The best two sides of the 2026 season will meet in the VFLW Grand Final at IKON Park on Sunday, with Williamstown and North Melbourne Werribee both looking to create history.
The Seagulls enter their first VFLW Grand Final as minor premiers after a 12-2 home and away campaign, while the Kangaroos are chasing a third consecutive premiership after finishing second with the same 12-2 record.
Williamstown's rise has been driven by a combination of contested-ball dominance, pressure and scoreboard power.
Emily Eaves has been central to that transformation, claiming the Lambert-Pearce Medal as the competition’s best and fairest player on Monday night after averaging 19.1 disposals, 13.1 contested possessions and 5.9 clearances on across her 13 home and away appearances.
Eaves will have plenty of support around the contest, with Naomi Ferres averaging 18.3 disposals and 6.1 tackles coming into the decider, while ruck Georgia Howes has provided a reliable source of first use with 22.9 hitouts per game.
Inside 50, Mia Zielinski has been the competition's most dangerous scoring threat, booting 32 goals at an average of 2.3 per game. She has in fact kicked multiple goals in her last five straight games and has been a proven match winner for Williamstown.
The Seagulls have already shown they can trouble the reigning premiers, producing one of their most impressive performances of the season in Round 14.
Williamstown defeated North Melbourne Werribee by 37 points, with the side’s most consistent contributors in Eaves and Zielinski having 25 disposals and eight clearances as well as two goals respectively.
It would give Paul Groves’ side an abundance of confidence coming into Sunday’s match, however, the Kangaroos' response since then has underlined why they remain the benchmark of the VFLW competition as they look to complete a hat trick of premierships.
That was more evident than ever in last week’s preliminary final in which they eased past Collingwood to the tune of 61 points.
Two-time Lisa Hardeman Medal winner Alana Barba again looms as one of the game's key midfielders after averaging 23.9 disposals, 13.1 contested possessions and 7.3 tackles during the home-and-away season.
Ava Seton has been just as influential, averaging 21.9 touches, 12.1 contested possessions and 9.4 tackles and claimed the Coaches MVP Award on Monday in her first season with the Roos.
North's forward line presents another challenge for the minor premiers, more so Nyakoat Dojiok who has 17 goals from only nine games, meanwhile Renee Tierney has eight majors from 11 appearances.
Their ability to turn limited opportunities into scoreboard pressure could prove critical against a Williamstown defence that has conceded only 21 points in its most recent meeting with the Kangaroos.
The midfield battle could therefore shape the afternoon. Williamstown will look to Eaves, Ferres and Howes to win territory and supply Zielinski, while North Melbourne Werribee will rely on Barba, Seton and its experienced finals core to wrestle control of the contest.
For Williamstown, victory would deliver its first VFLW premiership and cap a season in which it has emerged as a genuine force. For North Melbourne Werribee, it is an opportunity to become the first side to win three consecutive VFLW premierships.
Either way, we’re set to see a thrilling conclusion to another successful VFLW campaign.
2026 SEASON
WILLIAMSTOWN
1st (12-2, 255.0%)
STREAK: Won 5 (2026: WWWWWLWWWWWWWLW)
NORTH MELBOURNE WERRIBEE
2nd (12-2, 198.0%)
STREAK: Won 3 (2026: WWWLWLWWWWWWWWW)
2026 MEETING
Round 14 – DSV Stadium
WILLIAMSTOWNÂ Â Â Â Â Â 3.1Â Â Â Â 5.4Â Â Â Â 9.4Â Â Â Â 9.4 (58)
BOX HILL HAWKSÂ Â Â Â Â 1.0Â Â Â Â 1.0Â Â Â Â 2.1Â Â Â Â 3.3 (21)
GOALS
Williamstown: Teagan Brett, Emily Eaves, Lilu Hung, Mia Zielinski 2, Ellen Williams
North Melbourne Werribee: Nyakoat Dojiok, Emily Hurley, Maddison Torpey
LEADING DISPOSALS
Williamstown: Emily Eaves 25, Addison West 23, Naomi Ferres 19, Bella Smith 16, Ellen Williams 16
North Melbourne Werribee: Alana Barba 24, Renee Tierney 23, Ava Seton 16, Molly Eastman 15, Charlotte Ryan 14
