A recap and highlights of the rebel VFLW Round 14 action.

Hawks go into finals on winners list

Box Hill returned to the winners’ list to conclude the 2025 home and away campaign, defeating Carlton by 29 points at IKON Park on Friday night.

It took a while for the Hawks to get going but they managed to be on level pecking with the Blues at half time despite being goalless.

The visitors kicked their first in the opening minute of the third term via AFL-listed youngster Sophie Butterworth and registered 10 of the final 11 scoring shots to win their ninth match of the season and end the regular campaign in third position for a second-straight year.

Rosie Dillon produced a standout performance to help Box Hill get over the line, finishing with a season-high 27 disposals along with five tackles. Tess Cattle and Matilda van Berkel were others to impress for the Hawks.

Carlton AFLW midfielder Meg Robertson showed her class in her third VFLW game of the season, amassing a whopping 39 disposals, nine marks and five tackles in a sensational individual effort.

CARLTON                      1.0   1.0   1.0   1.1 (7)
BOX HILL HAWKS     0.1   0.6   2.9   4.12 (36)

BEST
Carlton: Amy Trindade, Emily Elkington, Emma Horne, Charlotte Brewer, Hannah Scott, Octavia Di Donato
Box Hill Hawks: Rosie Dillon, Matilda Van Berkel, Emma Juneja, Stasia Stevenson, Nat Exon, Bec Neaves

GOALS
Carlton: Scout Howden
Box Hill Hawks: Sophie Butterworth, Gabby Collingwood, Paige Price, Matilda Van Berkel

LEADING DISPOSALS
Carlton: Meg Robertson 39, Amy Trindade 22, Hannah Scott 19, Emily Elkington 15, Emma Horne 15
Box Hill Hawks: Rosie Dillon 27, Tess Cattle 22, Matilda Van Berkel 21, Stasia Stevenson 20, Daisy Flockart 19

Bombers surge home to earn finals spot in thrilling fashion

Essendon came from the clouds in one of the games of the season to secure a spot in the rebel VFLW finals series for the fifth-successive season.

But the Bombers left it until the final seconds to secure a two-point win over the Western Bulldogs at Misson Whitten Oval, breaking Darebin and Port Melbourne hearts in the process.

The Bulldogs dominated the second and third quarters, with a run of four straight goals giving them a game-high 24-point lead at the 10-minute mark of the third term. At that point, a huge upset looked inevitable.

However, it was a 14-minute patch in the last quarter that saw Essendon turn the tables, with the Bombers piling on four goals which were bookended by two huge launches from Tia Davidge – the second of which came with two minutes left on the clock.

Along with Davidge’s goals, the work of skipper El Chaston and Abbey McDonald were pivotal in the visitors securing the four points, the pair each gaining 26 disposals.

The Bulldogs lost no admirers in defeat and were led superbly by Maggie Gorham, who produced a 27-disposal, five-tackle performance.

WESTERN BULLDOGS     1.0   3.4   5.4   5.4 (34)
ESSENDON                            1.4   1.4   1.5   5.6 (36)

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Jorja Livingstone, Mali McLeod, Brooke Barwick, Maggie Gorham, Jaimi Tabb, Chelsea McDermott
Essendon: El Chaston, Christina Bernardi, Layla Prince, Abbey McDonald, Tia Davidge, Olivia Manfre

GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Naomi Ferres 2, Chelsea McDermott, Renee Saulitis, Trinity Skenderis
Essendon: Tia Davidge, Olivia Manfre 2, Lucy Thompson

LEADING DISPOSALS
Western Bulldogs: Maggie Gorham 27, Brooke Barwick 18, Jorja Livingstone 18, Mali McLeod 15
Essendon: El Chaston 25, Abbey McDonald 25, Christina Bernardi 16, Sarah Ford 14

Pies claim final double chance spot

A three-goal to one last quarter booked Collingwood a spot in the qualifying final and a double-chance in the finals, as they proved too strong for a gallant Williamstown at DSV Stadium

Needing to win to set up a qualifying final clash with North Melbourne-Werribee following Box Hill’s triumph on Friday night, the Magpies kicked three of the opening four goals of the match.

