GWV Rebels and Northern Territory Academy bottom-age star Peggy Rock has been crowned the 2026 Talent League Girls best and fairest
Rock made history as both the first GWV Rebels and Northern Territory Academy player to win the girls best and fairest award, with past winners including AFLW stars Chloe Molloy, Maddy and Georgie Prespakis, Nina Morrison and Ash Centra.
Rock polled 17 votes from 11 games representing both the Rebels and Northern Territory Academy throughout the 2026 campaign. She finished two votes ahead of the Eastern Ranges’ Tillie Baldwin and Gippsland Power’s Lily Milner.
A 17-year-old who hails from the Northern Territory before making the move south this year, Rock was dominant in her first season representing the GWV Rebels, averaging 20.4 disposals, 8.5 tackles and 3.4 clearances across eight matches.
She was just as dominant in three appearances for the Northern Territory Academy during their mid-season matches in the Talent League, where she averaged 21.7 disposals, 6.3 tackles and 2.7 clearances.
The best and fairest award capped an outstanding season for Rock, with her stellar performance for the Northern Territory at the 2026 Marsh AFL National Development Championships U16 Girls earning her All Australian selection, having also been selected in the team in 2024.
Rock also represented the Allies at the 2026 Marsh AFL National Championships U18 Girls and featured in the 2026 Marsh AFL National Futures program last weekend.
TALENT LEAGUE GIRLS BEST AND FAIREST
Peggy Rock (GWV Rebels/Northern Territory Academy) – 17 votes
Tillie Baldwin (Eastern Ranges) – 15 votes
Lily Milner (Gippsland Power) – 15 votes
Jasmine Whitten (Dandenong Stingrays) – 13 votes
Coco Balmain (Calder Cannons) – 11 votes
Matilda Lange (Tasmania Devils) – 11 votes
TALENT LEAGUE GRAND FINALS
The 2026 Talent League Grand Finals will be played at Mission Whitten Oval this Saturday, September 19.
Oakleigh Chargers and Dandenong Stingrays will feature in the Girls Grand Final from 10:45am, while Gippsland Power and Dandenong Stingrays will play in the Boys Grand Final from 1:15pm.
Entry is free, with both games available to stream live and free at AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App.
