This Saturday will mark 259 days since North Melbourne Werribee created history by claiming back-to-back VFLW premierships.
A few things have changed across the season since then.
With Darebin and Carlton set to launch the 2026 season this weekend, VFL.com.au is doing its bit to bring you up to speed with what you may have missed over the off-season.
NORTH MELBOURNE WERRIBEE NEEDS A NEW COACH
You are not reading that incorrectly.
Back-to-back premiership coach Brett Gourley has accepted a role as a senior assistant coach with Richmond’s AFLW side in recent weeks. This means the Roos are on the hunt for a new coach as this season gets underway.
North Melbourne AFLW premiership star Emma Kearney will fill the void for the club’s opening match against Port Melbourne, however the club is hopeful of having the head coach position filled before they return home against Darebin in Round 3, where they’ll unfurl their 2025 premiership flag.
THE CHASE FOR AN HISTORIC THREE-PEAT
While we’re on the Kangaroos, the push for a record-breaking third straight flag will be a talking point right throughout the season. And given the inclusions to the squad over summer, it’s hard to see the Roos not contending at the pointy end of the season.
Gabby Collingwood (Box Hill Hawks), Molly Eastman (Collingwood), Poppy Schaap, Abby Favell (both Geelong), Ellyse Gamble (Essendon), Emily Hurley (Carlton) and Ava Seton (Port Melbourne) are just some of the names that have joined the two-time premier over the off-season.
The new coach will have a selection headache each week when it comes to picking the best side, considering reigning Rohenna Young Medal winner Nyakoat Dojiok, premiership skipper Renee Tierney, star midfielders Alana Barba and Maddie Di Cosmo and a host of other premiership players have re-committed to go on again.
WILL TASMANIA FOLLOW THE TREND THE VFL TEAM HAS SET?
Tasmania was the great unknown going into the VFL season. As it stands, they Devils have dropped just one game so far this season and sit third on the ladder after Round 7.
Will it be a similar trend for the VFLW side when it plays its inaugural game against the Casey Demons at North Hobart Oval on Saturday?
Heartbreakingly, the Devils be without captain Meghan Gaffney for their debut season after the former Greater Western Sydney midfielder ruptured her ACL in the club's final practice match against Carlton last weekend.
All eyes from the State of Play podcast point of view will be on Gabby Featherston, the only Tasmania player selected in the Big V side against the SANFL earlier this year. Expectations are she will play an important role, not only this weekend but across the season.
NEW COACHES WILL ROLE OUT THEIR BEST LAID PLANS
While North Melbourne Werribee are on the lookout for a new senior coach, it’s not the only club with change at the top.
Over the off-season, Liam Cavanagh moved out of the Williamstown position and has taken up the role with the Western Bulldogs. Cavanagh took the Seagulls to three consecutive finals campaigns and now will be hoping to get the Bulldogs to the promised land after they fell short of the Kangaroos in the 2024 decider.
The vacant position at DSV Stadium has been taken up by AFLW premiership coach Paul Groves, ironically best-known for his stint at the Western Bulldogs. Groves had returned to the AFLW landscape as an assistant coach at Essendon alongside Natalie Wood in recent years and jumped at the opportunity to take ownership of his own side once more.
Jack Frost will lead Sandringham, who remain in alignment with St Kilda through the VFLW.
And Matt Brewer has stepped aside at Casey, but remains involved with the AFLW program at Melbourne as a line coach. Oli Platt is the man moving into the position, having previously held the role of senior coach for MCC Women’s team.
WHAT’S WORTH WATCHING IN ROUND 1?
Everything.
Darebin and Carlton kick off the season in the Falcons’ annual Pride Match. The Falcons will be without 2025 Lambert-Pearce medallist Ange Gogos, which will be a breath of relief for the Blues when they head to Preston City Oval given the veteran’s capacity to beat up Carlton’s midfield in recent seasons.
Box Hill Hawks and Collingwood go to battle at Box Hill City Oval, with both clubs’ 2025 seasons ending with defeats to North Melbourne Werribee in the preliminary final and grand final respectively. It was the Magpies who took the points in all three encounters last year.
Could Port Melbourne catch the reigning premier on the hop? The Kangaroos, for all their professionalism, might be thrown by the fact they no longer have coach Gourley to lean on. And, as part of a VFL double header, could it be the home side starting their season off in style?
Casey is the first side to make the flight over Bass Strait to tackle Tasmania. Will they be the first VFLW side to fly home with the four points? Following suit of the VFL side, the first six home matches of Tassie’s season will be broadcast on Seven Tasmania and 7plus Sport nationally.
You can watch every match of the VFLW season live, free and uninterrupted on AFL.com.au and the AFL live app with Joe Pignataro and Gemma Bastiani giving a comprehensive wrap on the State of Play podcast every Tuesday.