But any thoughts of any comfortable win were quickly dismissed, as the Seagulls fought back brilliantly in a four-goal second quarter.

The hosts were destined to lead at the final change before Amelia Peck booted an important goal on the stroke of three quarter time to hand Collingwood back the lead.

Peck settled the nerves of the away side with another major early in the fourth, before kicking the sealer at the 16-minute mark to secure the Magpies’ tenth win of the season.

She finished with a season-high four majors in an excellent display, while Courtney Jones was just as terrific for Collingwood, finishing with 19 disposals, five marks and three goals.

Emily Eaves was Williamstown’s best with 21 disposals and four tackles, with teammate Ash Thorneycroft reaching double figures in the tackle column for the fifth time in 10 matches.

WILLIAMSTOWN     1.0   5.0   8.0   9.2 (56)
COLLINGWOOD     3.2   5.3   8.3   11.3 (69)

BEST
Williamstown: Emily Eaves, Sharnie Whiting, Teagan Brett, Kiera Leare, Cat O’Bryan, India Barker
Collingwood: Courtney Jones, Lily-Rose Williamson, Lauren Szigeti, Amelia Peck, Caitlin Matthews, Tamara Henry

GOALS
Williamstown: Teagan Brett, Kiera Leare, Sharnie Whiting 2, Neve Crowley, Eliza Straford, Ash Thorneycroft
Collingwood: Amelia Peck 4, Courtney Jones 3, Tayla Christensen, Lilly Leighton, Tahlia Sanger, Lauren Szigeti

LEADING DISPOSALS
Williamstown: Emily Eaves 21, Eliza Straford 11, Ash Thorneycroft 11
Collingwood: Courtney Jones 19, Tahlia Sanger 17, Lauren Szigeti 17, Dominique Carbone 16, Amelia Peck 14

Borough end 2025 campaign on a high

Although their fate was sealed with Essendon’s win on Friday night, Port Melbourne ensured they ended the 2025 season in strong fashion with a big win over the Casey Demons at ETU Stadium.

The Borough produced their greatest number of a scoring shots in a match for the year, booting 8.13 and keeping the Demons to just three shots on goal, to secure a 43-point triumph.

The hosts were superbly led by Eloise Ashley-Cooper who produced arguably her best game of the season, finishing with 23 disposals and six tackles. Kate Adams was also brilliant for the Borough and was one of eight individual goal kickers for her side.

Olivia Morris can keep her head up high despite the Demons’ heavy defeat. She was her side’s standout performer with 19 disposals and 15 tackles, which were season-highs for the 19-year-old.

PORT MELBOURNE     2.2   3.6   4.9   8.13 (61)
CASEY DEMONS          1.0   1.0   2.0   3.0 (18)

BEST
Port Melbourne: Olivia Barton, Bella Stutt, Georgia Booth, Mia Caffry, Kate Adams, Ava Seton
Casey Demons: Zahri Burn, Gemma Proy, Kasey Phillips, Indiana Markby, Meg Macdonald, Olivia Morris

GOALS
Port Melbourne: Kate Adams, Courteney Bromage, Molly Denahy Maloney, Emily Harley, Isabella Robson, Ava Seton, Jessie Williams, Beth Wilson
Casey Demons: Sarah D’Arcy, Charlotte Hammans, Alice Robinson

LEADING DISPOSALS
Port Melbourne: Eloise Ashley-Cooper 20, Mia Caffry 19, Jessie Williams 17, Ava Seton 16, Molly Denahy Maloney 15
Casey Demons: Olivia Morris 18, Zoe Mitchell 15, Kasey Phillips 15, Meg Macdonald 12, Sarah D’Arcy 11

Roos enter finals in red-hot form

North Melbourne-Werribee will head into the 2025 rebel VFLW finals series on an eight-game winning streak after securing a 17-point victory over Sandringham at Wilson Storage Trevor Barker Beach Oval.

