behind early in the fourth after being well clear early, but they steadied to secure the VFL Women’s premiership […]
2025 VFLW Grand Final preview: Collingwood vs. North Melbourne-Werribee
THE TWO best sides have reached the VFL Women’s Grand Final, with a rematch of the earlier qualifying final three weeks ago. On that day, Collingwood took home the chocolates, but it is a whole new ball game now with North Melbourne-Werribee eyeing off back-to-back flags, while the Magpies also search for the second in […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Sophie White
DANDENONG Stingrays ruck Sophie White enjoyed representing Vic Country as a bottom-ager and her performances impressed selectors enough to secure a spot in the National Academy squad. White comes into 2026 as one of the top talls for her state and is looking to build on that strong 2025 form. We spoke to White at […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Ava Bilyk
GEELONG Falcons utility Ava Bilyk is a natural footballer with great smarts, decision making and skills, while having the ability to play anywhere on the field. The Vic Country Under 16s MVP had an injury-interrupted bottom-age campaign, but is ready to make her mark on the field in 2026. We spoke to Bilyk at the […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Lara Williams
EASTERN Ranges top-ager Lara Williams has played across all three lines along her journey, but the predominant forward-turned-defender at the Ranges is ready to make 2026 her year. Having plenty of ups and downs along the way, Williams is fully focused on making every post a winner entering her top-age campaign. We spoke to Williams […]
Knapp the name to note in Talent League
EASTERN Ranges midfielder Jordan Knapp is primed for a big season according to his teammates. A total of 41 top-age (2026 draft eligible) prospects from the Vic Country and Metro summer squads were surveyed at Saturday’s Talent League preseason testing event, asked for a teammate to watch for 2026. >> ONES TO WATCH: South Australia […]
Preseason Q&A: Blake Justice (Calder Cannons)
AFTER the recent success of its recent Next Generation Academy (NGA) graduates, Essendon will be buoyed by the emergence of current member Blake Justice. After an impressive bottom-age campaign which yielded 15 Talent League appearances, the 17-year-old is seeking to play every game this year. Justice has cut his teeth as a utility across the […]
Scouting Notes: 2026 U22 Women’s Summer Series R2 – Academy sides
AFTER another two big wins by the NSW/ACT Academies in the Under 22 Women’s Summer Series, we take a look at some of the Giants Academy and Swans Academy members who impressed at Henson Park over the weekend. The Giants crushed AFL Canberra with a triple-digit scoreline, while the Swans ran out 75-point winners over […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Grace Tracey
OVERCOMING an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury throughout her bottom-age season, talented tall Grace Tracey made up for lost time late in the year. She squeezed in for a game with the Allies, made the Under 17 Futures squad and won the MVP for her side, which propelled her into the National Academy. We spoke […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Gabrielle Mehrmann
DANDENONG Stingrays defender Gabrielle Mehrmann put her name on the radar in last year’s Talent League Girls finals series, capping off a consistent year by becoming the first person to keep Bailee Martin to under three goals in a match (just one). Mehrmann earned a spot in the Vic Country hub, and has the ability […]
2026 AFLW Draft Q&A: Bailee Martin
ONE OF the top pick contenders in this year’s AFLW Draft, Oakleigh Chargers star Bailee Martin has proven to be a goalkicking machine across multiple levels. Winning the goalkicking at both Oakleigh and for Vic Metro, Martin had a day out against Vic Country with seven goals to earn All-Australian honours as a bottom-ager, and […]