With top spot already sewn up heading into Round 14, the Kangaroos would have been forgiven if they had taken a more conservative approach heading into the match.

However, they made their intentions known in the opening play, with skipper Renee Tierney snapping through a goal within the opening 20 seconds.

The Roos went on to lead from start to finish, with only inaccuracy in front of goal preventing the reigning premiers from producing a greater winning margin, despite Sandringham putting up a great fight.

Maddie Di Cosmo will be one of the many Roos’ to hit the finals in excellent form after a performance that included 32 disposals and 13 tackles.

Alana Barba also had 13 tackles for the visitors, while Charlotte Ryan and Matilda Zander also impressed.

Deanna Jolliffe (17 disposals, seven tackles) and Grace Hodder (22 disposals, 10 tackles) were terrific for Sandringham, who still secured a home elimination final despite the loss.

SANDRINGHAM                                        1.0   2.1   3.1   4.1 (25)
NORTH MELBOURNE-WERRIBEE     2.1   3.4   5.6   5.12 (42)

BEST
Sandringham: Deanna Jolliffe, Courtney Aughtie, Tayla Kearns, Bianca Jakobsson, Rene Caris, Stacey Livingstone
North Melbourne-Werribee: Maddie Di Cosmo, Matilda Zander, Alana Barba, Charlotte Ryan, Renee Tierney, Jemmika Douglas

GOALS
Sandringham: Jordan Membrey 2, Tayla Kearns, Stacey Livingstone
North Melbourne-Werribee: Georgia Nicholas, Renee Tierney 2, Zoe Savarirayan

LEADING DISPOSALS
Sandringham: Grace Hodder 22, Abbey Tregellis 18, Rene Caris 17, Deanna Jolliffe 17, Erin Woodford
North Melbourne-Werribee: Maddie Di Cosmo 32, Alana Barba 25, Charlotte Ryan 21, Matilda Zander 20, Stella Reid 17

Cats avoid wooden spoon in thriller

Geelong prevented a second-straight bottom-place finish on the rebel VFLW ladder courtesy of a two-point victory over Darebin at KFC Oval in the final game of the rebel VFLW home and away season.

The Falcons needed to win by over 12 goals to leapfrog Essendon into sixth spot, but it never looked likely without ball magnet Ange Gogos sidelined.

Geelong led by seven points at half time and despite not kicking a goal in the second half, the Cats held off the fast finishing visitors with the final three behinds to claim their third victory of the season and jump over the Casey Demons on the ladder.

Abby Favell brought her own footy, with her season-high 36 disposals, 16 tackles, eight marks and a goal playing a major role in Geelong’s memorable triumph.

Hayley Peck (29 disposals, 28 hitouts) and Mekah Morrissy (24 disposals, 10 tackles, one goal) were just as influential.

Alyssa Mifsud (two goals) and Caitlin Bunker (25 disposals) starred for the away side on Sunday.

And despite narrowly missing out on a return to finals action, seven wins can still be deemed as a success for the Falcons, who now have a platform to build from in season 2026.

GEELONG CATS             1.2   3.5   3.7   3.10 (28)
DAREBIN FALCONS     1.4   2.4   2.8    3.8 (26)

BEST
Geelong: Abby Favell, Hayley Peck, Mekah Morrissy, Jemima Woods, Mel Staunton, Molly Walton
Darebin: Caitlin Bunker, Alyssa Mifsud, Monique DeMatteo, Victoria Blackwood, Isabella Daddo, Paije Kearney

GOALS
Geelong: Abby Favell, Mekah Morrissy, Faith Qoon
Darebin: Alyssa Mifsud 2, Monique DeMatteo

LEADING DISPOSALS
Geelong: Abby Favell 36, Hayley Peck 29, Mekah Morrissy 24, Jemima Woods 18, Mel Staunton 16
Darebin: Caitlin Bunker 25, Alyssa Mifsud 19, Isabella Daddo 17, Monique De Matteo 15, Riley Christgoergl 12